Update date: 06.11.2020 13:10:54 4479 Share:
Author: Emilia Rabinovich
*Review of the best according to the editors of simplerule.ru. About the selection criteria. This material is subjective in nature, does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before purchasing, consultation with a specialist is required.
For many people, coffee is a drink without which it is impossible to imagine starting a new day or having a lunch break. Most people brew it in a mug or using special equipment, but there are still those who prefer the traditional method of preparing the divine drink in a Turk. Therefore, SimpleRule experts decided to compile a rating of the best coffee for cezve, dividing the nominees into two categories - ground and grain product.
Which coffee to choose
Even connoisseurs of this drink face difficulties associated with selecting the type of grain for its brewing. This is due to the diversity of the assortment.
Coffee producers regularly delight consumers with new products. There is a large selection of coffee with interesting flavor notes - chocolate, nuts, caramel, fruit.
But the classic version of beans intended for cooking in a Turk is Arabica. For reference, it is preferred by more than 60% of gourmets.
Arabica is the most capricious variety of the coffee tree. Due to sensitivity to weather conditions, many countries have abandoned its cultivation.
Variety
This is the basic selection criterion. To brew espresso, you need to select only high-grade coffee fruits. Arabica and robusta are the most popular types of raw materials for brewing this drink.
The first variety, despite its popularity, is considered elite. This is due to 2 reasons. Firstly, the complex process of growing trees, and secondly, the unique sourness.
The taste and smell of Arabica is richer than that of its main competitor, Robusta. But delicious coffee is also brewed from these beans. They have a pleasant chocolate aroma and a bitter taste.
Those who like strong espresso should prefer robusta. But if you want to brew such a drink in a Turk, it is better to use sweeteners, otherwise it will be concentrated.
Arabica contains 2.5 times less caffeine. Therefore, it is better for people suffering from sudden changes in blood pressure to give preference to it.
Region of growth
The taste of the invigorating drink is also determined by the area where the raw materials for its preparation were grown. Today there are coffee tree plantations in:
- India . The taste of hot espresso has a chocolate bitterness. The pleasure is complemented by nutty notes.
- Brazil . Rich nutty-chocolate aroma of the drink, complemented by sweet vanilla.
- Ethiopia . Hints of forest berries, sour aftertaste.
- Kenya . Berry and fruit flavors, wine aroma.
- Honduras . Sweetish-sour taste.
- Indonesia . Pronounced candy aroma with a spicy cardamom scent.
- Cuba . Invigorating chocolate-tobacco note.
Each of these countries has conditions for the ripening of coffee fruits. It is believed that the most delicious variety of coffee is harvested in Brazil. It’s not for nothing that this country is considered the birthplace of an invigorating drink.
Grain grinding degree
Another important factor of choice. There are 3 main types of Turkish coffee grind: coarse, medium and fine. But for this kitchen appliance it is better to select the latter type.
It is recommended to brew delicious espresso from beans that have previously been turned into dust. This production “flour” allows the drink to maximize its aromatic and taste characteristics. In addition, fine grinding is needed to raise fluffy foam, which is an indicator of high-quality coffee.
Roasting coffee beans
The taste of coffee is also determined by the degree of heat treatment. There are 5 types of roasting beans:
- English. The fruits are simmered at high temperature for a couple of minutes. Minimal heat treatment.
- American . Another variety of light roast. This technology involves preserving the herbal aromatic properties of the beans.
- Urban . Medium done. Gives the drink a light “fried” aftertaste.
- Viennese. Ideal for creating strong espresso. During processing, the beans acquire a bright black hue.
- Spanish. Maximum degree of heat treatment. The drink has a rich burnt taste.
To brew good espresso in a Turk, it is advisable to choose Viennese roasted beans. The drink is moderately strong. To “knock down” the rich taste, it is enough to use sweeteners, such as syrup.
Which option is better?
The smaller the grind of the coffee beans, the greater the extraction (solubility) of substances, respectively, the richer and tastier the drink itself will be. Thus, the solubility of fine coffee is 1-4 minutes, medium - 4-6 and coarse - from 6 to 8 minutes.
To prepare an aromatic drink in a coffee machine, it is best to use medium-ground coffee. Grinding coffee into dust makes it unsuitable for use in espresso machines because the smaller the grain, the more difficult it is for water to flow through it. When using a large version, on the contrary, the water passes through too quickly and the grains do not have time to release their aroma and taste.
For brewing oriental coffee in a Turk, the smallest one is best. That is why Turks, Armenians and other peoples prefer conventional cezve to the machine method of grinding grains. It is also important to grind the coffee immediately before preparing the drink.
When brewing in a mug, it is best to use finely ground “dust” coffee so that you can feel the dust on your fingers. In 2 minutes of brewing, the grounds will sink to the bottom of the cup, and the drink will be completely brewed and acquire the correct taste.
The smaller the grind of the coffee beans, the richer the drink will be.
To achieve proper extraction of coffee in a French press, it is important to use a uniform, coarse type, similar to granulated sugar.
There is one general rule: the less time it takes to interact with water, the finer the grind should be.
Signs of quality coffee beans
You should not drink instant coffee, because it will not be possible to check the quality of the raw materials for its preparation. To experience maximum pleasure from the ceremony, espresso must be made from natural ingredients, that is, from coffee beans.
First, pay attention to the integrity of the beans. Their structure should be uniform. The presence of nicks, scratches and cracks indicates improper storage of the fruit. It is also possible that they were damaged during transportation. But in any case, low-quality raw materials will have to be removed.
Evaluate the color of the grains. They should be bright green and shiny. The oily shell indicates freshness. If it is not there, the fruits were probably overexposed in the storage room.
Delicious recipe
At the end of autumn and on the eve of winter, all warming drinks will be relevant. We offer to prepare you coffee with spices from our “golden piggy bank” of coffee recipes.
- Warm the Turk for 1-2 minutes, pour sugar into it and pour 3/4 of cool water.
- Heat the water to about 50 degrees.
- Add Ethiopia Sidamo gr. 4 finest grind.
- Spices: cardamom or cloves, if fresh - grain / a couple of buds, if ground, then first mix them with coffee.
- Bring until foam forms, without letting the water boil.
The best coffee beans for Turkish
The ranking of the 3 best manufacturers of invigorating grain products includes:
- Lavazza . The product is sold in excellent sealed packaging. Country of origin: Italy. The product is made from Arabica, the most popular coffee variety in the world. These fruits are collected on plantations in Central America. The drink is characterized by a light fruity aftertaste. To improve its taste, it is recommended to add honey.
- Santa Domingo. This coffee is also made from Arabica, only it is harvested in the Dominican Republic. The plantations where beans are grown to make Santa Domingo are located at an altitude of more than 1000 meters above sea level. The aroma is soft and delicate, and the taste is rich.
- Meseta Supremo. A characteristic feature of this drink is its sour taste. Therefore, lovers of strong espresso will not like Meseta Supremo beans. The aroma is thick. It is perfectly complemented by a berry aftertaste.
Lavazza
Meseta Supremo
Santa Domingo
Some shops that specialize in tea and coffee also sell high-grade beans. But be sure to ask about the degree of roasting before purchasing.
How to choose a grain variety
How to choose ground coffee beans for Turkish: the rating is opened by expensive elite high-mountain varieties. There are few such plantations in the world - not every country can boast of mountain ranges of volcanic origin.
This is where the most delicious coffee is grown. Volcanic soil is rich in nutrients erupted from the depths of the earth. Trees on such soil grow on their own - without additional fertilizing and spraying against fungus and parasites.
The bean coffee for Turkish coffee with a lower rating can be called lowland Arabica. Its grains are not as dense and heavy as mountain grains, but they have their own advantages.
Next comes Indian Arabica. In India, weather conditions change frequently and it rains, so the harvest is inconsistent in taste. For this reason, grains are mostly used to make instant drinks.
Robusta also comes in different varieties - some are more bitter, others are less bitter. For example, robusta from Uganda or Vietnam has a mild taste. If you boil it in a Turkish pot, you get a good strong drink with a bitter aftertaste.
Coffee in packs
Which ground Turkish coffee to choose if there are no specialized stores nearby: personal experience decides everything here. Counterfeits often end up in retail outlets, so your opinion about the product may change. After trying crushed ready-to-brew analogues, you can choose the best ground coffee for Turkish coffee in the ratings of local stores.
The most suitable blend of coffee beans for Turkish coffee
To prepare delicious espresso, you can also choose grain mixtures.
- One of the best is Pauling Arabic. The brand is represented by a Finnish coffee company. The coffee it produces is balanced and rich. The raw materials for its preparation are collected in different parts of the world, including Brazil. The degree of roasting is medium.
- A richer espresso can be brewed from the Melange mixture . A pleasant flavor bouquet and slight sourness are what distinguishes this product from others. The grains for its grinding are collected on the best plantations in Central America.
Pauling Arabic
Melange
Water
Chlorinated tap water is not at all suitable for brewing coffee. Bottled, well or spring water will do. At worst, you can use water purified by an ozonizer or filter, or settle boiled water before brewing coffee in a Turk.
However, even after these purification procedures, many impurities remain in it, which worsen the taste of coffee.
Water containing a lot of alkali will worsen the taste of coffee, which contains many types of acids. The taste of such coffee will become faded and lose its richness of taste.
For Turkish coffee, the ideal acidity is in the pH range = 6.5 – 7.5.
Too soft water will destabilize the extraction process, and too hard water will lead to loss of flavor nuances. An indicator such as mineralization should be in the range from 75 to 250 mg per liter. If you see mineralization in the range from 120 to 150 mg/l on the bottle label, then this is the best water. Calcium content – 17–85 mg/l, sodium – 30 mg/l.
The best ground coffee for Turkish
If you don’t want to spend time selecting, washing, roasting and grinding raw materials for coffee, you can purchase it at the store. Fortunately, coffee manufacturers regularly delight consumers with newfangled ground products.
The top 3 included:
- Julius Meinl. This is an exquisite drink. The technology for roasting beans is Viennese. It is made from a mixture of Arabica and Robusta. Therefore, in addition to bright sourness, the drink has a slight bitterness. The consistency is thick.
- Dallmayr . According to gourmets, this is the best ground coffee, which is made from the most popular variety of beans. A characteristic feature of such a product is a specific technology for roasting fruits, during which it is possible to evaporate all the moisture from them, while preventing the appearance of bitterness in the taste.
- Goppion caffe . A unique coffee made from Arabica beans collected on the best plantations in Brazil and Nicaragua. This drink is characterized by a pleasant sweetish aftertaste with a slight floral tint. After brewing Goppion caffe, there is a rich chocolate aroma that spreads throughout the house.
Goppion caffe
Julius Meinl
These are not all types of coffee that can be brewed using a Turk. When choosing a product, pay attention to its packaging. It must be intact, without damage.
How taste depends on the region of growth
As already mentioned, you can choose bean coffee for Turkish by region:
- African varieties;
- South American;
- Central American;
- Asian.
The choice will depend on what is on sale. If you order from online stores, it is recommended to buy several different varieties of 100 g . Be sure to request a vacuum bag for each variety.
To make fewer mistakes when choosing ground coffee for Turkish coffee, you need to decide on the taste - bitter, sour, spicy, fruity. Roasting also matters. If you take medium or light roast beans, the aftertaste will be better felt.
