Turkish Coffee

As one of the most popular beverages in the world, coffee has expanded its repertoire of drinks to the delight of coffee lovers everywhere.  Go to a cafe today and you will find such delicious gourmet coffee drinks like espresso, cappuccino, and mocha lattes being enjoyed by those around you.  While these Italian originated drinks are great successes, they are hardly alone in being a unique way of coffee preparation that is rooted in another culture.  Rather, Turkish coffee is one of the oldest types of coffee drinks and considering its longevity it is not surprising to learn that it is also one of the most tastiest coffee drinks in the world.

A popular style of coffee making that is employed predominantly through the Middle East, North Africa, and the Balkans, Turkish coffee is known throughout the world by a variety of names.  In Greece and the Greek parts of Cyprus, Turkish Coffee is known as Greek Coffee.  Not surprisingly, Armenians refer to Turkish coffee as Armenian coffees.  Regardless of what name is employed to it, Turkish coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the Turkey area and is also one of the most unique coffee based beverages once can make.

What distinguishes Turkey coffee from other types of coffee is the unique way that it is made.  Turkish coffee is made with a narrow top small boiling pot that is known as an ibrik, cevze, or jezve depending on where you are.  Other than this type of coffee maker (you can learn more about different coffee makers by checking out the secion Coffee Makers), all that you need to make a cup of Turkish coffee is a heating source and a teaspoon.

To make a refreshing cup of Turkish coffee, just follow these steps.  Remember, there is no specific recipe for a Turkish coffee and there are numerous recipes that are tailored to the specific tastes of the coffee drinker.  However, feel free to experiment with this recipe, as it is designed to introduce this sophisticated drink to your tastes:

1. Grind up some gourmet coffee beans, with medium-roast coffee beans being the most tasty option, until they are finer than espresso coffee grounds.
2. Slowly add a mixture of coffee grounds, sugar, and water into the ibrik.  The recommended ratio is to have 1 teaspoonful of coffee grounds and 1 teaspoonful of sugar for every 2 ounces of water.
3. Once the mixture is brought to a boil on the stovetop, watch for the froth to rise.  Be ready to serve it before it boils over.
4. Repeat this process two more times.
5. Serve in small cups, with espresso cups or sake cups being comparable in size.  Drink up this delicious drink for a taste of Turkey!

There are numerous ways that you can prepare a cup of Turkish coffee to suit your tastes.  If you take your coffee plain and without sugar, you are having your coffee sade.  However, if you are adding a little bit of sugar, then you are preparing your coffee az sekerli.  Orta sekerli refers to a cup of Turkish coffee with a medium amount of sugar, comparable to one levelled teaspoon.  A Turkish coffee with a lot of sugar is known as cok sekerli.