What makes Turkish coffee a special drink?
A drink with centuries of history and traditions, are some of the main characteristics of the turkish coffee. This continues to be part of social gatherings, not only in its country of origin, but also in other parts of the world. But what makes it really special is that in addition to delighting millions of palates, it is used to accompany it with various delicacies, such as a piece of burma saree (a Turkish cake covered in syrup) making this experience incredibly pleasant.
Turkish coffee, as it is also known, is a delicious coffee with a dark appearance and very fine grind. It uses a cezve coffee maker, which is a small saucepan or cup, tall and not very wide, whose material is brass, copper or ceramic. It has a long handle to facilitate the preparation of the drink, avoiding burns.
This is an interesting cafe, and one that should be on our bucket list. We know that experimenting can be scary, and at the same time exciting. But we can assure you that this drink will meet all your expectations, and you could even prepare it from the comfort of your kitchen.
Origins of Turkish coffee
To date, it is not known exactly how this drink came about. However, historical data takes us to the 17th century, when the first coffee shops are installed in Istanbul, the most important city in Türkiye.
In its beginnings it was known only as coffee (kahve, in the Turkish language). But in the eighties with the arrival of instant coffee, new generations began to call it Turkish coffee (Türk kahvesi). Name that continues to be maintained today.
Although this drink is consumed in other countries in the Middle East, and in other nearby regions, such as Greece or Slovakia, Turkey continues to lead in its preparation. This is because they maintain traditional methods such as not filtering the coffee.
Turkish coffee. What exactly is it?
It is a delicious, potentially sweet, exquisite and dark coffee. Unlike the others, this one is consumed without filtering. As for the sugar, it is cooked together with the coffee, resulting in an intense and caramelized flavor. With the first sip you experience a pleasant thick sensation that runs down your throat.
A fact that cannot be overlooked is that sugar must be impalpable or glaze, is characterized by being pulverized or ground to a powder consistency.
As we pointed out above, it is very finely ground. They are usually left in the coffee, so that once they sit they can retain the heat. This without overlooking its wonderful surface, which is known for being quite firm and foamy.
Because it is a drink with a lot of history and that continues to keep traditions intact, in 2013 it was declared by the UNESCO, like intangible cultural heritage of humanity. This drink is part of Turkish life. It is just as important as tea to the English.
Where is it frequently consumed?
You probably think that this drink is only prepared in Türkiye. But the truth is that it is also very common throughout the Middle East, and in the Balkan countries those that are located in the southern peninsula of Europe, Albania, Montenegro, Slovenia, Croatia, Romania, Serbia and Bosnia being some of them.
If you visit any Armenian, Balkan or Turkish restaurant, anywhere in the world, you will see that this delicious coffee will appear on their drinks menu.
It is to be expected that it is quite popular in Turkey, so if you ever visit this country, don't be surprised that they offer you a Turkish coffee everywhere you go, and even serve it to you without asking you. We advise you not to refuse a cup, since if they offer it to you it is a sign of hospitality, education and even refinement, aspects that usually characterize the majority of Turks.
How to prepare a traditional Turkish coffee?
There are a series of steps that we must follow rigorously, starting with grinding. This should be very fine than usual and this is because the drink will not be filtered as happens in other preparations. The most traditionalists usually grind their own beans in a copper manual grinder, something that requires a good amount of dedication to find the perfect point. The consistency is a light and soft powder.
Surely you are wondering: what type of coffee can we use? The answer lies in Arabica beans. In Incapto Coffee you can find this variety specifically in our product catalog.
Preparation
Now, the first thing we must do is place 15 ml for each cup and proceed to heat over low heat. You have to put the required dose in the cezve, specifically 50 ml per cup, that is, the same amount used to make an espresso.
Experts recommend using quality water, preferably mineral or filtered. Otherwise, we will not achieve a good result.
You can add sugar to taste, it is important to mix it well so that it can dissolve. But if you prefer not to sweeten it, no problem, this will allow you to appreciate each of its properties much better.
When the coffee is ready, let it sit for at least 5 minutes. So that the coffee grounds or erases as it is also known reach the bottom of the cup.
There are other versions
Like most preparations, there are traditional recipes and versions. In the case of Turkish coffee, exactly the same thing happens. There are those who prefer to recreate it in a less traditional way. That is why, shortly we will reveal to you which are the most popular.
Turkish espresso
For those drinks where the espresso flavor can be quite pronounced or mild, Turkish coffee becomes the ideal option. For this reason, we invite you to try the popular bonbon coffee. This is a Spanish drink that has been adapted for those who offer coffee of Thai origin.
Once the bonbon coffee is prepared, condensed milk is gradually poured over a shot of espresso. The next step is to replace the espresso with Turkish coffee, to get a smooth and sweet cup. It even compensates for the temperature loss caused by milk.
Turkish ice cream
Definitely, this option is for those who like to experiment and be radical, looking for more complex things. On this occasion you can turn a completely traditional drink into Ice Cream!
To do this, you need to be very generous when adding sugar to the coffee. When you're ready, pour over ice cream served in a milkshake glass. If you want to make it more attractive, you can add a layer of whipped cream around the edge (a complicated technique that requires patience), you can also add cocoa powder and now enjoy it.
If you manage to make everything exquisite, by summer you won't want to go to the ice cream parlor.
Turkish coffee is an easy preparation to recreate if we have the right utensils and the ideal grind. It is a drink that invites us to take risks and connect with other cultures. There are those who claim that it is the most delicious coffee they have ever tasted. So we invite you to discover new coffee proposals.
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