In the 18th century, the great composer Johann Sebastian Bach wrote a surprisingly cheerful and bright work - “The Coffee Cantata”. Such an extraordinary ode was written by the musician to defend his favorite drink - conservative Germans opposed the widespread proliferation of coffee shops and even tried to ban coffee for women! There were many myths about the elixir of vigor in those days, but what could stand up to its delicious taste and invigorating properties?
Coffee lovers defended the rights to the aromatic elixir of vigor - the drink entered the diet of most of the world's population. However, the modern habit of people to do everything in a hurry has led to the emergence of a new problem: “How to properly brew Turkish coffee at home?”
Properly brewing an invigorating drink is a real art. However, if desired, anyone can learn, even in modest home conditions, to create coffee masterpieces.
Preparatory stage
Making real coffee is an almost mystical activity, requiring concentration, slowness, strict adherence to technology, and most importantly, love for this tonic drink. If you don’t have time to make Turkish coffee, you can use a coffee maker. In this case, it would be useful to stock up on paper filters for filtering coffee. Thanks to this device, the drink is aromatic and without sediment.
Which Turk to choose
Why, however, despite the advantages of coffee makers, is coffee still brewed in Turks? Turka (aka cezve) is a traditional utensil for preparing it. Turks have a wide bottom, narrow neck and long handle. Thanks to this shape, the container is convenient to use. It heats up evenly, retains heat for a long time, and preserves the aroma of the drink.
Cezves are made from various materials: clay, ceramics, copper, silver. Clay and ceramic Turks are fragile, absorb aroma well, and therefore are suitable for preparing only one type of coffee bean. Most often, drink lovers purchase copper cezves. They are functional, have a reasonable price and are therefore widespread. Silver Turks do not have any special advantages over copper ones. However, they are much more expensive than copper ones. Therefore, among connoisseurs of this drink they are considered a luxury item and a good option for interior decoration.
What can you replace the Turk with if necessary?
If you don’t have a suitable cezve, you can try making a drink of vigor in a coffee maker, French press, or even in a small saucepan (necessarily with a thick bottom). However, as connoisseurs note, the taste of their contents will be noticeably inferior to the Turkish drink.
Choosing the right coffee
The quality of the drink directly depends on the ingredients. It is known that thanks to natural coffee, the tone increases and the body's immunity improves, so the choice of its type and the degree of grinding of the beans should be approached with special care. There are two main varieties of coffee - Arabica and Robusta. Ground coffee producers prefer to make a mixture of these beans. The fact is that Arabica has a balanced, harmonious taste with sourness, while Robusta is characterized by strength and bitterness.
On a note! To neutralize the bitterness and make the drink soft, add a pinch of salt to it.
Also, the taste of the finished drink depends on the degree of grinding of the coffee beans. The degree of grinding is coarse, medium and fine. Coarse grind is suitable for coffee machines and coffee makers. The average is considered universal. This powder is suitable both for professional equipment and for cooking in a Turk. A fine grind is preferred by those who prepare the drink in geyser coffee makers. If you want to get acquainted with new tastes, coarse and fine grinding of coffee beans can be brewed in a cezve. But in this case, the drink will turn out to be an acquired taste.
The taste of the drink is directly affected by the degree of grinding of the coffee.
Does it matter what kind of water?
Along with the variety and grinding of the beans, water is an important ingredient in this delicacy. It is better if it is fresh spring water. In the absence of one, bottled or filtered will do. You cannot use boiled water, as this has an extremely adverse effect on the taste of the drink.
Features of cookware
- It is necessary to distinguish ceramics from clay, despite the fact that the starting material is the same. In the first case, glazed raw materials are used, and in the second, fired ones.
- Unlike its clay counterpart, ceramics do not have pores, so it does not absorb particles and odors. Such dishes have a good coating, which can be matte or glossy.
- The high inertness of the material allows it to minimally react with the external environment, avoiding oxidation, staining and absorption of foreign odors.
If you are interested in how to properly brew coffee in a ceramic pot without various impurities and with a pure taste, then you should opt for this pot. It will be possible to make even compound varieties of the drink, as well as with flavorings. The container perfectly maintains high quality indicators thanks to its wide bottom and thick walls, due to which the heat is normally distributed over the entire area, emphasizing all the features of the drink.
How to brew coffee in a Turk on the stove - the main secrets
Beginners in preparing this magical drink will probably be interested in the question: “how long should you brew coffee in a Turk?” Experts say that on average this action takes from 7 to 10 minutes. They also say that a true coffee lover experiences pleasure not only from the drink, but also from the brewing process itself. The success of the enterprise depends on the ingredients of coffee and compliance with the rules of its preparation:
- It is recommended to purchase and store coffee beans in small quantities. You need to grind the grains before cooking. The fact is that the aroma of crushed particles quickly disappears, and the taste becomes less intense.
- The main secret to brewing a successful drink is to prevent it from boiling, maintaining a temperature sufficient to release the flavor and aroma of the beans.
- Through trials and experiments, find out the desired proportions of coffee and water in the Turk. Because the strength and richness of the coffee depends on how many spoons are placed in the cezve.
- Another technique that an experienced barista resorts to before serving a drink is adding cold water to the Turk. One spoon is enough for the remaining grounds to settle to the bottom of the Turk.
On a note! To ensure that the grounds remain at the bottom of the cezve, you need to lightly tap them on the table.
There are certain secrets to making Turkish coffee.
How to cook on an induction cooker
If you are faced with the need to brew a drink on an induction stove, it is worth considering that the operating principle of induction stoves differs from gas and electric ones. Therefore, most Turks are not suitable for it. The solution would be to purchase special dishes (including cezves) with ferromagnetic inserts on the bottom.
If you do not want to change the dishes, you can use a ferromagnetic disk. The procedure for cooking on an induction cooker generally does not differ from the usual one. However, it is recommended to carefully monitor the contents of the dishes. The induction cooker heats up unevenly – in pulses. This can cause the drink to heat up quickly and boil over.
How to choose the right ceramic Turk
When purchasing a ceramic cezve, it is important to consider several features:
- The shape of a correct Turk should be cone-shaped.
- The narrow bell of the coffee maker is suitable for those who are making coffee for the first time. It prevents the foam from quickly rising to the edge and flowing out.
- The choice of the size of the Turk is influenced by how much coffee is usually brewed. Smaller Turkish coffee tastes better.
- The handle of the cezve should not get too hot, so as not to burn your hand. Clay and wooden handles are suitable for this.
- If it is important that the dishes match the design of the kitchen or room where it will be placed, then the choice is varied.
- Warranty service for cookware is provided for industrially manufactured goods. But there are also workshops offering dishware repair services.
The narrower the Turkish neck, the richer the coffee will be.
How to properly brew delicious Turkish coffee at home - recipes
There are a lot of delicious coffee recipes that you can make at home. If you have mastered the technology of a classic drink, feel free to move on to experimenting with various additives. As a result, you will learn to surprise others with the original tastes of coffee brewed in an ordinary Turkish coffee pot. For example, coffee with added chocolate has a chance of success among those with a sweet tooth. To do this, add grated chocolate to the finished drink and let the delicacy brew. You can also melt the chocolate in a water bath, combine it with warm milk, beat it, and then add it to the cup.
Classic with foam
For conservatives, a classic coffee recipe with foam is suitable. To do this, put 2 tsp in the Turk. crushed coffee beans (proportions for Turkish coffee, in which you can brew coffee for one or two servings) and 1 tsp. sugar, pour water up to the neck, stirring until a fragrant foam appears. Then remove from the stove and carefully pour into a cup. If you want to get a cup of a very strong drink, then you should put 4 tsp in the cezve. coffee.
Espresso in Turk
Most often, espresso is prepared in coffee machines, but you can brew this drink at home. The recipe for its preparation is simple. You will need 2 tsp. crushed coffee beans, 200 ml. clean water, 2-3 tsp sugar, salt on the tip of a knife.
- Mix ground coffee beans, sugar and salt in a cezve.
- Place on low heat to warm up.
- Add warm water to the heated mixture.
- Bring until foamy, then remove from heat.
- Then stir and return to the heat again.
- After the foam rises again, remove from the stove, cover with a saucer and let it brew for 5-7 minutes, and then pour into a cup.
With milk
A classic recipe that can be easily made at home is coffee with milk. To do this, you will need a Turk with a wide neck, since milk tends to “run off.” The recipe includes: 150 ml milk, 1 tsp. ground coffee, sugar, spices to taste.
- Add sugar and spices to milk. Warm it up a little.
- Pour ground coffee beans into the cezve. Do not stir!
- Cook over low heat until a “head” appears.
- Remove from heat, let steep for 1-2 minutes.
- Return to the stove and bring to foam again.
Cappuccino recipe
Cappuccino is perhaps the most popular option for preparing a coffee treat. It has a mild milky taste and is perfect for those who do not like a strong drink. The basis for cappuccino is classic coffee brewed in a Turk. Also take full fat milk or cream, heat it up and beat it with a mixer until thick foam. Afterwards, the contents of the Turka are poured into the mug, then milk, and foam on top.
Coffee with cinnamon
Cinnamon gives the drink a special taste. The step-by-step recipe involves adding spices to the cezve along with coffee and sugar. Then it is boiled until foam forms. Then remove from heat.
Turkish coffee in Turk
To prepare Turkish coffee you will need: 100 g water, 1 tsp. sugar, 2 tsp. crushed coffee beans, a small pinch of salt.
- Fill the Turk with water to the narrowest part of its neck.
- Add sugar and salt there and put on the stove.
- After the water has heated up, ground coffee is placed in the cezve.
- As soon as the foam appears, the drink should be removed from the heat and allowed to fall. Repeat the procedure three to four times.
- Pour the drink into a cup.
On a note! In the original, Turkish coffee is brewed on sand, watch the video to see how this process happens:
Viennese coffee recipe
For lovers of a drink with a sweet aroma, similar to the shimmer of a Viennese waltz.
To prepare this delicacy you will need: 2 tsp. sugar, ½ tsp. vanillin, ¼ tsp. orange zest, 2 tsp. ground grains.
- Mix sugar, vanillin, zest in a Turk.
- Place on low heat and heat until caramelized.
- Add crushed coffee beans and add water.
- Cook until foam appears.
- Then remove from the stove and cover with a saucer, let it brew.
- Pour the treat into a cup. If desired, decorate with whipped cream, grated chocolate, etc.
Arabic coffee
Along with Turkish coffee, Arabic coffee is considered a classic recipe. To prepare it, take: 2 tsp. sugar, 2-3 tsp. coffee, a pinch of salt, optional spices (nutmeg, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves).
- Place sugar in a cezve and place on low heat.
- Heat until sugar liquefies and light caramelization occurs.
- Pour boiling water into the Turk and mix well.
- Mix crushed coffee beans with salt and spices. Add the mixture to the Turk.
- Heat until foam rises.
- Then remove the cezve from the stove, cover with a saucer so that the drink simmers for a few more minutes.
Other recipes
In addition to those listed, there are other recipes for making coffee with spices. For example, with the addition of nutmeg. To do this, a classic drink is brewed. Then beat the egg yolk with sugar, add to the cream and bring to a boil. The resulting mixture is poured into a cup and sprinkled with nutmeg.
The recipe for making coffee with cardamom is considered simple. The algorithm for preparing the drink is identical to the recipe with cinnamon. Coffee with caramel has an interesting taste. To prepare it, you need to melt the sugar in a turk and bring it to a golden color. Then put a cinnamon stick in there and pour in water. When the water has cooled, remove the cinnamon and put the Turk on the fire, add crushed coffee beans, stir. Then remove from heat and pour into a mug.
An interesting way of brewing coffee was invented by the Italians, who use a moka coffee maker to prepare it. Thanks to it, Italian coffee turns out rich, strong and aromatic. A metal filter is inserted into the coffee maker, onto which ground coffee powder is poured in a heap. The structure is closed and placed on fire. Gradually, after the water boils, the finished drink enters the upper reservoir of the coffee maker. After this, the moka is removed from the heat and its contents are poured into a cup.
Armenian coffee is called surch. It is strong and has special cooking characteristics. To prepare it you need crushed coffee beans, sugar, cognac and water. All ingredients are placed in a Turk and filled with water. After this, the vessel is placed on low heat and cooked until the foam rises. This procedure is repeated three times, and then the contents of the Turka are poured into a mug.
Coffee is an amazing drink, there are a great many recipes and methods of preparation. It is this feature that makes it popular and attractive to people from different regions of the world. It also encourages connoisseurs of the drink to call it “magnificent,” “magical,” and “divine.”