How to choose a Turk for coffee

Coffee lovers know that the most delicious version is prepared in Turk.

The aroma and taste of the drink largely depend on its quality.

Another name for Turks is cezva, but this Turkish word has not taken root in Russia. But there are different opinions on this matter - read about the differences between cezves and Turks here.

The Turk can be made from:

• copper;
• brass;
• aluminum;
• ceramics;
• of stainless steel;
• clay;
• silver;
• cupronickel;
• quartz.

Differences and similarities with a clay Turk

Ceramics and clay are the same material with different processing. A pottery pot made of clay does not have a finishing coating - “glaze”, which makes ceramic dishes smooth and shiny.

The porous surface of the clay absorbs smell and color. The taste of new coffee from a clay pot may contain shades of the previous drink. You can prepare another type of coffee in it, but its taste will be distorted.

Caring for clay dishes is more difficult than ceramic ones. Inaccurate washing will quickly ruin the appearance of the product.

Advantages of a clay Turk

The history of this utensil is quite comparable to the history of coffee itself, but how does it feel in our modern world?

Clay Turks remain in high demand among coffee fans, despite the existing alternative options. Cezves made of refractory clay are valued for a number of undeniable advantages.

Material structure.

Clay is a fairly porous material that allows oxygen to pass through well. It enriches the coffee being prepared and enhances the taste of the drink.

Natural origin.

The desire for environmental cleanliness has recently acquired the form of a sustainable trend. What could be more natural than earthenware? The material has been tested by hundreds of generations of our ancestors and is completely safe for humans.

Uniform heating.

Clay has a fairly low thermal conductivity and retains heat well. Due to this, the dishes heat up slowly and evenly. An even and gradual distribution of heat allows coffee to reveal its full flavor potential, which has a positive effect on the quality of the finished drink.

High heat retention coefficient.

The clay pot continues to warm the drink even after the brewing process is complete. The coffee seems to be languishing in a clay embrace. Therefore, the infusion becomes even stronger and more aromatic and acquires a deep taste.

Clay Turks are usually produced by hand or in small workshops. Cezves made in China and Turkey are often found. Craftsmen in these countries have been working with clay for many generations, so their experience can be trusted.

The cost of a clay Turk is very low; you can find very decent handmade dishes for 400-500 rubles. Although Turks made from the famous Yixing clay can cost much more.

Which Turk is better: ceramic or copper?

Both copper and ceramic Turks have their fans. They differ in several respects:

• thermal conductivity (copper is higher than ceramics);
• heat capacity (ceramics is higher than copper);
• cooling rate (copper is higher than ceramics).

The main disadvantage of copper Turk is toxicity when the tin layer is damaged. If scratches appear inside the product, its use becomes hazardous to health.

Ceramic Turks do not have this disadvantage, but have another - increased fragility at a high cost.

A copper Turk is considered a more classic option. Many people prefer ceramic products because the drink in them “languishes” longer after turning off the stove and becomes more aromatic.

Useful tips and recommendations on which coffee machine to choose for your home, reviews of models and manufacturers, can be found in our publication.

This article will tell you where and how coffee is grown.

French press - what is it? Find the answer to the question here: https://chay-i-kofe.com/pribory/chto-takoe-french-press-kak-im-polzovatsya-i-zavarivat-chay-i-kofe/

Pros and cons of clay Turks

Turks made from clay have a number of advantages. Among them are:

• porosity of the structure, thanks to this the coffee is saturated with oxygen and greatly reveals its taste properties;
• environmental friendliness of the material. It is not dangerous to human health;
• low thermal conductivity, due to which the vessel heats up moderately and cools down slowly, which improves the quality of the finished drink.

In addition to their advantages, such Turks also have disadvantages. Among them are the fragility of containers and sensitivity to temperature changes.

During cooking, the clay retains a coffee smell, which is why only one coffee variety should be brewed in one vessel.

How to use

There are many ways to brew Turkish coffee. The liquid in such a container heats up very quickly.

You cannot leave coffee on the stove unattended, as it will quickly “run away” and lose some of its aroma.

One of the most popular cooking recipes:

• grind coffee beans “to dust” (for example, single-origin “Brazil”);
• prepare cold water from a bottle or filter;
• put the Turk on the stove and start heating it over low heat;
• pour coffee beans and other desired ingredients (spices, sugar) into the heated pot;
• pour water;
• stir the coffee with a long-handled teaspoon;
• As soon as the foam begins to darken and bubbles appear, remove the drink from the heat.

You can remove the Turk from the heat several times when foam appears and return it back as soon as the bubbles settle. Regular stirring allows you to better reveal the taste of the drink.

Connoisseurs of Turkish coffee believe that it is impossible to put Turkish coffee on fire. They place it in a frying pan with sand, due to which the heating occurs gradually.

On a gas stove

Any Turk, including clay, can be used on a regular gas stove.

Don't be afraid that the dishes will burst. During the manufacturing process, the Turk is processed at a higher temperature than a gas burner gives.

It is important that the Turk stands level on the burner. If the diameter of the bottom of the pan is smaller than or equal to the size of the burner, then it will definitely fall when heated.

A metal divider will solve this problem for any gas stove.

When using it, the flame height should be minimal. The quality of the drink and the appearance of the Turka will be preserved.

On electric

If the heating surfaces have an even shape and are of sufficient size, then you can place the Turk on an electric stove without additional equipment .

The problem will arise if the stove uses a heating coil and the Turk is made of ceramic. Uneven heating will not only make your coffee worse, but it can also cause your cookware to crack.

For such slabs you will need a divider. You need to place the Turk on the heating surface before turning on the stove.

You can also check out the electric coffee turk in the next article.

On induction

An induction cooker makes you reconsider a lot of cookware. In order not to look for a special Turk, you can purchase a ferromagnetic disk adapter.

This product will make the process of making coffee the same as on any other stove.

Another way to brew coffee on an induction stove is to use the Turkish recipe. For this you need a frying pan with sand. The Turk does not come into contact with the stove, so any model can be used.

You will find information about special Turks for induction cookers here.

On glass-ceramic

A stove with a glass-ceramic surface does not complicate the coffee brewing process in any way. It is enough to place the Turk on the stove before turning it on and make sure that the drink does not “run away”.

How to choose the right ceramic Turk

A few practical tips will make the task of purchasing a new cezve for the first time easier.

Ceramic Turks quickly turned from exotic to ordinary tableware, so finding them on sale is quite easy. A wide range is available in specialized coffee supply stores, in regular household supermarkets, in online stores and in small handicraft workshops.

A Turk purchased in a store is manufactured industrially, has a warranty period, and this is its undoubted advantage. When buying a cezve in a store, it is more likely that all technological production conditions have been met. Most often you can find dishes made in Russia, Turkey, and Brazil.

IMPORTANT. The optimal shape for a Turk is considered to be cone-shaped, and the wider the bottom and narrower the neck, the better the taste of coffee can be achieved.

• A ceramic cezve must have a wide bottom and a much narrower neck. The narrower the Turkish bell, the more aromatic the coffee will be. Evaporation of light aromatic fractions occurs through the neck, so the narrow hole, which is also reliably sealed with dense foam, ensures maximum preservation of the taste and aromatic properties of the drink.
• The upper bell of the cezve, which resembles a funnel, prevents the foam from rising too quickly to the edge, so a coffee maker of this shape is especially convenient for those who are taking their first steps in making natural coffee.
• The size of the ceramic Turk should be selected according to the amount of coffee you usually brew. It’s not worth taking a cezve with a “reserve”. The smaller the Turk, the tastier the drink in it.

• The handle of ceramic cookware should be made of a non-heat-conducting material. Wood or clay is best. Iron handles heat up too quickly, and given the fact that the Turk needs to be quickly removed from the heat, there may not be enough time to find an oven mitt.
• As for aesthetics, there can be no advice here; everyone chooses dishes to their own taste. Black ceramics look very stylish, a colored pottery in one color decorates a kitchen in a modern style, and a patterned or painted product looks great in a kitchen in an oriental design or in a country interior.

How to properly care for a ceramic Turk

In order for a ceramic cezve to last a long time and have a good appearance, you need to follow several rules:

• first place the Turk on the stove and then turn on the heat (for uniform heating);
• make sure that the stove burner matches the diameter of the bottom of the Turk;
• do not use aggressive detergents;
• try not to scratch the surface with a sponge when washing or other utensils during storage;
• store the Turk in a stable position, because ceramics easily break when dropped.

How to brew coffee in a clay pot

The first question that arises among cezve owners is whether it is possible to put a clay Turk on an open fire . It would seem that refractory clay can withstand high temperatures well, so why bother putting the Turk on the gas burner?

For a clay cezve, it is not heating that is dangerous, but sudden temperature changes. As we already mentioned, the material has low thermal conductivity. Therefore, when clay is suddenly heated, a temperature difference will occur in the structure of the material, which will inevitably lead to microdamage and cracks. The clay Turk must be placed on a fire divider or immersed in hot sand. In this case, heating will occur evenly, and the dishes will not be in any danger.

In order to make good coffee in a clay pot, you just need to follow a simple algorithm:

• Take a dry and clean cezve and pour the amount of ground coffee into it.
• Add water. It should reach the narrowest part of the neck.
• Place the Turk on a fire breaker or immerse it in hot sand.
• Has the foam, which coffee experts call “creama,” begun to rise? It's time to take the Turk off the heat.

To obtain a strong infusion of coffee in a clay cezve, there is no need to heat it several times over a fire, as we do with copper utensils. It is enough just to hold the finished drink for 3-5 minutes in a clay container so that it acquires additional aroma and strength.

A pot made from this natural material can serve faithfully for many years, delighting you with the excellent and rich taste of your favorite drink.

How to choose

When choosing a Turk, you should follow your own preferences. Beginners in making their own coffee often prefer models made of copper or ceramics.

As your first Turk, you should not choose expensive options with many decorative elements. “Escaped” coffee and errors in care can quickly ruin the product.

We talked in more detail about how to choose the right Turkish coffee pot at the link.

Top brands

When choosing a Turk, you should pay attention to the brands:

• Ceraflame (huge selection, excellent quality, but high cost);
• "Stanitsa";
• Vitesse;
• Calve;
• Stella;
• Metrot;
• Tescoma.

The best Turk can be not only an expensive model, but also a product of folk craftsmen. Turks often buy at resorts or folk art exhibitions.

Are you wondering which coffee maker to choose for your home? We'll tell you! An overview of popular models and reviews of them are presented in this article.

You can learn how to use the coffee machine correctly from this publication.

How to use a ceramic Turk on a gas stove?

• For some reason, the most doubtful thing is the possibility of using a ceramic cezve on an open fire, in particular on a gas stove. So we will try to cover this issue in more detail.
• You can put the Turk on a gas stove. Ceramic cookware is designed for use on most ordinary stoves. There is no need to be afraid that the product will burst or crack. After all, ceramic Turks undergo special firing in kilns, where the temperature is much higher than what a gas burner can produce.
• The durability of such a cezve does not mean that you can use it haphazardly. The ceramic Turk should stand stable and level over the fire. That is, the diameter of the burner should be less than the diameter of the bottom of the Turk. Ceramic Turk on a gas stove
• If your stove does not have such a burner, then use a simple method - purchase a metal divider. It will not only help to install the Turk correctly, but will also evenly distribute the heat across the bottom of the cookware.
• The divider will also be useful for preserving the appearance of the Turk, as it limits the height of the fire and prevents it from scorching or smoking the sides of the cezve. This is especially true for dishes with relief patterns or stucco; usually it is the convex elements that suffer the most from flames.

IMPORTANT. Coffee should be brewed at reduced heat, even using a divider. A small flame height will help to heat the dishes evenly without creating a temperature difference in the structure of the material

Reviews

Oleg P .: “I purchased an excellent Ceraflame ceramic pot. You can brew coffee in it however you like, even in the microwave. Heats up very quickly and makes excellent coffee. In my opinion, a drink from a good coffee machine tastes better, but this is a completely different price. Moreover, a Turk takes up much less space at home. I advise you to never use sponges with detergent when washing, then the item will serve you for many years.”

Ksenia A .: “I have a whole collection of Turks - some made of clay, ceramic, and copper. Made from clay, it’s still in the kitchen as an accessory; I don’t want to get it dirty. My favorite coffee is made from an old copper pot. Easy to care for, easy to clean, the main thing is not to rub with any brushes. A ceramic pot heats up more slowly, but the coffee runs out of it faster. It is important to remove it from the heat on time. I define this moment simply - when the foam begins to curl towards the middle, then the drink is ready.”

Oksana R .: “I get the best coffee in a 400 ml copper pot. I definitely buy a new one when scratches appear inside. Making coffee in a Turkish coffee pot in the morning is a real ritual. I warm up the Turk before pouring water, and the cup before serving coffee. This is not difficult to do, and the aroma of the drink becomes more intense. There is also a ceramic Turk, but I haven’t managed to get used to it yet.”

Pros and cons of clay Turks

The material in which the coffee is brewed plays an important role.
To get high-quality, fragrant coffee, it is recommended to pay attention to all types of cezves that are on the market. The quality of the material affects the speed of coffee production, its richness, smell and taste. Many fans of the coffee drink believe that a clay Turk is better than clay or copper. Especially if it is made from Yixing clay. This Chinese clay (from the town of Yixing), thanks to its own structure, saturates coffee with oxygen, which gives it a divine smell and taste. Unfortunately, not everyone can afford to find and purchase Turka from this oriental material, but even ordinary clay has its advantages and has a beneficial effect on the quality of coffee.

Advantages

In ancient times, clay Turks were used by poor commoners who could not afford copper utensils (it was available only to aristocrats). Modern coffee lovers find a number of advantages of cezves made from clay, which explains their popularity.

The advantages of using a clay cezve include:

• The porous structure of the clay enriches the coffee with oxygen and increases its aroma;
• The material is environmentally friendly, which makes it non-hazardous to the body;
• Low thermal conductivity, which helps maintain the temperature of the drink. After the coffee is infused in such a container, it will acquire an indescribable deep taste;
• Uniform heating helps to evenly reveal all the properties of the coffee drink and taste properties;
• Availability and wide range allow coffee lovers to purchase utensils for making coffee of various types and sizes. Even a handmade Turk will not be scared off by the numbers on the price tag. If Yixing clay is used, the cost of dishes will be even higher than those made from ordinary clay.

Disadvantages

The peculiarities of a clay Turk may discourage coffee lovers from using this type of cezve. Disadvantages:

• Preserves the smell of coffee. Due to the porous structure of the wall, Turks are saturated with the qualities of the first coffee brewed in it. New coffee beans will not reach their full flavor potential due to the taste of the previous brewing. Therefore, it is better to brew one type of coffee in a Turkish coffee pot.
• Constant control over the manufacturing process. Due to the fact that the clay cools slowly, the coffee continues to rise even when the Turk is removed from the heat. You need to learn to control the process of brewing an invigorating drink.
• Sensitivity to temperature changes. Do not suddenly cool pottery after heating because it may crack. When making a coffee drink, it is better to place a cool pot over low heat so that it heats up moderately and there is no sudden temperature change.
• Fragility. It is quite easy to break this type of cookware, especially if the floor is tiled.

Which Turk is better, clay or clay?

Along with clay Turks, clay making is also popular. They are also made from baked clay, but have a final glaze coating. The surface can be glossy or matte.

The main feature that distinguishes earthenware from earthenware is that ceramics do not absorb odors. This material does not interact with the external environment, does not oxidize, and therefore will simply get rid of traces of a previously prepared drink. Ceramics are easy to wash and are quite easy to rinse with water.

Therefore, if a person does not drink one type of coffee, but often brews different types of coffee beans, then he should give preference to a ceramic pot. It retains all the positive characteristics of clay, in addition it removes traces of past cooking.

Which Turk is better, clay or copper?

In ancient times, a copper cezve was considered a sign of wealth; only high-ranking officials used it. At the moment, only true coffee connoisseurs prefer this type of Turkish coffee. Copper has its own differences from clay, as well as some peculiarities. To decide which type of material is more suitable for a coffee lover, you need to familiarize yourself with its qualities.

Copper differs from clay in that it heats up and cools down quite quickly. This does not allow the coffee to simmer, thereby saturating it with taste and smell, as in clay Turks. However, you can reveal all the flavor properties in copper dishes even with the help of hot sand, thanks to its good thermal conductivity.

Fundamentally! Just like clay, copper has the ability to absorb coffee odors, so lovers of an invigorating drink should also pay attention to this.