Turkish Coffee
Coffee in a cezve is an exercise in patience: the last thirty seconds decide everything. It must not boil even once, because boiling drives off the aromatics and leaves only bitterness. The thing to watch is the foam, rising to the rim three times and falling back three times.
- Prep
- 5 min
- Cook
- 10 min
- Rest
- 2 min
- Total
- 17 min
- Servings
- 2
- Level
- Medium
- Per serving
- 40 kcal
Ingredients
Makes: 2 cups of 70 ml
Shopping list
The ingredients for the servings you chose — copy them or send them to a messenger. Tick what you already have at home: only the rest goes on the list.
Method
-
Step 1: Warm the pot
Set the dry cezve over low heat for 20–30 seconds and add the coffee and sugar. Warmed grounds release their aroma the instant water touches them.
-
Step 2: Add cold water
Pour in cold water up to the narrowest part of the pot, no higher. A cold start means slow heating, and the narrow neck traps the foam that holds the aroma.
-
Step 3: Stir once
Stir until no dry clumps remain, then keep the spoon out. Every stir after heating begins destroys the foam you are trying to build.
-
Step 4: Keep the heat low
Five to seven minutes on the lowest flame, without leaving the stove. A dark ring forms at the edge first, then the foam starts climbing towards the centre.
-
Step 5: Lift it three times
The moment the foam reaches the rim, lift the pot off for 10 seconds and return it. Three times in all. Bubbling means it has already been overheated.
-
Step 6: Let it settle
Tap the base on the counter and wait a minute or two for the grounds to sink. Pour slowly, spooning the foam into the cups first.
Tips & variations
-
Tip
The grind must be powder-fine: anything coarser cannot give up its flavour in those few minutes and leaves grit in your teeth.
-
Tip
The ratio is 7 g of coffee (a heaped teaspoon) per 70 ml of water. Fill the pot two thirds at most, or the foam ends up on the stove.
-
Variation
Middle Eastern style: add a cardamom pod or a pinch of cinnamon with the coffee. A pinch of salt lifts the sweetness and softens the edge.
-
Storage
Drink it at once. Do not tip the grounds down the sink — they set in the pipes; compost or house plants are better.
Nutrition
| 1 serving | Whole dish 2 servings | |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | 40 kcal | 80 kcal |
| Protein | 1 g | 2 g |
| Fat | 0 g | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 9 g | 18 g |
Approximate values calculated from standard ingredient data.
Cooked it? Rate the recipe
No ratings yet — yours will be the first.
