How to brew Turkish coffee
Short answer
Turkish coffee is brewed in a cezve (small pot) with cold water and very finely ground coffee over low heat. Take it off the heat as the foam rises; do not let it boil.
Checklist
- Prepare finely ground coffee
- Use cold water
- Add sugar at the start and stir
- Brew on low heat without stirring
- Remove from heat when the foam rises
Turkish coffee is a traditional drink made by simmering powder-fine ground coffee with water in a cezve. The grounds are not filtered; they are poured into the cup and left to settle. Its traditional preparation and serving are recognized on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
What you need
- Coffee: Very finely ground, powder-like Turkish coffee. Regular filter grind is not suitable.
- Cold water: Preferably filtered or good-quality drinking water, cold.
- Cezve: A pot sized for the number of cups, ideally copper or similar.
- Optional: Sugar, depending on your preferred sweetness.
Step-by-step brewing
- Measure the waterUse the serving cup to measure cold water into the cezve. One cup of water per serving is the standard.
- Add the coffeeAdd about one teaspoon (roughly 5–7 grams) of coffee per cup. If you want sugar, add it now.
- StirStir before heating until the coffee and sugar dissolve.
- Heat gentlyPlace the cezve on low heat and wait patiently without stirring. The slower it heats, the better the aroma develops.
- Catch the foamWhen foam forms and begins to rise from the edges, remove the cezve from the heat. Share the foam evenly among the cups.
- Reheat (optional)For thicker foam, you can return the cezve to the heat once more until it rises again.
- Pour and restPour slowly into the cup and wait a minute or two for the grounds to settle.
Sweetness levels
- Plain: No sugar.
- Lightly sweet: About half a teaspoon per cup.
- Medium: About one teaspoon per cup.
- Sweet: About two teaspoons per cup.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
What if I don't have a cezve?
A small saucepan can work, but a narrow-necked cezve is better for forming foam.
Do you drink the grounds?
No. The grounds settle at the bottom; you sip the coffee and leave them.
Why does my coffee taste bitter?
Usually from overheating, boiling, or using too much coffee.
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