One of the drinks that are loved by the world is Turkish coffee. It's also an essential culture and indispensable for the Turkish people. And that's because the Turkish people associate coffee with everyday conversations with their friends as morning pleasure and breaks taken during the day. 

Preparing Turkish coffee is simple because of automatic machines. But it gets a different taste when it's made on copper pots on a coal fire. The beverage has become famous worldwide for its unique method and a strong taste of service and preparation. 

But there's so much more to the coffee's story than its exquisite taste, so let's go through everything you need to know about Turkish coffee. This is your ultimate guide. 

Where Did The Story Of Turkish Coffee Began? 

The story all began when two Syrian traders first brought coffee to Istanbul in 1555. It became a fundamental part of the Ottoman court's extensive ceremonies. The coffee makers served the sultan coffee properly, and this ritual played out in their marriage customers. 

This is how the marriage ceremonial worked: the women in the harem were purposely trained to make the excellent drink. Then the would-be husbands would judge a woman based on her skills in preparing Turkish coffee. 

The Famous Coffeehouses In Turkey 

Coffeehouses first opened five centuries ago in the Tahtakale neighborhood in Eminönü. It then became the central point of social life for the Turkish men. These coffeehouses were also the primary place for the distribution of oral culture in the Ottoman Empire. 

It was a place for comedians, artists, bards, and other showpeople to perform for the crowd. The coffeehouse became the exhibition place for folk literature like the shadow plays of Karaköz and Hacivat. 

Currently, the coffee houses are still places where people gather to talk politics, socialize and play backgammon over cups of coffee and tea. 

What Is Turkish Coffee? 

What does Turkish coffee taste like? Well, the coffee starts distinguishing itself the moment you grind it. Turkish coffee is very finely ground. It's the most finely compared to all types of coffee. The coffee's particle size is roughly less than one millimeter. 

Due to that, there's a lot of coffee particles surface area. When you use a high-pressure system or high temperature like espresso will make the coffee more bitter. However, the Turkish preparation of coffee depends on finely ground coffee, and it works well too. 

But what you should keep in mind is that Turkey doesn't have its coffee beans. They use Arabic beans and finely ground for coffee making. If you look at it, it's more of cooking instead of brewing. It doesn't look like regular coffee beans, but much like cocoa powder. 

The ground coffee is mixed with sugar and water (it's optional, though) in a unique coffee port called ibrik or cezve. It's then simmered over the lowest heat. Traditionally, it's done on hot sand. 

When it's done, you'll end up with a thick and frothy coffee with a strong aroma. 

Turkish Coffee Recipe For A Delicious Drink 

When it comes to the Turkish coffee recipe, it's an essential part of Middle Eastern culture, prepared and served differently than the West. The term "Arabic coffee" usually refers to one primary method of coffee preparation - Turkish, as explained above, but comes with different variations. 

When it comes to the Turkish coffee ingredients, coffee is cooked with sugar instead of later adding sweetener. Furthermore, people serve the coffee in small cups, and it's allowed to sit for a few minutes before it's done.  

It's done to allow the grounds to get to the bottom of the cup and settle. What about Turkish coffee with milk? Well, it's never done. Milk or cream is never added to coffee, but you can add sugar as optional. 

We always serve Turkish coffee in demitasse cups, and if it's completed correctly, the drink should have foam on top. It's usually served with a glass of water as a palate cleanser and a sweet like Turkish delight or chocolate. 

Here's how to make a Turkish coffee recipe. 

Turkish Coffee Ingredients 

• 1 cup of cold water 

• 1 tablespoon of finely grounded coffee (the powder should be consistent)

• ⅛ teaspoon of ground cardamom 

• 1 teaspoon of sugar (optional) 

Steps To Make The Turkish Drink 

Here's how to make the drink using the Turkish coffee ingredients listed above. 

1. Get all your ingredients in one place. 

2. Boil water and sugar in an ibrik. You can use a small saucepan if you don't have an ibrik. 

3. Take it off the heat and add cardamom and coffee. 

4. Heat the saucepan again and let it boil. Turn off the heat when foams from the coffee appear. 

5. Again, switch on the heat and allow the coffee to foam and remove from the heat again.

6. Pour the coffee into two demitasse cups, and let them settle for some minutes. That will allow the grounds to settle to the bottom. 

Some people boil the water with sugar, add two tablespoons of finely ground coffee, stir and wait for a moment for the mixture to rise. They then wait a bit for the powder to sit and serve the Turkish coffee with milk. 

The only coffee you can drink with milk is instant coffee. But that's not really coffee. So serving Turkish coffee with milk is never done. That's one of the things that makes the coffee unique. 

What Does Turkish Coffee Taste Like? 

The flavor of the coffee is bold, but not Starbucks coffee bold. The coffee is condensed, much like espresso, with a solid bittersweet taste. Extra sugar is usually added to make the drink very sweet. 

Turkish Coffee Vs Espresso: What's The Difference? 

When it comes to Turkish coffee vs espresso, you won't find coffee more potent in texture and flavor than Turkish coffee. From the aesthetic viewpoint, espresso is the weaker beverage. However, usually, espresso is more caffeinated. But it usually depends on the size of the Turkish coffee serving, which is about six ounces. 

A 12-ounce of coffee will have more caffeine compared to a shot of espresso. But it still has a high amount of caffeine unless you increase the coffee to a 12-ounce. So Turkish coffee vs espresso, which is better? It depends on you. Both have their place and strengths. 

Turkish Coffee Benefits 

There are numerous Turkish coffee benefits out there. Coffee contains beneficial compounds that can protect your brain against specific neurological conditions due to the caffeinated content. 

The coffee can also protect people from type 2 diabetes and heart diseases. Not only that, but the coffee can also prevent liver cancer, lower the risk of depression, liver cirrhosis, etc. Numerous Turkish coffee benefits can ensure that you're always in good health. 

Conclusion 

If you've not tasted the coffee before, this is the best time to do so. What does Turkish coffee taste like? Delicious! It's best enjoyed with friends and family while having a lifetime discussion. However, before you drink the coffee, keep this tip in mind: 

• Always serve the coffee with foam on top. 

• You can purchase coffee beans at a coffee roaster if you can't find Arabic coffee. You can ask them to grind the coffee beans for Turkish coffee. 

• Don't stir after it's been poured into the cups. Otherwise, the foam will collapse.

• For best results, always begin with the best results.