Turkish Coffee Brewing
- coffee (7-10% volume of water)
- water
- sugar (see Turkish Coffee - Kahve for great info on different quantities)
- cardamom (1 pod per cup or ground if that is what you have)
- When brewing Turkish coffee, the foaming occurs at around 70C/158F, much cooler than boiling, which is why it's possible to foam the coffee repeatedly without boiling it--higher than 75C/167F the coffee becomes over-extracted.
- Much has been written about the number of times the coffee foams: once, thrice, etc.
- This is very confusing: just as in other brewing, the time spent at brewing temperature is your best guide.
- Instead of foaming and cooling cycles, modulate the flame to maintain a continuous foam for the duration of the extraction time.
- To me, it seems simpler and more consistent to use extraction time, as in other brewing styles.
- Procedure: Room temperature water with sugar, coffee, and cardamom stirred in is put onto the gas at medium heat.
- At two minutes, when foaming starts at the edges of the ibrik, slowly begin reducing the heat.
- The goal is to keep the coffee foaming, but not to let it rise more than a quarter of its volume.
- If you turn the gas down too quickly and the foaming stops, just turn it back up.
- The goal is to foam for 3 additional minutes (5 minutes total time).
- At 6 minutes total the coffee tastes overextracted, and at 4 it can be thin.
- The temperature at the end of 5 minutes should be around 75C/167F.
- At the end of extraction time, add just a touch of room temperature water to end the brewing--10% should be plenty.
- Swirl the ibrik gently to help the grounds caught in the foam subside and place the ibrik in a saucer of water to cool.
- After 1-2 minutes of settling, pour the coffee gently to retain the grounds.
- With a good brew, you should have enough foam to cover most or all of the surface of a demitasse cup.
- Coffee amount: Between 7-10% of initial water mass.
- At 10% the body is heavy and many will find it harsh.
- 8% is very nice.
- This method of brewing can accentuate the acidity of the beans--the coffee is very different from french press in flavor profile (this is not surprising since the extraction temperature is so much lower).
- Sugar amount: 0-4% of water mass.
- Using half the mass of coffee is just about the maximum to balance the bitterness and really let the acidity shine.
- Grinding: Much better if ground with a burr grinder, powder fine.
- Or try the Zass turkish mill, a manual one.
coffee, water, sugar, cardamom
Taken from www.food.com/recipe/turkish-coffee-brewing-453124 (may not work)