How to Brew Turkish Coffee
There is more than one way to make Turkish coffee, but here’s a reliable method from a barista who’s been brewing the thick blend since childhood.
Courtesy of Aharon Coffee
Aharon Coffee is a Los Angeles-based roaster and purveyor supplying beans to premiere businesses throughout the region. A favorite of the Sunset Staff, Aharon Coffee will bring you inside the world of high-quality coffee in this new weekly series. For more information, visit the Aharon Coffee website.
The Turkish coffee brewing method means first brewing very finely ground coffee and water together in a small copper or brass pot called an ibrik, and then after brewing, pouring the entire contents of the pot—grinds and water—into the coffee cup to drink.
The thick grinds quickly sink and remain at the bottom of the cup as the rich yummy resulting fresh-brewed coffee is sipped and enjoyed. It is a beloved brewing method used in homes across countries such as Greece, Turkey, Armenia, Persia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, and Morocco, among other countries. But what many people don’t realize is that it is super easy and a wonderfully rich and delicious way to enjoy coffee.
Aharon’s Turkish Coffee Story
Around the same age he learned to read and write, Aharon learned to brew Turkish coffee from his Moroccan-born parents. He would sip the coffee and developed a liking early on for the thick rich taste. When Aharon was eight, an uncle dropped by unexpectedly for a visit when his parents were out, and Aharon made him a Turkish coffee without any help or assistance.
Years later, when Aharon opened up his flagship store in Beverly Hills, Aharon Coffee & Roasting Co., he was aware that many of his customers—like himself—would have their own history and personal preferences for brewing Turkish style coffee. For example, some Turkish coffee drinkers allow the water to almost boil three times in the pot before turning off the flame and pouring into a cup; others add sugar to the pot while brewing; still, others brew Turkish coffee on hot sand. And since the brew style can feel so personal, Aharon understood that it would not be possible to do a Turkish brew method in the “right way” for each visitor.
So, in order to develop a universal method to adopt for his store, Aharon researched and watched the video of the Turkish Coffee Brewing World Champion Barista, and copied the championship method exactly. The only addition Aharon made was to add a fresh hand-crushed cardamom seed to the coffee grinds of each brew… and of course, to only ever use coffee beans that were hand-roasted by Aharon himself.
Aharon’s Tips and Tools of the Trade
(For more details on this process, including photos, click here.)
Put ground coffee inside the ibrik (Turkish coffee brewer). The coffee must be ground very fine.
Aharon designates Movito blend for the Turkish coffee brewed at Aharon Coffee & Roasting Co. because it delivers an exquisite richness and it is roasted and blended with the Turkish brew method in mind.
Aharon recommends using a 1:10 ratio, 1g of coffee to every 10g water.
Add room temperature water. The type of water used makes a big difference in resulting flavor—use only good quality water, not tap water, and not high-alkaline water.
Mix gently.
Ignite the flame below the pot.
Grind fresh cardamom. Aharon uses 1 pod—he removes the shell, grinds the pod with a pestle, and then adds the ground cardamom to the coffee in the ibrik as it is heating up.
Babysit the brew: Watch the pot so that the water heats up enough to brew the coffee, but not boil it.
As soon as the coffee crema appears—a rich, thick, creamy layer begins curling over from the sides of the pot and folding over itself into the middle—remove the pot immediately from the flame and pour it into your cup.
Enjoy!
Don’t be afraid to brew Turkish-style coffee—the results are seriously spectacular.
Essential Coffee Gear
First, Do Not Boil Water
Important: Boiling water is not a friend of coffee! Depending on your preference, you want water that’s between 195 and 202 degrees, and to control that temperature, you need one of these highly precise Bonavita kettles, which warm the water quickly and pour quite elegantly.
Scales: Not Just for Geeks
Okay, we know what you’re going to say: Seriously, a scale? I am not a coffee geek! Fair enough. But if you want to make better coffee, you need to know precisely how much coffee you’re using, and the Hario is going to tell you that, measuring beans to 0.1 grams. Trust us, within days of starting to do this, it’ll seem entirely natural, and the idea of using a scoop will sound ridiculous. Bonus: You can use it to measure things other than coffee, like artisan flour.
Grind It Right, Right?
Nothing beats freshly ground coffee, and with this grinder from Bellevue, WA–based Baratza, you can choose from 40 grind settings to truly become an expert on how coarse or how fine you want your grounds.
Easy Espresso: AeroPress
When it comes to roughing it, most of us draw the line at giving up morning coffee. Luckily, there’s the AeroPress, invented by the same entrepreneur behind the Aerobie, the magical flying disk. This innovative coffee maker has garnered thousands of rave reviews for its ability to brew perfect americano or espresso in 30 seconds. Easier and more reliable than a French press, it uses air pressure to press boiling water through coffee grounds and straight into your cup. Cleanup takes about a minute, and the durable pieces store neatly in a travel bag, making the AeroPress the perfect camping gadget to bring along for a cuppa.
Slow and Simple: Chemex
Time-tested and beloved by baristas and home brewers alike, the pour-over offers a pure expression of a bean’s flavor profile. Designed in 1941 by an eccentric chemist, timeless.
The Convert: Breville Barista Pro
A perfect all-in-one solution for the at-home barista, this unit takes up minimal counter space, and looks good doing it. We’re huge fans of the integrated burr grinder—which saves additional space—as well as the smart grind adaptor feature. The best part: It’s ready to brew mere seconds after firing up.
Cold Brew, Overnight: Hario Coldbrew System
Stop paying $6 for iced coffee. It’s not rocket science: Throw some ground coffee in the filter of this unit and you’ll have wonderful coffee all week long, for a tenth of the price of store-bought brew.
The Virtuoso: La Marzocco Linea Mini
Used in many commercial contexts, the Ferrari of espresso machines boasts a dual boiler system for keeping the brew head and steam wand ready for action simultaneously. You’ll coax wonderful shots out of this unit, but like a Leica rangefinder camera or a vintage manual race car, it requires finesse to see top results. Isn’t that part of the goal?
Pretend You’re in a Fancy Café
Your pour-over coffee game is about to get even better. For the fancy coffee aficionado, this sleek model features a beautiful glass dripper which rests on a brass stand with an American walnut base. The stand adjusts to the height of your mug or pot.
A Smarter Sip
Smart technology comes to the teahouse with this mug that keeps your coffee consistently toasty warm at your desired temperature. Sitting with your drink for a spell? Keep your mug resting in the battery-powered base to ensure the warmth stays in check. Want to take it to go? The Ember comes in a travel mug version, powered by a portable battery (although it won’t stay warm for as long as the desktop version). Originally available in white, we love the matte black finish for its neo-noir vibe.
