Turkish coffee is brewed by simmering very finely ground coffee with water, with no filter. The result is small, strong and slightly thick, with a layer of foam on top. It is easy to make at home once you get the grind and the heat right.
What you need
- A small long-handled pot, often called a cezve or ibrik.
- Very fresh, powder-fine coffee. The grind is the most important part.
- Cold water, and sugar if you take it sweet.
- A small cup, usually 60 to 90 ml (2 to 3 oz).
Grind: finer than espresso
Turkish coffee needs a grind close to flour. Most home grinders cannot get that fine. A purpose-built mill can, such as the Turkish Manual Coffee Grinder (from $34.99), and electric models like the Electric Coffee Grinder with Turkish Coffee Boiler (from $139.99) are designed around this style. For other grind levels, see our grind size chart.
Ratio
Start with about one heaping teaspoon (roughly 7 g) of coffee for each small cup of cold water (60 to 75 ml). Add sugar now if you want it, because stirring afterward breaks the foam.
Method, step by step
- Add cold water, coffee and sugar to the pot and stir until the coffee is wet.
- Place it on low to medium-low heat. Do not walk away.
- As the coffee warms, foam builds on the surface. Stop stirring once it does.
- Just before it boils, the foam rises. Lift the pot off the heat.
- Let the foam settle for a few seconds, return briefly to the heat once more, then pour slowly so the foam lands in the cup.
- Rest the cup for a minute so the grounds sink. Do not drink the last sip, since that is where the sediment sits.
Common mistakes
- Heat too high. Boiling hard kills the foam and turns the coffee bitter.
- Grind too coarse. The coffee will taste thin and the grounds will not settle.
- Stale coffee. Fine grounds lose aroma fast, so grind just before you brew.
Other small-cup methods
If you like strong, concentrated coffee but want fewer steps, a moka pot is a good alternative. Read how to use a moka pot.
FAQ
Can I use regular ground coffee?
Pre-ground drip coffee is too coarse. Buy a powder-fine grind or grind your own.
Do I stir Turkish coffee?
Stir once at the start. After the foam forms, leave it alone.
Why is there sediment?
The coffee is not filtered, so fine grounds settle at the bottom. That is normal.
