Have you ever heard of Turkish coffee? We’ll tell you everything you need to know about the taste and texture as well as how it’s different from the other coffees you might be more familiar with. Then we’ll give you some tips for making an authentic cup to enjoy at home.
Let’s check it out…
What Does Turkish Coffee Taste Like?
If you haven’t had Turkish coffee, get ready for a truly unique experience. Unlike your standard java, Turkish coffee is brewed in a special pot (sometimes called a cezve and sometimes called an ibrik) with sugar and served in small cups that typically hold between three and six ounces.
The flavor of Turkish coffee is bold, but not in the smoky way that Starbucks coffee is bold. Rather, it’s condensed like espresso with a strong bittersweet flavor. Often, extra sugar is added to create a very sweet drink.
Turkish Coffee Texture
Turkish coffee is much thicker than coffee and denser than espresso. If you’ve ever heard of coffee you can chew, there’s no coffee that this expression applies to like Turkish coffee.
There may also a silty quality from the coffee sediment if you stir it. As you finish your cup, you’ll notice a sludgy paste at the bottom—that’s the sediment. If you don’t stir your coffee, it will stay there and won’t add much texture to the drink.
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Do You Drink the Sediment in Turkish Coffee?
Usually, you’d wait a moment or two for the sediment to settle at the bottom so that you don’t actually drink it. However, there’s no harm in getting some in your sips.
You may want to stir from time to time to reinvigorate the flavor as it continues to develop with this silty coffee bean mush. Just wait thirty seconds or so after each stir to take a sip.
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Is Turkish Coffee Stronger Than Espresso?
You won’t find a coffee more portent in flavor and texture than Turkish coffee. There’s nothing else like it. From this aesthetic standpoint, espresso is the weaker of the two.
However, espresso is usually more caffeinated. But this has to do with the size of the Turkish coffee serving, which will probably be no more than six ounces.
You see, a 12-ounce coffee has more caffeine than a shot of espresso, but espresso still has more caffeine than Turkish coffee. Unless you upgraded to a 12-ounce cup of Turkish coffee—then that espresso would have some competition.
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Can You Put Milk in Turkish Coffee?
Many people do drink Turkish coffee with milk and sugar. In fact, milk may even be added to the brewing process before the drink is even served.
Because Turkish coffee is so rich and powerful, it may be good to try it with a thicker vegan milk like cashew or coconut milk to soften the impact. A thick almond or soy milk would do the same.
Turkish Coffee Serving Tips
If you can’t find Turkish coffee out, make it at home. There are some tricks to it, so watch these videos to learn how to avoid making a bitter, over-extracted cup.
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Making an authentic Turkish coffee takes a little bit of time and skill, but it’s not difficult. If you don’t have the special coffee pot in this video, you can use a small saucepan and brew carefully.
This video will show you how to make Turkish coffee with plant-based milk. It’s so simple—just add the coffee, vegan milk and sugar to the pot.
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Wrap Up
Turkish coffee is a treasure. It’s a strong, thick coffee beverage made for sipping with sugar and maybe a little vegan creamer. You could even add spices like nutmeg and cinnamon for a warming winter treat. Just be careful not to overcook it and you’ll end up with the sweetest, most delightful cup.
Hey, I’m Joey. I’ve been cooking since I was a little kid and love everything about it. You can find my writing about food, kitchen appliances (such as blenders) and much more. Thanks for stopping by!
