subject: Turkish Coffee Preparation: Some Tips. [print this page] However, it is not necessary to add sugar; the beverage can be taken free of any additives. This method of brewing is common in northern parts of Africa and the Middle East.
In preparing Turkish coffee, special equipments are used. A brewing pot, heating source, teaspoon and sugar are the main items that are required for the purpose. Ground Coffee although various materials can be used in making the brewing pot, those made of copper are the commonly used. The brewing pot is designed in such a way that it is small and features a narrow top. The size of the brewing pot usually follows a specific pattern in which the size corresponds to the number of cups intended to be brewed. The teaspoon is used for stirring the coffee while it is brewing and in measuring the amount of coffee and sugar to be put into the brewing pot.
Brewed coffee is served in specially designed cup that may have a handle or not. The cup is usually of small size. When brewing Turkish ground coffee, the heating is controlled to ensure that the brew does not boil fast. In delaying the boiling, all nutrients contained in the ground particles are released. Modern heating sources are widely used in brewing. These however do not produce good quality brew. The best quality is obtained by brewing the traditional way. In this way, the boiling pot is not exposed directly to heat but rather it is placed on sand, whose container is that which is exposed to heat. This style of heating allows for even and gentle boiling, which is necessary for obtaining quality brew.
Boiling time varies greatly when preparing Turkish coffee. As soon as the brew starts to boil, the brewing pot is removed from the heat and allowed to settle. It is then boiled again twice and allowed to settle. It is normally served hot. The quality of brew is also determined by the quality of coffee powder obtained from roasted coffee beans. The powder quality is only assured of if it is finely grounded.
When ground coffee obtained from roasted coffee beans and sugar are added in the water in a brewing pot, stirring using the spoon starts straight away. This ensures that all the coffee and sugar particles are completely dissolved. A quality brew can be ascertained by simply looking at the brew foam. Thick foam is usually an indication of quality brew.
Grinding coffee can be undertaken using ordinary grinding equipments although such may not produce very fine coffee powder necessary for brewing quality coffee. Specially designed coffee grinders are available in the market that one can use to grind fine coffee. Ground coffee easily loses flavor with inappropriate storage. It is necessary to store the same in a tight container kept in a dry place. However, storage should not be for long.
