Türk Kahvesi — Black As Hell, Strong As Death And Sweet As Love
5 December World Turkish Coffee Day — a day to strengthen friendships; a day to celebrate Turkish cultures and traditions.
Drinking a cup of Turkish coffee with the person you love, it’s like saying, “I am yours for 40 years.” Yes, this is the magic of Turkish coffee — a symbol of love, friendship, hospitality, and happiness.
Aside from the scenic landscapes and the famous hot air balloons, turkey is also praised for its intensely rich flavored coffee — Türk Kahvesi. And it is not the coffee beans that make it unique but the grinding, roasting, and brewing method. Sipping a cup of Turkish coffee not only makes you feel like going for a trip to Istanbul but, it will also connect you with their culture, tradition. Moreover, you will realize it is not simply a drink — something more than that.
So, what are the incredible facts that make Turkish coffee, THE TURKISH COFFEE? And why do we celebrate 5 December as THE WORLD TURKISH COFFEE DAY? Let’s find out now!
What is Turkish coffee?
An essential culture, fortune teller, and a morning pleasure for the Turkish people. Turkish coffee was first introduced in the mid-1500s by the Turkish Governor of Yemen — Özdemir Pasha.
Turks prepare their coffee in a long-handled metal pot called a cezve or ibrik, combining finely ground beans, water, and sugar. You can have it according to your taste. It can be made as — sade (plain), az şekerli (slightly sweet), orta şekerli (medium sweet), or şekerli (sweet).
As it is brewed unfiltered, never stir it or, you will end up with a mouth full of ‘mud’. It is served with a glass of water and a Turkish delight — ‘Lokum’. A sip of water helps you clean your palate while waiting for the grounds to settle down at the bottom.
In 2013, Turkish coffee made its place on the UNESCO’s list of ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.’ According to UNESCO, Turkish coffee is considered a part of Turkish cultural heritage: it is celebrated within the literature and songs and is an important part of ceremonial occasions.
What makes Turkish coffee so special?
It is not a coffee to enjoy from a cup with a plastic lid on top (American) while walking. And not the one to take a sip from a small espresso cup (Italian) while standing at the bar. Rather, it is the one to relax your mind after a long day of work by simply enjoying its deliciously robust flavor sip by sip!
1. Not just a coffee but a ritual practiced by Turks!
An indispensable element of Turkish culture — it plays an integral part in Turkish ceremonies and festivals. It is famous for its special cooking process and unique brewing method. After UNESCO’s recognition in 2013, 5 December is celebrated as ‘World Turkish Coffee Day’.
It’s all about socializing and relaxing — you have your Turkish coffee in your hand? Ok now you have to take a sit; relax your mind and slowly enjoy its delightful taste. What’s more, Turkish people like to associate their coffee while conversing with friends, as a morning practice or in small breaks during long day work.
A fortune teller — the only type of coffee — that can predict the future. There is a tradition in Turkish culture that attracts attention all over the world and still continues to. Turks usually left the grounds at the bottom of the cup and then turned the finished cup upside-down on the saucer. It is believed that the grounds run down inside of the cup can be used for fortune-telling by observing its pattern that was left behind.
2. Unique making process!
Three unique aspects set Turkish coffee apart from the next.
The grinding method: Turks serve it totally unfiltered, so its grinding process is done very finely. The size of the coffee particles is less than 1mm — yeah, quite amazing!
The cezve: the Turkish coffee usually brewed in a pot called ‘cezve’ — although any small pot will serve the purpose. And it tastes heavenly when we prepare it in copper pots on a coal fire.
The foam: the best part about Turkish coffee is when brewed perfectly, it creates a thick foamy stage that will be going to roll over your tongue.
The making process is quite different — first originated in Middle Eastern and European countries, including Turkey, Greece, and Iran. You can prepare a cup of Turkish coffee by simply putting finely ground coffee beans with water (and often sugar according to individual’s taste) in a pot (cezve). What about milk or cream? Well, never added in Turkish coffee, but sometimes they add cardamom — a special addition to our favorite Kahve.
When the liquid reaches the desired stage (a dark foaming stage, just below boiling) — the brew with the coffee grinds is served into tiny cups, Fincan.
The grounds sink to the bottom. But never drink or eat the grounds, leave it for some other purpose and consume the liquid only. As it is prepared unfiltered, you will get the benefits of highly concentrated caffeine in comparison to any other preparation style.
3. Comes with lots of health benefits!
A cup of Turkish coffee can keep the doctor from earning his bread. Quite surprising, right? According to some researchers, unfiltered coffee is power-packed with caffeine and stronger than any other type. Here are some reasons to go with Turkish coffee,
- A study performed on some athletes showed that those who consumed caffeinated Turkish coffee experienced performance benefits — including energy levels and reaction time compared to those who drunk decaffeinated ones.
- One study indicates coffee intake may drop down the chances of stroke, Dementia, and Parkinson’s disease.
- The unfiltered Turkish coffee contains a decent amount of polyphenol antioxidants, chlorogenic acids — improve blood sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and inflammation as well.
- Another study says regular consumption of about 1–3 cups/day is related to a lower risk of death, including a 15% reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease.
- Turks like to have their coffee in addition to cardamom. One study in rats showed that it is effective against some inflammatory compounds — TNF-α (tumor necrosis factor) and IL-6 (interleukin 6). The essential oil found in cardamom also has some antibacterial properties.
Take home message
“Coffee should be black as hell, strong as death and sweet as love” — Turkish proverb.
Turkish coffee is quite famous in many countries for its finely grounded Arabica beans, mind-blowing aroma, and flavourful taste. However, you would not consume more than three cups a day. For a healthy person, daily caffeine intake should not be more than 400 mg. And for the elderly, as their caffeine tolerance is lower, the amount should be half.
On the other hand, Turkish or any other types of coffee, especially the unfiltered types are not a good choice for people who are sensitive to caffeine or have high blood pressure. Moreover, unfiltered coffee contains cafestol — a polyphenol that may raise triglycerides and blood cholesterol. That’s why Turks left the grounds in the cup as it is not healthy.
So, if you like to have your coffee strong, unfiltered, dark, and don’t have health issues like high blood pressure or caffeine sensitivity, you are good to go with TURKISH COFFEE.
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