Did you know that Turkish coffee was first brewed in 1540? It was brought to the country by the Turkish Governor of Yemen, Ozdemir Pasha, who discovered this new beverage in his mountainous region. Today, people who look for the unique taste in freshly ground coffee use a Turkish coffee maker.
Turkish coffee was declared a royal drink in 1555 and was documented to that effect via a royal decree and sealed with the Ottoman stamp. Today, serving coffee is a tradition in Turkey and part of the local hospitality. Traditionally, it is served in small white cups in Turkey.
Traditional Methods of Brewing Coffee
One of the oldest and most traditional ways of making coffee, Turkish coffee is made from grounds brewed in a pot. The unmistakable, definitive flavor is what makes Turkish flavored coffee stand apart. As a lot of foam is generated while brewing coffee, the taste lingers in the mouth for a long time, making it a favorite of many people worldwide.
The first thing to keep in mind while attempting to brew Turkish coffee is to use freshly roasted coffee beans. Freshly roasted and ground coffee adds to the taste; hence try grinding just about the quantity you’ll use for the day. Keeping the ground coffee for the next day may cause it to lose some of the flavors.
However, if you are left with some grind, you can store it in an air-tight container in a cool, dry place. The next significant factor to getting the perfect consistency in your Turkish coffee is water. The water has to be pure and clean. Use cold water if you want foamy coffee.
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Retaining Foam and Flavor

The first thing to remember while brewing Turkish coffee is to use freshly roasted coffee beans. Water is another factor that adds to the flavor of the coffee. Use clean, pure water, and remember that only coffee made from cold water generates more foam. The coffee-water ratio is equally crucial for getting a perfect consistency.
For a cup of water, add two teaspoons of freshly ground coffee. Cook the coffee over a slow flame, as overheating it on a medium or high heat tends to kill the flavor. Never stir the coffee while it is cooking.
Allow the coffee to boil for a minute or so before removing it, as over-boiling tends to remove the foam. Today, people use a Turkish coffee makerinstead oftraditional coffee pots.
Benefits of Turkish coffee
Did you know that Turkish coffee has several health benefits? Besides helping enhance concentration levels, it also helps strengthen memory power. These health benefits are attributed to essential minerals like potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus in coffee. There is a widespread belief that coffee helps prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. It is heart-friendly because of the presence of antioxidants that help with cell repair.
If you consume Turkish coffee before a workout, it helps burn more calories. The caffeine present in coffee enhances blood circulation and helps prevent muscle fatigue and muscle loss. A cup of coffee after a heavy meal helps with easy digestion. Even today, people prefer drinking a cup of coffee to get rid of a splitting headache.
How Many Cups of Turkish Coffee can you drink?
It is common to start the day with a refreshing cup of coffee. However, consuming too much coffee is not considered good for health because of the presence of caffeine. Since a cup of coffee has 57 mg of caffeine, you can drink 3 to 4 cups of Turkish coffee in a day and still be within the limit of 300-400 mg caffeine recommended per day.
Of course, caffeine consumption depends on individual metabolism rates and the age of the person needs to be considered. Consuming excess coffee tends to raise your blood pressure; hence keeping coffee consumption within safe limits is crucial for maintaining good health.
How to Manage the Bitter Taste of Turkish coffee?
Some people may not relish the classic bitter taste of Turkish coffee. It is easy to reduce the bitterness in coffee by simply adding a lemon or orange peel while brewing the coffee.
You may also try adding brown sugar, which helps reduce the bitter taste. Adding powdered mastic gum or a half-a-teaspoon of fresh cinnamon powder also helps reduce the bitter taste of coffee.
Summing it Up
This coffee may have originated in Turkey, but it is appreciated worldwide today because of its unique taste.
Also read: Benefits of Drinking Coffee Pre-Workout