Turkish coffee is distinctive not just for the roast and the fine grind, but for also how it is made. Each cup of coffee is made in its own small copper pot called a “cezve.” When coffee was first introduced over 500 years ago, the whole bean was simmered for a full day before the coffee was ready. As time went on, the Ottomans developed a new method for roasting and grinding the beans into a powder.
The cezve invented in the late 16th century and consists of a long handled copper pot with a wide base and narrower neck. This design called for a larger surface to heat while preventing the coffee from escaping while being poured into the small glasses. This invention made it easier and quicker to brew a cup of coffee. I mean, who wants to wait a day to have a cup of coffee when you can have it in minutes??!!
The small size and long handles enabled early turks to easily carry it with them and use it over an open fire by place it in the coals. First, place the pot on the hot surface whether it is the stove top, coals, or even in hot sand. Measure your water in your cup and add it to the pot. Next comes coffee and sugar if you want, and a light stir to mix it all together. If you choose to add sugar, it needs to be added during the cooking process so that it will incorporate smoothly. Adding sugar after it has been poured in the cup disrupts the coffee grounds and detracts from the over all flavor.
Allow the coffee to slowly heat, creating an undulating top layer of foam to form on top. This foam is actually super important because it will keep the coffee warm once it is poured into the cup.
Cevze’s are made from a variety of materials. Copper is traditional, but you can also find them in brass or aluminum. Terracotta and ceramic pots make interesting Turkish coffee pots, but they will take a bit longer to heat due to the thickness of the pottery and may not have a long enough handle to navigate it in an open fire.
Copper is definitely the most popular because it has the ability to diffuse heat evenly and conduct it fast. For this property it gained tremendous popularity in the cookware industry worldwide. Copper coffee pots heat water quickly in low heat. Copper pots are always lined with Tin so that are able to drink from it safely.
Caring for Copper Pots:
Copper pots are the ones that need special attention for long-lasting results.
Copper is sensitive to air and becomes dull by oxidation. You can shine copper pots properly either by using market chemicals (i.e. anti-tarnish cream) or natural products.
Turkish households prefer the second choice. They rub their coffee pots with lemon and salt (cut a lemon in half and sprinkle it with salt).
- Copper/tin/brass coffee pots we suggest that you wash them using only warm water and rubbing them gently with a soft sponge.
- You should wash it only with water. Tin (the inline material) is a soft metal and needs dedicate cleaning to last for a long time.
- Avoid soaps and detergents as much as possible. They negatively affect the aroma of the coffee.
