Turkish coffee with sugar in a small pot

Tip: tap a step to mark it as done.

1. Grind the coffee as finely as possible. Place it in a small pot, add the sugar and cold water, and set over low heat.

2. Bring the coffee to a boil and remove it from the heat as soon as foam begins forming on the surface, moving from the edges toward the center. Pour the finished coffee into a cup.

3. Serve the coffee in a small, thick-walled cup on a saucer. Add a long-handled spoon, a glass of cold water, and one more, smaller glass.

   

4. Warm the cup before serving: fill it with hot water and let it stand for 1 minute. Do not pour the coffee into a cold cup, as this would impair its flavor.

   Check the foam to tell whether the coffee is properly prepared: it should not spread out and should hold its shape on a spoon for several seconds.

   

5. Drink the coffee slowly, following each sip with ice-cold water to bring out its flavor. Serve it with the customary accompaniments of halva (a sweet confection), lokum (Turkish delight), honey, or dates.

Tip: Stir the sugar and coffee only at the beginning, while the water is cold; do not stir afterward, or the foam will not form. Let the poured coffee stand briefly so the grounds settle to the bottom of the cup.

This recipe was translated from the Slovak original: Turecká káva varená s cukrom v malom hrnci