Here's a step-by-step guide on how to make a traditional Turkish coffee recipe. It's a fantastic rich, sweet, and strong cup of coffee that's absolutely delicious.
This is an unfiltered coffee (you leave the grounds at the bottom of the cup), making this a strong, bold brew.
This style of coffee has a rich history and dates back to the Ottoman Empire when the first coffee house in the world was opened in Istanbul in 1475. These coffee houses became an important meeting and leisure - much like our present-day coffee shops!

Why You'll Love Turkish Coffee
If you've ever visited Turkey or the Middle East, you may have tried what is arguably one of the best cups of coffee in the world.
The brewing method is relatively simple, but it takes a few minutes to gently heat the coffee. What results is a thick and wonderful small cup of coffee. It's strong and aromatic but still sweet enough to enjoy.
Turkish coffee is meant to be sipped and enjoyed. There are some suggestions below for what to serve with it.
While styles of making this coffee vary by region, the general style is the same across countries and families.
This recipe calls for only 1 teaspoon of sugar per serving, which is considered the 'little sugar' amount on the sugar scale for Turkish coffee! Some people use 2 or even 3 teaspoons per serving.
You can use as much sugar as you'd like, but it is best if it's added at the beginning and not stirred into the coffee after it's been made.
Jump to:
Ingredients
You don't need much to make a fantastic cup of Turkish coffee - here's what you'll need.

- Cold Water
- Granulated Sugar
- Turkish Coffee - you can use a medium roast, ultra-fine coffee grounds or purchase a Turkish coffee like Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi Turkish Coffee
See the recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Add water, sugar, and coffee to a cezve (a long-handled Turkish coffee pot). Stir for 30 seconds to combine.
Place the coffee pot on a burner over low heat. Do not stir the coffee again but allow it to heat for 5 to 7 minutes until it begins to gently foam.
If the coffee is not doing anything after 7 to 8 minutes, increase to medium heat.

Scoop the foam off the top of the coffee with a spoon. Divide the foam between the coffee cups.

Continue to heat the coffee over low heat for an additional 3 to 5 minutes or until it gently foams again.
Remove the coffee pot from the heat source and very slowly pour the coffee into the two small cups, being careful not to make the foam disappear.

Serve the coffee immediately.

More Great Turkish Recipes
If you love Turkish food, try one of these great recipes!
- Turkish Lentil Soup (Mercimek Corbasi) - a fantastic, cozy red lentil soup recipe.
- Menemen (Turkish Eggs Recipe) - similar to shakshuka these slow-cooked eggs are in a bed of tomatoes and green peppers.
- Cilbir (Turkish Eggs in Yogurt) - poached eggs in yogurt with a chili butter sauce.
What to Serve with Turkish Coffee
Turkish coffee, like all coffee drinks, tastes great when served with a little snack or nibble. Turkish people often enjoy their coffee after a meal or at afternoon tea time.
- Turkish Breakfast - Enjoy a cup of coffee after a full Turkish breakfast (kahvalti) of cheese, bread, and eggs. It will help you digest the food!
- Turkish Delight - Coffee is the perfect pairing for a few pieces of Turkish delight, also called lokum, a small sweet treat.
- Turkish Simit - Turkish tea or coffee is a fantastic accompaniment to simit, a crunchy sesame bagel, a snack staple in Turkish culture.
- Water - Some people like to serve Turkish coffee with a glass of water to cleanse the palate. If you'll be drinking the coffee on its own, I do recommend this.
Tips for Making this Recipe
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Cooking Tips - You don't want to burn the coffee, so keep a close eye on it during the brewing process. As it starts to foam - it shouldn't bubbling, but rather gently foaming. When you pour the coffee, pour it into the cups slowly so you keep as much foam as possible.
Specialty Ingredients - I like using Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi Turkish Coffee for this recipe. You can often find this at Middle Eastern grocery stores. Choose a coffee made from 100% Arabica beans (they have less caffeine but are superior tasting).
Recommended Tools - If you'd like to make this the traditional way, you can heat the coffee in a cezve or ibrik (a Turkish coffee pot with a long handle). Here's one you can get on Amazon. You can make it in a small saucepan or small pot if you don't want to buy a Turkish coffee pot.
Here's a cute Turkish coffee cup set as well.
If you try this recipe, let us know! Connect with us on Instagram and share your photos or leave us a rating.
How to Make Turkish Coffee

Here's how to make a delicious and rich cup of Turkish coffee in just a few steps.
Ingredients
- 2 Turkish coffee cups of water*
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 2 teaspoons medium roast, ultra-fine ground coffee**
Instructions
- Add water, sugar, and coffee to a cezve (a long-handled Turkish coffee pot). Stir for 30 seconds to combine.
- Place the coffee pot on a burner over low heat. Do not stir the coffee again but allow it to heat for 5 to 7 minutes until it begins to gently foam.
- Scoop the foam off the top of the coffee with a spoon. Divide the foam between the coffee cups.
- Continue to heat the coffee over low heat for an additional 3 to 5 minutes or until it gently foams again.
- Remove the coffee pot from the heat and very slowly pour the coffee into the two cups, being careful not to make the foam disappear.
- Serve the coffee immediately.
Notes
*Measure the amount of water by filling up the coffee cups you’ll use with water.
**I like using Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi Turkish Coffee
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
2Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 53Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 12mgCarbohydrates: 13gFiber: 0gSugar: 13gProtein: 0g
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