Last Updated on April 3, 2022 by John Moretti
Turkish coffee and French press coffee are extremely popular ways to enjoy your coffee. Each incorporates a unique brewing method that yields a different result. Each method produces a rich, flavorsome coffee, but each has a unique flavor profile distinct from the other.
Turkish coffee employs several items of specialized equipment that assist the individual in making coffee in the traditional method that consists of several steps. French press coffee uses a simple container with a metal filter that helps to separate the grounds from the coffee.
Because Turkish coffee and French press coffee use such vastly different brewing methods, the end result (being the coffee) differs significantly between the two. One cannot say which option is better, as this is purely up to individual preference.
Equipment and Ground Consistency-Turkish Coffee Vs. French Press
Turkish coffee and French press coffee use different equipment and a different consistency of ground coffee beans.
French Press
A French Press makes use of a metal filter that separates the coffee grounds from the water once brewing has completed. Because the grounds need to be separated from the water, coarsely ground coffee is used in a French press, as more finely ground beans would simply move through the filter.
Turkish Coffee
On the other hand, Turkish coffee makes use of extremely finely ground coffee with a consistency not dissimilar to caster sugar. Because the coffee is more finely ground and the particles are far smaller, there is far more surface area of the coffee grounds exposed to the hot water when brewing.
Add to this the fact that the grounds and the water are exposed to one another for a significant period of time, and the end result is a thick, intensely-flavored coffee.
Closer Look at Turkish Coffee
A team of coffee brewers used to brew Turkish coffee and deliver it to the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire. They were employed exclusively to perfect the Sultan’s coffee, and as a result, this ritual has been ingrained in Ottoman culture.
Turkish coffee brewing became a wedding tradition, with the bride-to-be learning how to make the perfect cup of coffee and serving it to her possible suitors. This was a tradition that has since become ubiquitous in this society.
A qualified fortune teller (also known as a Falci) might read your fortune by looking at the form created by the stains on the inside corners of the coffee cup once you’ve finished enjoying your Turkish coffee.
Turkish coffee is prepared not only in Turkey but also in Greece and Cyprus, and it is the oldest form of brewing. This is also the oldest method of preparing unfiltered, finely ground coffee.
The apparatus used to brew this specialty coffee is known as a ‘cezve‘ or an ‘ibrik,’ and it is essentially a brass or copper pot with a long handle to prevent you from being burned by the steam produced during the brewing process.
A specific Turkish grinder is used to grind the coffee, which grinds it down to an incredibly fine consistency, similar to caster sugar. You can enjoy a delightful, rich cup of Turkish coffee once the powder has completely sunk to the bottom of the cup.
How To Brew Turkish Coffee
Brewing Turkish coffee is not the same as brewing regular coffee, and it necessitates a unique process in order to achieve the perfect cup. The pot’s design includes flared edges that help catch the coffee grounds.
Brewing Turkish Coffee Process
- To begin, fill the pot halfway with room temperature water, roughly 50ml of water per cup of coffee. This can be tweaked based on your personal taste preferences, which you’ll develop over time.
- Add a full tablespoon of sugar (or less, again, depending on your personal preference).
- After about a minute, the cezve should be placed on the fire and stirred.
- Bring the water and sugar mixture to a boil, then remove from the heat as soon as the boiling starts, which should take around 12 minutes.
- Bring this mixture to a boil with one teaspoon of finely ground coffee per cup.
- Remove the entire pot from the heat as soon as it begins to boil.
- The coffee is almost ready to serve, but make sure the leftover powder has time to settle before serving.
What is French Press?
A French press or coffee plunger is a simple coffee-making device that has been a popular option in homes worldwide. The device is a simple jug made of either glass, metal, or ceramic. The jug’s lid features a press made up of a simple rod with a metal filter attached to the end.
This filter separates the grounds suspended in hot water once the brewing process has completed, and the coffee is then ready to drink.
The end result is similar to standard filter coffee but has a stronger and more complex flavor profile.
How To Brew French Press Coffee?
1. Prepare your French Press
Firstly, you should always prepare your French press for brewing by heating it up to the right temperature. This will help to extract all of the possible flavors for your coffee.
This can be done simply by pouring hot water into the jug and inserting the plunger to ensure all components are sufficiently heated, taking around thirty seconds.
2. Grind Your Coffee Beans
Next, you should grind your coffee beans while waiting for the device to heat up. Remember that the beans for French press coffee should be coarsely ground. Once heated, empty the water out of the French press and add the ground coffee, ensuring that they sit level on the bottom of the carafe.
3. Pour Hot Water
Pour hot water (but not quite boiling – 200 degrees Fahrenheit) over the coffee grounds in a circular motion, ensuring equal submersion of all the grounds, filling the carafe to half its capacity, and setting a timer for 30 seconds.
4. Wait for Coffee to Bloom
During this time, the coffee will undergo a process called “blooming,” where the grounds will begin releasing gases such as carbon dioxide. Releasing these gases will ensure that more flavor is able to be extracted from the beans when adding the rest of the water, ensuring a coffee to water ratio of 1:15.
5. Stir The Mixture Gently and Fill The Carafe
Once-blooming is complete, stir the mixture gently and fill the carafe the rest of the way. Place the lid on top, but do not push the plunger down just yet.
6. Gently Push The Plunger Down
Wait for four minutes, and then begin gently pushing the plunger down to the bottom of the carafe. Ensure that you are not overly forceful or quick when pushing the plunger down.
7. Pour The Coffee Out and Enjoy
Now that brewing is complete, pour the coffee out. Remember that any coffee that remains in the plunger will become over-extracted and, therefore, bitter.
Conclusion
Now that you understand the difference between Turkish coffee and French press coffee, you can make an informed decision as to which option is best for your needs.
