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August 04, 2007
Turkish Coffee
They drink Turkish coffee in Kosovo. Clearly, if there was justice to be had, they would drink Kosovo coffee in Turkey, but the Ottoman Empire was quite clear on this point, I feel, among other things, obviously – like those sofas without backs or arms... anyway, it’s an acquired taste, Turkish coffee, a delicate concoction of very finely ground, not quite boiled, coffee beans with an inordinate amount of sugar.
The little pots they make it in, ibriks, are lovely, the stuff that comes out of the ibrik, if made well is equally lovely. If it’s not made well it can be bitter and gritty and generally rather unpleasant.
The ibrik will make one or two tiny cups, and it’s always good to get the first pour as this will have less of the finely ground coffee suspended in it. Never drink to the bottom of the cup, you will regret it.
The idea is for the water not to boil. The ibrik is filled to the neck, not the top, and several heaped teaspoons of sugar are added. Then the ground coffee, which is really a powder, is added to the top of the water and not stirred. As the water heats the coffee begins to froth and foam and splutter almost as if it were indeed boiling. But it’s not, and it mustn’t - if it boils the brew’s buggered, throw the whole lot away and start again.
If you’re really keen here’s a good explanation of how it’s done.
Loenita made excellent Turkish coffee. When the entire Kosovo army* wanted coffee, after their major bedding detail, she had her work cut out, because, as you will remember, you can only make two cups at once.
*well alright, not the entire Kosovo army.
An ottoman - not to be confused with a banquette or indeed a stool, if you know which side your ekmek is buttered.
Another Ottoman, this time Othman the I, founder of the Ottoman Empire.
You can't say you don't learn things here. [Well you can obviously, but the author refuses to enter into any correspondence regarding this matter.]
Posted by john at August 4, 2007 09:07 PM
Comments
Good Moonin John, I think I could just drink a cup of that coffee to wake me this beautiful Sunday morning,I've come into the shop early to prepare for a Jewellery workshop which starts this afternoon,I'm not sure I am pleased about it now,as I'll be inside,and the sun is up and smiling. Its good that you are back,I've been looking forward to reading about your trip and what you've been up to whilst you have been working in Kosovo.
I'll speak to you soon about the life drawing workshops,see you soon Paula
Posted by: paula at August 5, 2007 12:15 PM