For thousands of years, coffee continues to amaze with its taste and aroma. Initially, it was cooked in ordinary fireproof ladles or silver jugs, which were absolutely inconvenient to use. Over time, the shape of this dish changed.
Coffee is usually brewed in a cezve - this is a special coffee pot with an elongated handle, which has very low thermal conductivity. In Rus', the cezve was originally called a Turk. This name appeared thanks to Turkish traders who supplied grain to Russian lands and treated them to unknown overseas grains cooked in unusual containers.
Despite the large selection of modern coffee makers and coffee machines, there are real gourmets and connoisseurs of coffee brewed not only in a Turk, but also in a geyser. This graceful beauty was invented in Italy and is national pride and a symbol of the country’s homeliness.
The cooking process in a coffee maker resembles an erupting geyser, which is where the name “geyser” comes from. She, like the cezve, enjoys popular love.
Differences and principle of operation
Externally, these devices are very different from each other. Turku - or cezve - was invented in Turkey (hence the name), where street coffee shops were very popular. In them, each guest was brewed a portion of coffee according to an individual recipe, and everything was done by hand. The process itself turned into a kind of magical ritual, bringing pleasure to both the owner and the client.
The very first Turks were made of copper. Later, clay, steel, aluminum, glass, ceramic, cupronickel, silver vessels appeared, and today, electric ones that can be connected to the network.
Turks device
The cezve is a vessel wide at the bottom and narrow at the top with a handle, usually made of good wood. Components:
- bottom;
- frame;
- pen;
- extraction chamber;
- neck;
- foam catcher.
Coffee powder is poured into the expanded lower part of the container and water is poured. A coffee plug forms in the middle part - the neck - when the liquid is ready to boil. It prevents the loss of taste and aroma and prevents coffee grounds from rising to the surface. The upper part - the foam collector - is designed to prevent the foam from running away during cooking.
Stages of brewing coffee in a cezve:
- Coffee beans are roasted and ground.
- Empty dishes are heated over the fire for several minutes.
- Pour ground coffee into it.
- Warm up the vessel along with the powder.
- Add spices and sugar and heat the contents over the fire.
- Pour in cold water.
- The drink is brought to readiness without allowing it to boil.
Geyser coffee maker
The geyser drip coffee maker is made up of two parts: the lower one is filled with water, and the prepared drink is collected in the upper one. Between them there is a funnel-shaped filter into which ground coffee is placed. The water heats up, steam passes through the coffee, and the brewed drink enters the upper bowl.
The geyser coffee maker works from the mains or mechanically - by placing it on a hot plate.
Different models of geysers may have:
- built-in sound signal about the end of the coffee brewing process;
- indicator light;
- a timer that allows you to determine the time until the end of cooking;
- short circuit protection;
- heating function;
- auto shutdown
Everyone must decide for themselves which is more convenient - a Turkish coffee maker or a geyser coffee maker.
Turk
Turka has long been a name for a narrow-necked utensil with a long handle, by which it is held while preparing a coffee drink. Another name is cezve. That's what the people of the Arabian Peninsula, where she came from, called her. But in Rus', the dishes began to be called Turk due to the fact that traders from Turkey first brought them here.
The cezve had a predecessor, a copper jug called a dalla. It was used to prepare the same coffee drink by African nomads.
Types of Turks
Turka is a conical-shaped dish with a solid or wooden handle. The lower part is widened, the middle narrow part is called the neck, and a coffee plug is formed in it. The upper, slightly expanded part is called the foam collector. It is designed so that the finished foam collects here and remains in the Turk, and does not run out onto the stove.
A high-quality cezve has the following characteristics:
- Truncated cone shape
- Thick walls
- The diameter of the neck of the Turk is 2 times narrower than the diameter of the bottom
Different materials are used for production. If it is traditional copper or brass, then the inner surface is coated with silver or tin so that it does not oxidize. Such Turks are considered to be of the highest quality; the taste of the drink in them is the most refined.
When purchasing, you need to make sure that the inner coating does not have cracks, because metal particles will get into the drink.
Nowadays, Turks are often made from stainless steel, aluminum, and enameled metal. They are inexpensive and durable, but the taste of the drink prepared in them is worse.
Pros of a geyser coffee maker
The advantages of a geyser machine are the absence of coffee grounds at the bottom of the mug and the need to control the entire preparation procedure. Coffee does not run away after brewing, and a special sound produced by the device serves as a signal about its completion. The electric coffee maker generally turns off automatically. Ease of operation, good quality of the drink, compactness and small size - these are the advantages of the device.
Coffee in a geyser-type coffee maker turns out very tasty, rich, aromatic, and has the required strength. In addition, the sediment does not fall into the cup, but remains inside the device.
Types of coffee makers
The simple term “coffee maker” hides a whole class of household appliances. Although their direct purpose is to prepare an invigorating and tasty drink from ground grains, this task is achieved in various ways. There are several of the most popular types of electric household coffee makers.
Drip coffee maker
In them, hot water flows through ground coffee. No special technologies are used in this device - water flows only under the influence of good old gravity. This is the simplest type of coffee maker, it is widely used due to its ease of use and low cost.
Espresso coffee maker
Hot water is pressurized through the ground coffee. The finished coffee goes into the cups. The range of espresso devices is quite extensive. They can be equipped with a special cappuccino maker, in which the milk is saturated with steam and then whipped into the coveted strong foam for cappuccino. Espresso coffee makers are divided into household and professional.
- In professional coffee machines, a pressure of about 15 bar is created using an electric pump. Under this pressure, water passes through the coffee, maintaining the optimal temperature to reveal the taste and aroma of ground coffee.
- In most household espresso coffee makers, the operating pressure does not reach a maximum of 15 bar. The water gets hotter, and higher temperatures mean a loss of aromatic properties.
As a result, espresso prepared in a professional coffee machine according to all the rules, as a rule, tastes better. It’s not for nothing that Italians, wanting to compliment their homemade coffee, say: “It’s delicious, just like in a bar!”
Capsule coffee maker
A recent invention. It uses special capsules containing coffee powder. They are placed in a special compartment, then the shell is pierced, and boiling water flows through the capsule. That's all the wisdom.
In a capsule coffee maker you can only prepare a drink from special capsules. Ground coffee is not suitable for this appliance.
Combination coffee maker
This device combines espresso preparation techniques and the drip method. You can choose the one you like best at the moment.
What is the difference between a coffee maker and a coffee machine?
The modern consumer has a question: do a coffee maker and a coffee machine differ in anything other than price? We can say that an improved type of coffee maker, with an increase in the number of functions that provide a full cycle of automatic preparation of the drink, is called a coffee machine. According to the brewing method, they are no different from a coffee maker, also divided into drip, espresso, and capsule types.
After a brief overview, we hope we can more clearly outline all the pros and cons of making coffee automatically and manually.
Advantages of Turks
The cezve is very convenient and compact, it is lightweight and takes up little space in a closet or on a shelf. You can take it with you to the country, on a hike, on a trip. You can brew delicious coffee in it on the stove, over hot coals, and even over a fire. Using various variations of recipes, Turkish coffee is prepared to suit the most demanding tastes.
Recently, the electric turk, which looks similar to a regular cezve, has gained popularity. The device consists of a stand with contacts and the Turk itself in the form of a steel or ceramic flask with a narrow neck and a heating element installed at the bottom, placed in a housing with a waterproof gasket.
It acts like an electric kettle and is convenient when you don’t have a stove. You can also take it to work, on trips and trips. Manufacturers offer easy-to-use devices with automatic shut-off. Some are equipped with a lid.
There are compact electric Turks with a volume almost like a mug and large ones, one and a half liters. Brewing coffee in such a device saves time, and the taste does not suffer.
The cezve is easy to use: you don’t need to buy expensive capsules or special tablets – just ground coffee and purified water. The preparation time for the aromatic drink is about a minute. In addition, you can boil tea in an electric Turk.
Caring for an electrical appliance is easy. It must be washed and descaled on time, and then it will last up to 10 years.
Advantages of a geyser coffee maker and Turks
Before considering the benefits that a geyser coffee maker gives us, coffee lovers, it would not be amiss to briefly describe its operating principle.
The device was created in Europe by an Italian espresso enthusiast who was looking for a way to quickly and economically prepare his favorite drink. Therefore, the created device in Italy and the rest of Europe is often called Mocha Espresso.
The design includes a container for water, a container for ground coffee through which filtration occurs, and a vessel for the finished drink. The water is heated to steam, which lifts the water through the tube and passes it through the ground coffee. Water passes through the ground coffee under steam pressure and accumulates in the corresponding compartment in the form of finished coffee. This is how coffee is prepared in a geyser coffee maker.
In Russia, they noticed the similarity of the process with the work of a geyser, which is why the device received its name - geyser coffee maker.
In fact, in a geyser coffee maker, typical espresso preparation takes place using water and steam pressure, only it is performed not in a large multifunctional coffee machine, but in a small, compact container.
Advantages of a geyser coffee maker
- Easy to use.
All you have to do is add water and coffee; everything else happens without your participation. There is no need to strictly control the process and stand over the stove the entire time the device is operating. After use, the coffee maker is cleaned and washed like regular utensils.
- High quality drink.
Sometimes it’s even hard to believe what excellent espresso such a modest and unassuming coffee maker can brew. However, the fact remains. The coffee turns out rich, strong, aromatic, with a good, dense crema, typical of espresso.
- Compact size.
The device does not take up much space; it can be stored in a closet, box, drawer. The coffee maker can be placed on its side, turned over, and so on - it is insensitive to such treatment. The only exception is ceramic geyser devices; special care will be required with them. But metal coffee makers are good for their unpretentiousness. An electric geyser coffee maker is much more massive and takes up quite a lot of space on the table, although it is much more compact than a coffee machine or drip coffee maker.
- Mobility.
You can safely take a regular example of a geyser coffee maker with you to the country house or on a hike. The metal device can be placed on an open fire or burner. The electric version of the coffee maker will have to be used at home, but without being tied to the stove or kitchen.
- Coffee sediment does not fall into cups
The ground coffee remains in its container, leaving the cups clean and neat without excessive particle suspension.
Advantages of Turks
What about our old friend, the ordinary cezve, which has faithfully served man for many hundreds of years? Let us also remind you of its advantages so that the comparison is truly correct.
- Mobility.
Turku can be used literally anywhere: at home, in the country, on a hike. It can be placed on an open fire, buried in hot coals or sand, and even placed over a fire. At home, the Turk can be used on any type of stove.
- Excellent drink quality
Coffee brewed in a cezve remains the undisputed leader. Of course, there are different tastes and opinions about which there is no point in arguing. However, none of the drink connoisseurs can deny the superiority of Turkish coffee in taste.
- Variety of recipes.
The cezve opens up a huge scope for creativity; you can prepare any recipe in it, coffee of different strengths, with a wide variety of additives. There are countless options for experimenting with Turka. It is not without reason that most original recipes are recommended specifically for cezve.
- Change in quantity.
You can brew any amount of coffee in a Turkish coffee pot, maximum or half. This will not affect the taste of the drink.
- Compact size and easy storage.
The cezve takes up little space and is convenient to store on a table or in a closet. You can set aside a special place for her or leave her anywhere, she will not suffer at all from such treatment. In addition, the Turk is light in weight, and you can safely take it with you even on a hiking trip.
The cezve also has many years of experience in use; it can be safely attributed to the most ancient version of coffee utensils, which has reached our time, practically without major changes.
Disadvantages of a geyser coffee maker
The main function of a geyser is to prepare an aromatic drink. Despite the ease of use, a geyser coffee maker also has its disadvantages. So, you should choose the fraction of ground coffee beans wisely - too fine a grind will clog the filter. It is more difficult to wash such a coffee machine than a Turk because of its complex structure.
You can prepare only one type of coffee in a geyser-type machine – espresso. Sugar should not be placed in the container. The output is a certain amount of drink: with a volume of 2 mugs, the machine will dispense no more and no less than what is specified by its parameters. In this case, there will be no beautiful foam on top.
After turning off the coffee maker, you should not touch it for some time due to the risk of getting burned, since the geyser takes a long time to cool down.
Pros and cons of devices
Which device, a Turk or a geyser coffee maker, can please you with the richest and most delicious drink? To answer this question, let’s look at the advantages and disadvantages of each vessel.
Advantages of a geyser coffee maker
- The drink is prepared under high pressure, absorbing maximum taste and aroma.
- Suitable for lovers of espresso and strong Americano.
- A simple design that is easy to care for.
- There is no grounds left in the brewed coffee; it is retained by the filter.
- Metal geyser coffee makers have a long service life.
- If the proportions of water are met, the drink will not escape from the vessel, but will only hiss, indicating readiness.
- Price – a regular geyser can be purchased for as little as 1,000 rubles.
Advantages of Turks
- Easy to use.
- Cheapness.
- The coffee turns out rich and aromatic.
- Easy to care for.
- Small in size, does not require much storage space.
- You can brew coffee with added spices, herbs, milk, sugar.
Disadvantages of a geyser coffee maker
- Each time it is necessary to thoroughly wash the vessel, especially the valve. Its clogging can lead to an explosion from steam pressure.
- From time to time you need to change the filter gaskets.
- When brewing a drink, you need to monitor the process and remove the device from the stove in time. The only exceptions are electric geysers, which turn off on their own.
Also, the disadvantages of a geyser coffee maker include the fact that you cannot make cappuccino or latte in it.
Disadvantages of Turks
- The brewing of the drink must be constantly monitored, otherwise the liquid may escape.
- There is sediment left in the coffee.
- To obtain the ideal taste, you must always fill the cezve to the narrow neck; this is the only way for the extraction to take place fully.
It is also worth noting that copper and metal Turks are considered the highest quality. Clay and glass ones can quickly break, and aluminum ones are scratched and deformed from impacts.
Disadvantages of Turks
Many people prefer to drink Turkish coffee. However, the cezve also has its drawbacks:
- coffee grounds (when pouring into a mug, sediment is sure to get into the mug, no matter how the coffee is filtered);
- the need for constant monitoring of brewing (so that the drink does not run away, you will have to keep an eye on it);
- copper Turks oxidize, as a result of which they become toxic;
- clay and ceramic cezves are quite fragile and often break;
- Aluminum and stainless steel cookware leaves a specific aftertaste.
Turks for coffee
A coffee pot is a small container of a specific shape, widened at the bottom and tapering at the top. A good Turkish handle always has a considerable length and is made of a material with low thermal conductivity so that it can be held without the use of potholders or other elements. Most often, wood is used as the material for making such a handle.
Turk
The specific shape of the container for making coffee has a reasonable explanation. Thus, the lower wide part of the vessel is necessary for pouring the required volume of water, the middle narrow part - the neck - is the place where a coffee plug forms during the boiling of the liquid, the expanded foam collector serves to prevent the resulting foam from “escaping” during the brewing process.
The coffee plug, which is created during brewing in the narrowest part of the pot, simultaneously with the walls of the container prevents the loss of aroma, and is also an obstacle to small particles of coffee rising from the bottom - when they hit, they fall down again. Thanks to this design, the coffee powder settles in the Turk much faster than when brewing the drink in any other container.
The procedure for preparing coffee in a Turk is as follows:
- warming up an empty container;
- adding ground coffee;
- warming up the container with ground coffee;
- adding sugar or other spices;
- warming up the container along with all its contents;
- pouring cold water;
- heating the contents of the Turk without allowing it to boil completely.
To make coffee truly tasty and rich, you need to warm up the drink, without bringing it to a boil, several times. After this, you should wait until the coffee suspension settles. To speed up this process, you can add a small amount of cold water inside. After this, you can pour the coffee into cups that have been doused with boiling water in advance so that they are not cold.
There are many types of Turks, which differ from each other in the material used to make the main container. The most common of them can be called:
- copper;
- steel;
- aluminum;
- clay.
The use of each type of Turk has its own characteristics, advantages and disadvantages, which are associated specifically with the properties of the materials.
Copper Turks
Copper Turks can confidently be called the standard for these products, since this material heats up evenly and allows the entire portion of coffee to be brewed at the same time. Moreover, such Turks can be made of either thick or thin copper, solid, or consist of two separate parts fastened together. To ensure all the advantages of this product, you must choose it only with thick walls and a cast construction.
The bottom of the copper Turk must be reinforced, and the inner surface covered with a layer of stainless steel, food-grade tin or silver. Otherwise, the drink will be saturated with substances released by copper when heated that are harmful to the human body.
The advantages of copper Turks include increased strength of the container and the ability to be used on all types of stoves, as well as when making coffee on hot sand.
Before placing a copper Turk on an induction-type stove, it is necessary to place a special circle-substrate made of steel on the burner to ensure heating.
The disadvantage of this option is the presence of a protective layer on the inner surface of the container, which, if not properly cared for, can be scratched, which will lead to interaction between the internal contents and copper.
Copper Turk
Steel and aluminum turks
Aluminum is an absolutely safe material even when heated. The thermal conductivity of this material is two times less than that of copper, but even this indicator is quite enough to prepare a tasty and aromatic drink. Aluminum Turk is easy to maintain, its cost is more than acceptable, but the appearance is most often not very attractive, and during operation it can quickly oxidize, which is its only drawback.
Steel Turks have increased strength and wear resistance, which is their undeniable advantage. The appearance of these products can be very interesting and even modern. The disadvantage of steel Turks is their uneven heating. The thermal conductivity of the base material is 10 times less than that of copper. For this reason, the taste of coffee and its richness are noticeably lost.
Steel Turk
Aluminum Turk
Clay Turks
Due to the fact that baked clay has a porous structure that allows oxygen to pass through well, the taste of coffee prepared in a Turk made from it is special. The saturation of aroma and color increases with the duration of its intended use. The walls and bottom absorb the smell and taste of coffee and each time release more of it into the drink. But this is also the disadvantage of this option. It will not be possible to prepare different types of coffee in it, as this will lead to mixing of aromas and confusion of the taste of a particular drink. If such a need arises, then before subsequent use it is necessary to thoroughly wash the container and boil it several times with plain water.
Warming up of the entire surface of the clay pot occurs quite slowly, but at the same time it cools down slowly. Therefore, after the coffee is brewed, you can keep it in it for a while for even greater saturation. The disadvantage of this option is also its fragility, so it requires fairly careful handling.
Clay Turk
Where does the coffee taste better?
Fans of soft espresso will prefer a geyser coffee maker. The passage of water and steam through the dry coffee mixture produces a rich, good quality drink. Herbal and berry teas are also brewed in the geyser.
In a classic cezve, coffee is brewed by lovers of a stronger drink, who appreciate the preparation process itself and prefer the traditional taste.
Therefore, one cannot say with conviction that coffee in a Turkish coffee maker or in a geyser coffee maker is better. Everyone chooses their own type of coffee and their favorite recipe.
How to brew delicious coffee in a geyser
To obtain a rich aroma, it is best to use medium and coarse grinding in equal proportions. The classic brewing method uses 2 teaspoons of coffee per 40 ml of water.
- Water is poured into the lower section in the required amount.
- In case of overflow, there is a limiter line or a fill indicator.
- To obtain a richer aroma, the coffee must be freshly ground, which is poured into a filter funnel.
- It should not be compacted, since due to its high density, water will not always be able to pass and rise into the upper reservoir.
- If desired, it is possible to add various spices: ground ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, vanillin.
- Connect all parts tightly together.
- Then put the coffee maker on fire or connect it to an electrical outlet.
- Literally three minutes after the water boils, you can remove it from the heat and enjoy the delicious drink.
Since various teas are brewed in a coffee maker, leaving a certain residue on the walls of the dishes, such dishes must be washed thoroughly.
What to choose in the end
Making a choice in favor of a Turkish coffee maker or a coffee maker is quite difficult. For the first, it is better to choose Arabica coffee beans, which should be ground as much as possible, this guarantees a more refined and subtle taste. Those who prefer to drink coffee with sugar can pour it directly into the bottom of the cezve - this will give the drink a caramel flavor. Spices are also added during cooking. That is, owners of Turks can afford to experiment.
The geyser type of coffee maker is preferred by people who love convenience. It’s important to them that the coffee doesn’t run out, and they don’t have time to do magic at the stove. And if the model has an automatic shut-off, you won’t have to worry about imperfect preparation of the drink at all. The versatility of the geyser device lies in the fact that it can be used to brew herbal infusions and teas.
Coffee in a geyser coffee maker
Turkish coffee
Today, coffee lovers are not limited to Turkish coffee or geyser. They try to acquire several different appliances, including solid coffee machines, and use them depending on the circumstances and mood.
History of the cezve
Turka or cezve has its own history. It was invented a long time ago in Turkey, where street establishments – coffee shops – were popular. Residents of the city gathered there to sit, talk, and drink coffee at the same time.
At one time they went illegal, as the authorities banned the drink. However, they had to come to terms with it, since coffee was already firmly established in people’s lives, and they did not want to give up such pleasure.
The device has a simple design:
- Container for water and ground beans.
- Extended handle.
The upper part is narrower - this device prevents the loss of aroma and also captures the foam that forms during the cooking process.
How to choose coffee for a cezve
As connoisseurs of good coffee say, it’s not the device. It all depends on what kind of coffee you buy. Everyone knows that there are specialized stores where they sell different varieties of elite grains. This pleasure costs more than just buying a pack of ground cheap powder in the supermarket.
To get an elite drink, you need to consider the following factors:
- choose a variety to your liking, having first tried everything in the cafe;
- buy only grains and grind them before cooking;
- adhere to the rules for preparing coffee in a geyser or regular Turk, how to use it will be described below.
The variety and grinding influence the most.
Variety
Elite varieties grown in ideal conditions for coffee trees:
- Nutritious soils are most often soils of volcanic origin.
- The height of the plantations above sea level, which allows the grains to ripen longer and accumulate essential oils. The higher the trees grow, the tastier the drink turns out.
- Climate – Coffee trees prefer warm, sunny weather.
Even in good conditions, the yield is not always the same, so it is tested and evaluated by tasters and technologists.
The method of processing and roasting affects the taste, so it takes a long time to select the variety. For those people who do not pay attention to such nuances, it is useless to advise any specific device for making coffee. Poor quality beans will not give good results in the kitchen.
Grinding
Grinding for a traditional cezve differs from grinding for geyser Turks or a carob coffee maker. The Geyser Turk will not allow liquid to pass through the ground grains if they are too fine. The tablet will simply absorb water and the drink will not reach the consumer. The same thing with the coffee machine. The grinding for them is medium, so that the liquid flows around the particles, taking the necessary substances from them.
For cezve, on the contrary, the grains are ground to a very fine fraction in order to obtain a thick, strong drink, because according to tradition, it cannot be boiled for a long time - if this happens by accident, in the east such coffee is poured out as a failure.
Coffee machine and coffee taste
We completely forgot about modern appliances - electric coffee makers and coffee machines. To compare the difference between coffee for a coffee machine and Turkish coffee, just try both options in a coffee shop. This is for those who really choose taste, not price.
Which coffee is better and tastier - in a Turk or a coffee machine, depends on the quality of the device and the type of beans. If the coffee maker is equipped with a powerful pump that can create a pressure of about 9 bar, it will produce a good drink. Add an elite variety to this and you won’t have to go to a coffee shop.
The only negative is that you need to monitor the operation of the device. There are many components in a coffee machine that are responsible for certain functions. Failure of one of them will block the device, especially if it has an electronic board.
Which nodes may refuse to work:
- coffee grinder;
- brewing group;
- thermostat or boiler;
- cappuccino maker
For lovers of dairy additives, it is better to deal with an automatic coffee maker. The cooking speed is up to 1 minute, the machine does everything itself, even froths the milk. If you buy a Turk or a geyser-type coffee maker, you will have to do everything yourself.
Those who cannot decide which is better, an espresso coffee machine or a Turkish coffee machine, can be advised to buy both devices. A cezve is not so expensive that you cannot afford to have another device at home for variety. If something happens to the machine, you will have something to brew a portion of coffee in.
Advantages of brewing coffee in Turkish
- Turka is an ancient coffee utensil that has survived to this day practically unchanged, therefore, coffee prepared in it can safely be called classic.
- Portability. A coffee pot is a “self-contained container” and does not require electricity (except for its electric version, which we are not considering). Which is very convenient when you are going on a hike or suffer from frequent power outages.
- Easy to care for. Washing the cezve is easy and convenient. The process is no different from washing household dishes.
- Variety of cooking recipes. Over its long history, Turka has acquired a whole arsenal of recipes. It can be used to prepare drinks of varying strengths and tastes. Every coffee lover will find his favorite recipes.
- Portioning. Turka allows you to choose the amount of drink. This is done with water. You can add it for 1 serving or for 3 – 4.
- Self-cooking. You are in complete control of the brewing process, which cannot be said about a geyser machine that does everything for you.
