Today there are many ways to prepare coffee, however, many people still adhere to the opinion that the most delicious coffee is obtained if you prepare it with your own hands, over a fire. From time immemorial, a Turk was used for these purposes, but with the development of modern technologies, progress did its job by adding a new assistant - an electric Turk. In fact, an electric Turk is used for the same purposes as a regular Turk, and their operating mechanism is similar. The only difference is that an electric Turk can be used in cases where there is no stove nearby, but there is a regular electrical outlet.
Historical information about the Turk
First, you need to remember what a common device for making coffee by hand is – a Turk. It appeared in Turkey, but there they call it cezva. This is an Arabic word that refers to burning coals or wood because the coffee was prepared in a vessel over a fire.
The appearance of this vessel goes back centuries, when nomadic tribes from Africa - pioneers in making coffee - brought the cezve to the Arabian Peninsula, from where it came to Turkey.
The first instruments were made of copper. The advantage of the material is that it heats up evenly and lasts a long time. In addition, the metal can be decorated with decorative embossing or an embossed pattern.
Copper has bactericidal properties, so it disinfects the water used to prepare ground grains. This is not important now, but in ancient times, before antibiotics were discovered, people in the south often died from infectious diseases.
How to choose
When choosing an electric pot for brewing coffee, you should adhere to the following recommendations:
- It is better to decide in advance on the volume of water. It can vary from 250 to 500 ml. The choice depends on the expected number of people. A bowl with a minimum volume is enough for two. It is preferable to place half-liter cezves in the office.
- It would be a good idea to think about power in advance. The cooking time depends on it. In terms of the ratio of taste and speed, the optimal option is 750 W.
- In the store you should carefully examine the handle. It is better if it is made of wood. This pen looks presentable and has excellent performance properties.
The principle of brewing Turkish coffee
Brewing Turkish coffee is not very difficult, but you should know under what conditions the most delicious and rich coffee is obtained.
The recipe is as follows:
- 2 - 3 tablespoons of ground grains are poured into the cezve.
- Pour water. You need to choose the ratio yourself so that the strength is optimal.
- Place on fire and bring to a boil.
- Remove the container as soon as the foam begins to rise. Let it cool a little.
- This algorithm is repeated 3 - 5 times - heated and removed from heat.
You cannot boil the tea leaves. The Turks say that the taste changes for the worse and you should not treat your friends with such a drink. In fact, all that is needed is attention to the preparation process, since the foam can escape and the drink will be spoiled.
Rules for a tasty drink when brewing by hand
Although the Turk seems like a simple item, there are several secrets on how to prepare a real oriental drink:
- Only soft spring water is used so that the taste of the grains does not deteriorate or become distorted.
- The beans are crushed as much as possible - into dust, so that the coffee turns out thick and aromatic. Small particles release the essential oils contained in the grains faster.
- Sugar is added along with tea leaves and spices.
You should drink Turkish coffee after a glass of water, as the drink is strong and can cause dehydration if consumed frequently.
Electric Turk - features
The principle of operation of an electric Turk lies only in the difference in the method of heating water. This happens with the help of a base on which the cezve is placed. The container itself has a standard shape: a wide bottom and a narrowed neck.
How to make coffee in an electric pot:
- 2 - 3 teaspoons of ground grains into a container.
- Add sugar and spices if the coffee is made according to the classic Turkish recipe.
- Pour 100 ml of water.
- Plug in the base and let the coffee warm up.
- When boiling, remove the container, cool slightly and return to heat.
Depending on the model of the electric turk, which can automatically monitor rising foam or not have such a function, you need to monitor the cooking process. Otherwise, the drink will run away and flood the base, which could lead to repairs.
Advantages and disadvantages
The advantages of electric Turks include:
- Quick boiling - in 1.5 minutes - for those who save time.
- You can take it with you on a trip. In a hotel where there is no gas stove, the coffee maker can be plugged into an outlet.
- There is a choice of container sizes - for one or two servings, or even more.
- You can choose by material and cost.
Video: Coffee in an electric Turk Kelli KL-1444
Particularly advantageous are models that have an auto-shut-off function when boiling. There are few such brands, but they exist. Automatic shut-off allows you to prepare a drink almost as tasty as manual brewing.
Of the minuses:
- For connoisseurs of a rich drink, rapid boiling is a disadvantage, since the grains do not have time to be extracted into the water.
- Devices without automatic shutdown require constant presence to monitor the process.
- Electric Turks with automatic shut-off when boiling are expensive, they are more difficult to buy, but their rating is better and higher than all other models.
To choose the right model, it is important to pay attention to the following details:
- Volume. You should not buy a large-volume device, but cook 1-2 servings, since the narrowed neck in this case does not work - it does not hold back the foam, and the aroma evaporates. It is difficult to control boiling with this method.
- Power. In this case, an overly powerful device is not needed. It is better when the coffee boils slowly, like over a fire or sand.
The design of electric Turks is matched to the interior of the kitchen - it is inappropriate to give advice here.
Devices with auto shut-off
Turkish coffee makers with automatic shut-off are the best models in the rating of electric Turks. Their advantage is that the automation controls the rise of the foam and prevents the drink from spilling out of the cezve.
Electric Turks with auto shut-off are designed exclusively for brewing coffee. Many people have adapted to boil milk for baby food in them, since the milk foam also rises during boiling, and the device turns off in time.
Some models brew proper Turkish coffee - they turn on and off twice, which is enough to get a tasty drink. If desired, you can turn on the device again.
The best electric Turk of this modification has a display and displays various warnings on it, for example, add sugar.
As for the price, it is much higher than regular models. It is not recommended to save on the device if you want to drink delicious coffee every day, otherwise in a couple of weeks the coffee maker will take its place on the far shelf.
Electric Turk without auto shut-off
These devices can be used universally:
- heat water for tea;
- warm up food for children;
- make cocoa with milk;
- make coffee.
The difference is that the cooking process must be monitored so that the top layer of grounds does not spill out.
There are cheap models that don’t even have a power button - the device starts heating water when the cezve is placed on a base connected to the network.
The disadvantage of cheap devices is poor assembly and plastic housing. These models are not made in China by the best craftsmen, so such a device will not last long.
Useful additions
A good Turk makes the coffee brewing process comfortable and convenient. To achieve this, manufacturers of electric cezves provide the design with additional devices and functions:
- Automatic shutdown saves the owner time, allows you to do other things, and does not require control over cooking. An electric coffee turk with an auto-shut-off function alerts you when the drink is ready with a sound signal.
- LED indicators showing operating mode, water level.
- Control panel displaying time, temperature. Helps control the cooking process and set the right time.
- The foam rise sensor turns off the turk not according to the temperature, but according to the height of the foam, preventing the drink from flowing out.
- Overheat protection. Prevents the device from burning if you forget to pour liquid into it.
- Spill protection. When the water level is above a special mark, the device does not turn on.
For safe use, electric Turks are equipped with non-heating wooden or folding handles.
Auto shut off button
Control Panel
Folding handle
Water level scale
Rating of models without auto shut-off
What models can be found in domestic electronics supermarkets:
- Electric Turk Gorenje. The power of the device is 800 W, which prevents the water from boiling quickly, so the coffee powder is better extracted. The walls inside are made of stainless steel, and the top is made of plastic - this allows you to reduce the temperature of the body during cooking. The volume of the cezve is 300 ml and is designed for 3 servings of coffee.
- Endever Costa 800 W, 300 ml. The body is made entirely of stainless steel, so it is not recommended to touch it during cooking. It boils quickly, so the coffee turns out watery. It is necessary to observe the grinding and turn on the device several times.
- Centek is a model without a button, but cheap. The coffee begins to brew when the cezve is placed on the base; it cannot be left on the stand, as the device will burn without liquid. The power is 1,000 W, which is absolutely unnecessary because the water boils too quickly. Plus - steel body.
- Kelli is one of the cheapest models in a plastic case. The handle, unlike other Turks, is not removable or foldable, so it needs a separate place in the kitchen so as not to accidentally catch the cezve while making coffee.
- Sinbo is suitable for those people who need to quickly brew coffee, since the device has a power of 1,000 W and boils water in just over a minute. The case is made of plastic and is therefore susceptible to mechanical damage. Of all the known electric Turks, this is the fastest.
Of the options considered, the most optimal in terms of price and quality is the Gorenje brand electric Turk.
The devices can be used for different purposes. Almost everything is made in China, using poor quality plastic that stinks for days and transfers the “aroma” into the drinks.
If you know what real Turkish coffee tastes like, then it is better not to buy high-power coffee makers - the comparison will not be in favor of electric devices.
Correct operation
- To ensure safe use of the device, you must adhere to some rules:
- Metal objects are not suitable for stirring coffee in electric Turks.
- The device must be installed on a stable, level surface.
- The electric pot must not be moved or connected without water during cooking.
- Do not place the electric cezve on a regular stove or in a microwave oven.
- Disconnect from the power supply before washing and when the device is not in use.
- The device cannot be cooled with ice water.
- Connect only to outlets that carry alternating current.
- The housing and cord are strictly prohibited from being immersed in water.
Rating of electric turks with auto shut-off
The best electric coffee pots with automatic shut-off are significantly more expensive than the previous group. Some are produced in Turkey and used in local cafes, so it is worth paying special attention to them. For example:
- Beko coffee maker. It is equipped with an optical sensor, so the design of the electric turk is different - it looks like a box in which the cezve is placed. The sensor is located on top and monitors the process. During operation, the container is raised and sealed with a seal located at the top, which improves the extraction of grains.
Heating occurs twice, then the device finally turns off. There are models with the ability to prepare coffee in two containers - they are equipped with a water tank from which you can add liquid to the cezve.
The model costs the same as a carob coffee maker - about $100, but it makes real Turkish coffee. Almost no maintenance is required - every two weeks .
- Timecup is the Chinese equivalent of Beco. If it were not for poor assembly, the device would be the best in terms of price and quality ratio. There are several programs that differ in the speed of heating water. During operation, the coffee maker heats the water three times and turns off.
The design feature is a non-removable glass made of ceramic, so the device is inconvenient to wash, because water should not get on the electrical unit. Due to shortcomings, the Turk often breaks down - its contacts burn.
The cost is not cheap - about 7 thousand rubles. The previous model costs about the same, although Beko is much more durable in terms of service life.
The choice is small; in fact, you can only safely buy the Beko brand.
The second coffee maker is not worth the money, because it will cost even more money on repairs and all kinds of replacement parts.
