Real coffee lovers are well versed not only in the varieties of this invigorating and aromatic drink, but also in the recipes for its preparation. In different countries and cultures, coffee is brewed in completely different ways. Although Greece is not considered a very active consumer, the country knows a lot about this drink. In this article, you will get acquainted with Greek coffee, the recipe for which is simple.
What kind of coffee to take to make a drink?
True coffee lovers know that the taste and aroma of the finished drink depends not only on the method of its preparation, but also on the variety of beans used. Which grade to choose: arabica or robusta? In principle, Greek coffee will come out delicious and aromatic when brewing from any of them, but the best solution would be to mix two varieties of beans. You can purchase ground grains, but still it is better to grind them yourself at home.
Can I make a drink using instant coffee?
Some people who want to make a drink at home are wondering if regular instant coffee can be used for this purpose. The answer to this question is negative. Cooked Greek coffee is cooked over low heat for a very long time, and, of course, it cannot be poured with boiling water in a cup, as is done with soluble powder or granules. This is his characteristic feature. True, there is an exception to this rule. Without fire and using instant powder, Greek cold coffee is prepared , the recipe of which you will find in this article below.
Traditional Greek Coffee Recipe
To make coffee according to a traditional recipe, you will need water, sugar and coffee. An important element of cooking is Turk. It should be wide, with the neck tapering up. In such dishes, the temperature will be distributed evenly, and the foam will be perfect. Pour water into a turk and put on fire. When it is warm enough, add coffee and sugar to it to taste. Now watch out for both! Greek coffee should not boil in any case. As soon as you see that the water is ready to rise, remove the Turk from the fire.
Repeat the trick several times! A beautiful foam must be in this drink, and to achieve its formation can only be so. Greek coffee, the recipe of which you just read, is prepared for a long time, about half an hour and, of course, is not suitable for preparation on weekdays in the morning. Try to cook it on the weekend, and you will not remain indifferent to its unforgettable taste and aroma!
How did the frappe coffee recipe come about?
Many connoisseurs of an invigorating drink are very fond of frappe coffee. What is this drink and how did it appear? It appeared in 1957 in Thessaloniki, where the next international exhibition was held. A Nestle spokesperson named Janis invited visitors to taste a new instant chocolate drink. It consisted of milk powder, sugar and cocoa. The powder was simply diluted with water and whisked quickly with a shaker. During the break, Janis suddenly wanted to drink coffee, but he did not find hot water. Then he mixed cold water, milk powder, sugar and, of course, the powder itself in a shaker. The drink was called Greek frappe coffee. Now it is very popular in Greece.
How to make frappe coffee?
To make a drink, you will need instant coffee, water, milk, sugar, ice and a shaker. In a shaker, put two tablespoons of sugar and coffee, mix. Add some water and close the container. We need a thick foam, which means that the shaker needs to be shaken strongly until its contents brighten and turn into foam. Then pour the contents of the shaker into a tall glass, add some water there and throw a couple of ice cubes. If you do not like too strong coffee, then add milk to it. Greek coffee, always enthusiastic reviews, will cheer you up! If you don’t have a shaker at home, do not worry, you can prepare a drink in an ordinary plastic bottle. Just pour water into it and place all the ingredients. Close the lid and shake the bottle just like a shaker. Iced coffee is ready in Greek!
How to make coffee with cream foam?
To prepare a tasty drink, take cold water, a spoonful of coffee and sugar, a Turku and a long spoon for a Turk. Pour cold water into the turk. Add coffee and sugar, whisk with a spoon. Put Turku on medium heat and watch carefully. When the coffee foam rises, quickly drain it and put the Turk on fire again. Repeat the procedure twice, then drain the remaining drink into a cup. Greek coffee is always drunk with cold water, so place a glass of cool water next to the cup.
Centenarian coffee
There are many recipes for making coffee in Greek. This recipe is not much different from the classic version (except that the proportions are different). Use a copper Turk. Pour 100 ml of water into it, add a spoonful of coffee and sugar to taste. This recipe does not require draining foam, you can just raise the dishes over the fire. As in the classic recipe, do not let the ingredients boil!
Many people are interested in the question of how Greek coffee is roasted? This is done in the traditional way, because for the preparation of the drink the most ordinary, but high-quality varieties are used.
The secret to making real Greek coffee
The secret of real coffee in Greek lies in its leisurely preparation. The Greeks, who know a lot about this drink, say that the rush must be left behind the doors of the kitchen. Even the phrase “brewing coffee”, familiar to us, is translated from Greek as “oven”. This means that they cook it very slowly. The main secret of cooking is the creation of foam. For this, the process of boiling water must be slowed down and stopped altogether. But usually the water in the turkish boils after about 2 minutes over medium heat. What if you do not have a fryer for cooking? You can do it yourself, for example, by putting the dishes on the flame diffuser.
You can also use this ancient method: take the most ordinary pan and pour sand into it (we are talking about river sand , not sugar). The sand should be about 3 cm thick. Now put the pan on a small fire and wait until the sand warms up enough. Then, directly into it, put the Turk with the necessary components of the recipe. So the mixture will languish for a long time, and its taste will delight you and your guests.
Useful tips for brewing Greek coffee
If you want to make truly aromatic Greek coffee, be careful and patient. And a few tips that you will read below will help you in this difficult task:
- Watch out for water on fire. If it boils, then it will simply have to be poured into the sink, since there is no Greek coffee without foam. In addition, you also have to wipe the stove
- If you are preparing a treat for several people, then pour the drink from the Turk simultaneously into all cups so that the foam is evenly distributed. You can’t pour such a drink into different cups one at a time!
- Coffee in Greek due to repeated interruption of the boiling process has a particularly thick base. That is why it is not drunk to the end of the cup. Some hosts filter it before serving. Do not do this without asking the guests for consent. Many people prefer a drink with thickener. Serve it only in special cups, do not use mugs.
- When cooking, it is very convenient to use not ordinary granulated sugar, but refined sugar. It will not crumble to the surface of the plate, and its amount will be conveniently calculated.
How do real Greeks make coffee?
Greek women regard the cooking process as a real ritual, a priesthood. They strictly observe all the rules. Be sure to use copper utensils, which the Greeks call breeki, and we - the Turk. Copper gives the drink a special aroma, as it promotes an even distribution of temperature. Using such utensils, you certainly will not smell mold in Greek coffee. Greek women keep in the kitchen a whole set of Turks, designed to prepare one, two, three servings. Mistresses buy coffee beans at the market, roast them in a pan with a thick bottom. By the way, this pan is not used for other purposes, in this case, the grains retain their special smell. Next, Greek women grind the fried grains into powder using a manual coffee grinder. Almost ice water is poured into the Turk, and in exact quantities. Many Greek women even first pour water into a cup, and then pour it into a cookware. Then coffee, sugar and a little ground cinnamon are added to the Turk to give the drink a special flavor. In Greece, a refreshment drink is necessarily served with a glass of ice water.
Very often they also serve jam made from green walnuts, which is unusually tasty and aromatic. Before starting the tasting, in Greece a person should sip a drink a little, then wish health to all those present in the room: “Stin igia sous!” - and after that enjoy the taste of the drink.
Where to drink coffee in Moscow?
Many people are interested in the question of where to drink Greek coffee in Moscow. There are a great many establishments in the big city, but which of them serve a truly high-quality and tasty drink? According to visitors, this is:
- “Coffeemania” is one of the most popular places for Moscow coffee lovers. A cozy atmosphere and a quality brewed drink will distract you from the high prices of the establishment. A huge plus of coffee houses is the round-the-clock mode of operation.
- Coffee Bean is called "the pioneers of the coffee movement." It was the founders of Coffee Bean in the 90s who for the first time in Moscow called their institution a coffee shop and banned smoking in it, since this completely kills the aroma of the drink.
- Double B is a very small and inconspicuous cafe serving real coffee! It employs professionals who clearly know their job and control every step in the preparation of the drink. Here you can buy coffee beans by weight home and even take a lesson in the preparation of this wonderful drink.
- Grill & Gyros. This cozy establishment serves Greek shawarma gyros in various variations. The main drink here is coffee, including frappe (Greek cold coffee).
- OMG! Coffee - in addition to a good kitchen menu, you will find here 40 different types of the desired drink of excellent quality.
When did coffee appear in Greece?
This drink in Greece appeared during the Turkish rule. It was under the rule of the Ottoman Empire that the Greeks first tasted the taste of black grains (by the way, much earlier than the Europeans). According to historical statistics, as early as the 17th century, there were approximately 300 coffee houses in Greek cities that were visited equally often by both Turks and Greeks. The first Greek coffee house arose in 1828 after the expulsion of the Turks from Greece. It was located in the city of Nafplion. For frying, special pans with a very thick bottom were used here. The dishes were covered with a lid, but it had a hole for a long spoon. The grains were continuously stirred so that they would not burn out.
Then they were ground on a small manual coffee grinder or in a large mechanized apparatus. In ancient coffee houses even their promotions took place. Large establishments seated a hired person at their door, and he ground the grain, attracting visitors with aroma. Now in a sunny country they love and respect this drink, so there are enough coffee houses in every town! Here, they not only drink coffee, but also meet with friends, loved ones and relatives, conduct conversations, listen to music.
Try to make this drink yourself at home and you will drink it often. And, of course, come to sunny, hospitable Greece to enjoy a real refreshment drink!