30 Days of Christmas Coffees – Day 25
Sipping the Season with Spiced Orange Christmas Turkish Coffee
Welcome to the 25th day of spillinthebeans.com’s 30 Days of Christmas Coffees! Today, we’re taking a journey to the heart of Turkey with a delightful twist on the classic Turkish coffee – our Spiced Orange Turkish Christmas Coffee. Grab your favorite festive mug, and let’s dive into the warmth and spice of this holiday treat!
Oh, one thing before we progress, as you might be wondering about something. Turkey is a predominantly Muslim country, so Christmas isn’t traditionally celebrated. However, the figure akin to Santa Claus is referred to as Noel Baba in Turkish culture. It’s believed that Noel Baba delivers gifts on New Year’s Eve, contributing to the festive atmosphere during this time in Turkey. And, this delicious twist on Turkish coffee is perfect for any celebration!
30 Days of Christmas Coffee Recipes
What is Turkish Coffee?
Turkish coffee is a time-honored brewing method that originated in the Ottoman Empire. It’s a unique and rich way of preparing coffee, known for its strong flavor and distinctive preparation style. The coffee is finely ground (very important!) and combined with cold water and sugar, then simmered in a special pot called a cezve or ibrik. The result is a strong, unfiltered coffee with a thick layer of foam on top.
Brewing in a Cezve or Ibrik
The cezve or ibrik is an iconic vessel used for brewing Turkish coffee. It has a long handle and a narrow neck, designed to create the perfect conditions for brewing. The coffee and water are combined, and the mixture is slowly heated until it reaches a gentle boil, creating a frothy layer. This process is repeated to achieve the desired consistency and foaminess.
Gather up your ingredients
– 1 cup finely ground Turkish coffee (or other finely ground coffee)
– 2 cups cold water
– 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
– 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
– 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
– 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
– 1 tablespoon orange zest (from one orange)
– 4-5 cardamom pods, crushed
– 2 tablespoons granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
Spillin’ the Beans Espresso Making Alternatives
Turkish Coffee Is All About the Grind
In addition to having an Ibrik (Cezve), the most important part of Turkish coffee-making is the grind. Because you’re boiling and not filtering, you want a very fine grind. In the spillinthebeans.com shop, you’re able to choose espresso grind for many of the coffees (besides espresso!), and shipping is free!
Introducing Spiced Orange and Christmas Magic
For our special Spiced Orange Turkish Christmas Coffee, we’ve taken the traditional Turkish coffee and added a festive twist. Imagine the warm, comforting aroma of cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg blending seamlessly with the strong, robust notes of Turkish coffee. But that’s not all – we’ve brought in the bright and citrusy essence of orange zest to elevate the flavor profile.
Spiced Orange Christmas Turkish Coffee
Equipment
- 1 Turkish Coffee Pot – Ibrik / Cezve
- 4 Demitasse cups
Materials
- 1 cup finely ground Turkish coffee or other finely ground strong coffee of your choice
- 2 cups cold water
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp ground cloves
- 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 Tbsp orange zest
- 4-5 cardamom pods, crushed
- 2 Tbsp granulated sugar adjust to your taste
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix together the cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg – set aside for the time being
- In a Turkish coffee pot, combine the coffee, water, vanilla, orange zest, and crushed cardamom pods – stir well
- Place the coffee pot over medium heat and slowly bring the mixture to a simmer without stirring
- Once it starts to simmer, add the spice mixture
- Allow the coffee to come to a gentle boil, creating a crema on top (be careful not to let it boil over)
- Spoon that crema off the top and divide into 4 cups
- Repeat the crema process 2 more times (allowing the mixture to boil, create crema, and spoon it into the cups
- Add the granulated sugar to the coffee (traditional Turkish coffee is strong and sweet, but adjust the sweetness to your taste) then stir well
- Divide the mixture amongst the four demitasse cups and enjoy!
Notes
Sip Slowly
As you take that first sip of Spiced Orange Turkish Christmas Coffee, you’ll be transported to a cozy holiday haven. The strong and bold Turkish coffee base is complemented by the warmth of cinnamon, the comforting hug of cloves, and the gentle spice of nutmeg. The burst of citrus from the orange zest adds a delightful brightness, balancing the robust coffee flavor with a festive zing.
So, cheers to day 25 of our 30 Days of Christmas Coffees series, and to a caffeinated, joyous, and happy holiday season – regardless of what holiday you celebrate! 🎄☕🌟
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