Turska Kafa: Serbian Turkish-Style Coffee

By
Barbara Rolek
Barbara Rolek
Barbara Rolek is a former chef who became a cooking school instructor and award-winning food writer.
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Updated on 01/19/23
Turkish coffee
Froemel Kapitza / Getty Images
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 15 mins
Servings: 2 servings

This version of Turkish coffee is common among Serbians (who call it Turska kafa) and Croatians (who refer to it as Turska kava), as well as Bulgarians, Romanians, and other Eastern Europeans. It is made in a special long-handled copper pot with a lip (but no lid) that is called a djezva, which is its Turkish name; you can find a djezva at Eastern European shops and delis. The coffee can, however, also be made in a stovetop coffee pot.

Although you don't need much to make Turska kafa, what you do need is specific. One necessary ingredient, of course, is the ground coffee—which must be Turkish and should be finely ground. The other unique item is a demitasse cup, which is a small coffee cup that is what espresso is served in. This style of coffee cup is not only used to serve the Turska kafa but is also employed as the measuring vessel for the water called for in the recipe.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 demitasse cups cold water

  • 1 teaspoon sugar

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons very finely ground Turkish coffee

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Place cold water and sugar in a djezva or stovetop coffee pot and bring to a boil.

  3. Pour some of the sugar water into a demitasse cup. Stir ground coffee into boiling water in pot and let it return to a boil.

  4. Remove pot from heat and add sugar water from demitasse cup; cover with a saucer and let steep 30 seconds.

  5. Pour coffee into two demitasse cups and serve at once, or bring dzezva to table and pour coffee in front of guests.

Recipe Tips

  • When buying Turkish coffee, look for the darkest roast that is available. Unless you can find Doncafe or Grand Café brands, avoid anything prepackaged. Also, make sure to get "finely ground" and not "espresso."
  • This recipe calls for 1 teaspoon sugar, but feel free to increase or decrease the amount depending on your taste, keeping in mind Serbian coffee is stronger than American coffee. You can also try brown sugar or raw sugar in place of white granulated sugar.
  • Turkish coffee is meant to be enjoyed in a group; double or triple the recipe to make enough for all of your guests to drink together.

Accompaniments

No matter the nationality, it seems everyone enjoys coffee with a cake or cookie. Accompany this Serbian Turkish-style coffee with a batch of krofne, Serbian doughnuts. Or try a recipe for a Serbian nut roll, a flaky pastry filled with walnuts. A Serbian multilayered chocolate cream cake is also a wonderful complement to the Turska kafa.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
9 Calories
0g Fat
2g Carbs
0g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 2
Amount per serving
Calories 9
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 3mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 2g 1%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 2mg 0%
Iron 0mg 0%
Potassium 2mg 0%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)