Turkish coffee is an opulent and fragrant experience, without filters – its grounds remain at the bottom of your cup – as well as being very sweet. It has a long tradition in Turkey and Middle East; even used for fortune-telling with its sediment leaving shapes behind!

Turkish coffee can be enjoyed either with or without sugar. When making it with sugar, the first step of preparation involves mixing it in with the grounds at the start, before boiling together later on. Your server can help determine your ideal sweet level – no sugar at all, 1/2-1 teaspoon per cup sugar use or higher (2 teaspoons per cup).

Turkish coffee found in American restaurants can vary significantly from what can be found at cafes or restaurants in Turkey, due to differences in preparation. Coffee made at home often features coarser granules which creates an entirely unique texture and flavor profile for this type of beverage.

Turkish coffee is often served in a porcelain cup called a finjan, usually with small pastries or sweet treats such as Turkish delight. Also popular are simit, which is a crunchy sesame bagel which pairs beautifully with both the sweetness of Turkish coffee and cardamom spice.

Though Turkish coffee contains high caffeine levels, it can actually be very beneficial if taken in moderation – two cups per day is ideal to stay alert during the day and boost metabolism health, thereby fighting depression and anxiety as well as helping alleviate sleep issues or ligament pain, and dehydration if not drinking enough water to offset its effects. But be wary: excessive consumption could lead to sleep issues, metabolism imbalance, depression or anxiety and can even contribute to dehydration without enough water intake.

Try Emma Frisch’s Turkish Coffee recipe from Feast by Firelight for an elegant and invigorating after-dinner drink that packs plenty of health benefits! Simply follow the directions in her book Feast by Firelight for this easy camping trip recipe, featuring rose water and real dark chocolate for added dimension and energy boost.