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How to make Greek Coffee

How to make Greek Coffee

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Greek coffee, in Greek Ellinikos Kaffés, (eh-lee-knee-KHOS kah-FESS), is one of the healthiest in the world. Recent studies have shown that a cup of Greek coffee a day is very good for your health and for longevity!

Ground Greek coffee image

Greek coffee, which is known in other parts of the world as Cypriot, Turkish, Armenian, Arabic, Middle Eastern etc., has nothing to do with any of these countries as the beans are imported from other countries.  

Coffee roasting image
Roasting Coffee Beans

These beans are roasted and then finely ground into powder.

The taste differs in all the above countries because it depends on the type of beans used and the roasting method.

In Greek coffee no spices are added, so you taste only the natural taste of the coffee.

Grinding Greek coffee image
Grinding Greek coffee

The old traditional way of making a good Greek coffee was using a brass or copper briki, which is a long-handled coffee pot and then it was boiled on low heat to allow dissolve the flavoursome compounds.

briki image
Copper briki

Old traditional heating sources included the embers of a fire, or a tray, about 10 cm (4 in) deep, filled with sand.

The tray was placed on the burner to heat and when the sand was hot, the briki was placed in the hot sand. This allowed a more even and gentle than direct heat and this was called “καφές στη χόβολη”(kaffés sti hóvoli).

coffee in copper briki image


In Greece we call our coffee Ellinikos Kaffés.  I doubt if there are still any kafeneia (pl.) making coffee the old traditional way “sti hovoli”, but some still use old fashioned brass or copper briki and  if it is made on a gas stove on low heat, then you are still fortunate to enjoy a nice cup of coffee.

The end result will be a coffee well brewed, with a frothy kind of cream on top, callled “kaimaki” and not a boiled black broth.

Greek coffee with kaimaki image

When going to a coffee shop or cafeteria ask if they make coffee using the machine or if it is brewed on a gas stove.  

Boycott machine made Greek coffee!! That’s what my husband and I do.  We either go somewhere else or don’t drink coffee.

Cake with Greek Coffee image

For Greeks, offering Greek coffee is an act of hospitality and social gathering and when you visit a Greek home, especially in the villages, the first thing they will ask you is if you would like a cup of coffee.

If you accept the coffee, before bringing it to your mouth just say “Στην υγειά σας – Stin ygiá Sas” (which means to your good health).

If you are visiting Greece or Cyprus and would like to enjoy a cup of Greek coffee, I would suggest that you visit a “kafenío – in Greek καφενείο” which are the local coffee shops. 

In “kafeneia” coffee is still prepared in a briki, on a gas stove whereas in most cafeterias it is likely that they will be making it using a machine, like espresso and when the coffee is made instantly, there is no time for the ground coffee to dissolve, so you can feel the coffee grounds in your mouth.

Update 2015:  

It seems that with the economic crisis they are trying to find ways to attract customers by bringing old methods back.  I recently visited a modern coffee shop where they prepared the coffee on sand.  When I went inside to take a picture they told me that the management did not allow taking pictures.

Coffee Serving tray image
Coffee Serving tray

A very handy serving tray for drinks is used in Greek kafeneia to serve the coffee.   This tray has a handle on top and this makes the serving of the coffee much easier.

Greek breakfast with Mulberry Jam image

How to make Greek Coffee

In order to make the coffee yourselves, first of all measure the water with a demitasse cup and add  the proportions of your preference.

The water should always be at room temperature.

Depending on how many coffees we are making we must have an equivalent sized briki.

There are a few sizes of brikia for 1, 2, 3 and 4 demitasse cups.

We cannot make 1 coffee in a briki which is for 3 or 4 cups. The end result will be a coffee without “kaimaki” and boiled.

Various sizes of brikia image

As you can see in most of the pictures, my husband and I always prefer to drink a double sized coffee, so instead of serving it in a demitasse cup, I add the usual amount of coffee and sugar but add more water and serve it in a big mug.

Types of Greek Coffee:

There are many ways to prepare a Greek coffee but the main four ways you can have your Greek coffee, is sketos (which means plain), which is without sugar, me oligi, (which means with a little sugar), with 1/2 teaspoon of sugar, metrios (which means medium), with 1 teaspoon of sugar and glykys (which means sweet),  with 2 teaspoons of sugar.

Some people prefer more coffee (varis) and some prefer it light (elafris)  with less coffee or more water. 

  Others prefer it boiled only once, others prefer it boiled two or three times (vrastos).

  • Sketos (SKAE-tohs) which means plain, without sugar.
  • Me oligi (Meh oh-LEE-ghee), which means with little sugar, is made with 1/2 tsp sugar.
  • Metrios (MEH-tree-os), which means medium sweet, is made with 1 tsp sugar
  • Glykis (glee-KEES), which means sweet is made with 2 tsp sugar.

You can find my Greek recipes in my cookbooks «More Than A Greek Salad», and«Mint, Cinnamon & Blossom Water, Flavours of Cyprus, Kopiaste!» both available on all Amazon stores. Read more here

Ellinikos kaffes Greek coffee image

Ellinikos Kaffés - How to make Greek coffee

Yield: 1 demitasse
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Active Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 7 minutes

Ellinikos Kaffés, which means Greek coffee, is one of the healthiest in the world. Recent studies have shown that a cup of Greek coffee a day is very good for your health and for longevity!

Ingredients

  • 1 heaped teaspoon ground Greek coffee
  • Sugar according to your taste:
  • Sketos: No sugar.
  • Me oligi: 1/2 tsp sugar.
  • Metrios: 1 tsp sugar
  • Glykis: 2 tsp sugar.
  • 1 demitasse cup of tap water

Instructions

  1. Use the proper size of briki.
  2. Measure the water with the cup you will be using.
  3. Put the coffee with tap water and sugar (if using any) in the briki and put it on the heat.
  4. Mix until the coffee (and sugar) dissolves and then bring to the boil on low heat, without stirring again.
  5. Once it starts boiling, froth turns in from the sides and the coffee begins to rise towards the centre. As soon as it reaches the centre remove from heat at once.
  6. If the quantity is more than one, first distribute a small amount into each cup and then fill a little at a time with the remaining.
  7. Serve in demitasse cups 
  8. At the end there will be some leftover sediment, which do not drink.

Notes

*For those tasting Greek coffee for the first time, start with 1 tsp sugar and increase or decrease, accordingly next time.

Never use hot water and use the proper size of briki. Briki comes in 2, 4 and 6 demitasse cup sizes.

Always serve with a glass of cold water.

Greek coffee is never served with milk but at home, you can add some milk if you like.


Nutrition Information
Yield 1 Serving Size 1
Amount Per Serving Calories 16Total Fat 0gSaturated Fat 0gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 0gCholesterol 0mgSodium 10mgCarbohydrates 4gFiber 0gSugar 4gProtein 0g

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Collage How to make Greek Coffee image

Stin Ygeia Sas (To your health)!!!

Kopiaste and Kali Orexi,

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Kat

Thursday 6th of July 2017

this seems like a great idea for making coffee. I got some questions though. Do you have to use demitasse cup to make it? Is it some kind of special measure? Can you use something else to measure up the water? I can't believe they didn't let you take the photo. Well, they definitely missed aa opportunity for a free advertising ;)

Lukia

Thursday 27th of April 2017

Great Post.. I love making coffee.... I read that the Greek coffee is the healthiest with less caffeine than either other. Will surely try it.

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