Making Turkish sand coffee is very similar to making “ordinary” Turkish coffee. Of course, “ordinary” Turkish coffee is not very ordinary at all. The big difference, and what has recently become a wildly popular method recently all throughout the West and Europe, is that making Turkish sand coffee involves using – you guessed it …
Sand!
(Photo Attributed to Author: Luca Galuzzi)
Sand is heated to extremely hot temperatures in which to brew the coffee. The curators who proffer this method claim that the sand offers a more consistent, even heat than normal brewing in a pot directly over a flame.
What You Will Need for Making Turkish Sand Coffee:
(Photo Attributed to Author: Eaeeae)
Most of the tools that you would use to make regular Turkish coffee are the same as what is needed for making Turkish sand coffee. You will need-
- some cezves (pictured on the left: small, wide bottomed, narrow top pots with one or two spouts, and long handles
- some demitasse cups (for serving)
- a long handled, large wooden or metal cooking spoon
- high quality Turkish coffee, either ground extremely fine (even finer than espresso), or whole beans
- If you buy whole beans, a good quality coffee bean grinder
- sugar (optional)
- clean, fine sand
- a wok
- pure water
Note: you could brew the coffee over smoldering hot wood embers, which is the ancient Turkish traditional method, and still practiced today in many places – including specialty restaurants and coffee shops. But you can achieve the same results using a wok over a gas flame or electric heating element on a stove cooktop. The important thing is that the sand is heated evenly and the heat remains consistent.
Directions for Making Turkish Sand Coffee:
- Fill your wok with sand, to within about 3″ space from the top of the rim; Place the wok on the burner, turn the heat up to high, and let the sand get so hot you cannot put your bare hands within 2″ to 3″ from the surface.
- If you have whole beans, grind them at the finest setting on your grinder. They should be ground even finer than espresso grounds, so that they will sink to the bottom of the cezve during the brewing.
- Pour 1.7 ounces of purified water into each cezve; if you are adding sugar, put desired amount in now. Float 2 teaspoons of the coffee grounds on top of the water.
- Once your cezves are filled with water and coffee grounds, nestle them a couple inches deep into the hot sand.
- Use your spoon to scoop hot sand up around the sides of the cezves.
- As the water starts heating up, stir gently to ensure the coffee grounds are distributed evenly – you don’t want any lumps.
- Wait until the mixture is foaming and almost – but not quite – boiling.
- Carefully scoop the foam off the top of the Turkish coffee and either discard it or place it in the demitasse cups – this is a matter of preference.
- Now gently pour the coffee into the cup, being careful to not scald yourself on the hot metal. If you put the foam in the cup, pouring slowly and gently should allow it to rise to the surface of the coffee.
- Before serving, allow the coffee to sit undisturbed for two to three minutes – this will let the grounds to settle to the bottom. Note: Never strain Turkish coffee – it will disturb the delicate balance of flavor.
- Once the coffee and the grounds are well separated, serve and enjoy your coffee!
Here is a very short video, if you would like to see making Turkish sand coffee in action. I apologize for the background noise, but just turn the sound down or off, as it is not narrated anyway, and is just a good visual representation of the process.
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Interesting article, I think I will try going to one of those coffee shops they have downtown in the Arabic sector … really sounds like quite the treat!
Trust me, Mark, if you like real coffee, this is a special treat!
Big coffee nut here, all kinds – never tried this, and now I just gotta! LOL
Go for it, Bob, you will love it!
Fascinating! I don’t think I would “appliance up” to make it myself, lol – but I sure do want to try some now. Looking for a Turkish Sand Coffehouse near me!
Yeah, I understand it is a bit daunting to “appliance up” (lol) in order to make Turkish sand coffee at home. But do find a coffee shop that serves it if you can … a truly remarkable flavor and culinary experience!
Hello there
l was not exactly looking for ways to make Turkish coffee when l got to your website, l was looking for Turkish sweets when your site came up.
l have never heard of sand coffee, maybe because l do not like Turkish coffee,to me it`s just too strong and bitter.
Now that at your site,l could just not leave without reading because it sounds unreal making coffee with sand.
can you please explain why the Turkish make their coffee with sand? honest this is new to me,never heard it before.
Are you sure you read the entire post? It clearly explains the how and why Turkish Sand Coffee is made.
As a Turkish i approve this! You explained everything pretty well!
Where are you from by the way??
We do it in Turkey exactly in the way you describe. Sand and heat from wood. But that’s the traditional style. We now havequick Turkish coffee makers.
Grat site! I really like it a lot. Think you will be very successfull. Just keep it on! Love from Turkey!!!
Tyler, thanks so much for the endorsement! Havequick Turkish coffee makers, eh? I will have to look into those.
I truthfully have never had Turkish coffee and it appears I may be missing out! I have to admit when I first started reading this post, I thought that sand was an ingredient IN the coffee haha. I wasn’t sure what to make of that. But after reading and watching the video, I see now how its made and think it sounds amazing! The coffee in the video looks sooooooo good! I really want to try this. Where would you recommend getting sand to make this? Like at a home improvement store (I know they have sand for building)?
Heather, you made me smile, lol. Thanks for the visit and comment. You probably can get good, fine sand at home improvement or gardening supply stores. But you can also get it by just clicking on the item on the site, and you will go to our online store where you can purchase perfect fine sand for making Turkish Sand coffee.
First of all, what a gorgeous looking and fantastic website.
Growing up in Australia, I was exposed to a wide variety of ethnic food. It was common for my friends and I to go out for Thai, Afghan, Italian, Vietnamese – you name it!
I’m aware of Turkish coffee, yet never heard of Turkish sand coffee. I live in South America now, and not soo sure if I can source all the things required to make it, but I’m definitely going to try.
Thanks so much for bringing interesting recipes from around the world to our attention – I really look forward to following this website!
Stacy you sound like you have had a widely varied and interesting life! If you want to “source” the tools needed for making Turkish sand coffee, you can do that right on my site! Just click on the items (they are hyperlinked) and you will go to our online store, okay?
Thanks for the visit and kind comment, too. 🙂
Although I’ve never tried Turkish coffee, I know about it but Turkish sand coffee? Sand coffee? Very unusual to me…
I believe that to make a very good sand coffee, there is quite a number of items required for having that great taste.
Talk about tools, I never have thought of having wok being needed in making coffee. I’ve learned a lot after reading this post all in all.
Tar, the tools needed is a bit daunting. But if you enjoy trying new things, it is a fun coffee lover’s adventure
Very entertaining and informative post, and much appreciated. I am a coffee drinker who thinks himself a bit of a gourmet. The process does seem to make sense as producing a superior beverage. Got this one bookmarked in case I get in the mood for gathering the necessary equipment. Could be fun, I bet.
Hey Howard, I agree, if you don’t already have the (or at least most of the) equipment, it is a bit daunting. But yeah – keep it in mind and this post bookmarked. You never know when the strong urge will overcome the obstacles, eh? 😉
I love me some Turkish coffee! Thanks for this how-to article, Marv – I think I will give it a try. 🙂
Go for it, Janet! I tried it, also a “regular” Turkish coffee lover, and the sand coffee method really does produce a superior complex bouquet and flavor.