The French Press – This method of making coffee involves the use of a French press, also known as a coffee plunger or сafetière à piston and works much like a tea infuser. In this method the coffee and water are mixed together in the top section of the device and left to brew for several minutes. A plunger, also known as the press, is then depressed which compresses the grounds and forces the liquid into the chamber below while the grounds remain in the top section. Many believe that this forceful pressing allows more flavor and essential oils to escape the bean, resulting in a higher quality of coffee.
Turkish Coffee – Turkish coffee begins with the coffee being ground down to as fine a powder as possible. This can be done via the traditional method with a mortar and pestle, with a Turkish hand grinder or with a more modern electronic device. Once made into a powder the coffee is placed inside a small Turkish coffee pot known as an ibrik. At this point ingredients such as sugar and cardamom may be added depending on personal preference. The coffee must be brought to a slow boil, and then removed from the heat. Once cooled, the coffee is then placed back on the heat until a foam forms at the top of the ibrik. At this point the coffee is ready to be poured into a cup, where it must settle for a couple of minutes before it can be drunk. This settling period results in the collecting of grounds at the bottom of the cup. Several cultures, including Turkish and Greek, read these settled coffee grounds for the purposes of telling fortunes and predicting future events, revealing the rich history and culture of the Turkish coffee making method.
