Turkish coffee can be an enjoyable brewing method that connects you to coffee’s long history. The thick texture and foam taste delicious and pair perfectly with something sweet. However, learning how to make Turkish coffee with foam can be tricky. Many people have the same problem: Why is my Turkish coffee not properly foaming? Even after following the instructions, why doesn’t it foam into that classic thick texture?
I used to struggle to get thick foam when I first learned how to use a cezve, but now I get a thick texture every time. So, if you’re struggling to achieve that visually beautiful foam and thick texture in your Turkish coffee brewing, I’m confident that one of these reasons/solutions below will work for you!
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Why Is My Turkish Coffee Not Foaming?
The most common cause for a lack of foam in Turkish coffee is that the beans/grinds are not fresh, which prevents the gases and oils inside the coffee from properly extracting into the liquid. Alternatively, if you’re grinding at home, consider using a finer grind and giving the brew multiple cycles on medium heat to achieve the proper foam and texture.
Why Is Turkish Coffee so Thick?
The primary factor that makes Turkish coffee so thick is the finely ground coffee and unfiltered serving style. With a grind size that is even finer than espresso and multiple cycles of heating/foaming, the fine particles become part of the mouthfeel and texture of Turkish coffee.
While most grounds settle to the bottom of the cup, you inevitably drink some coffee grinds suspended in the liquid. This experience is why many people consider Turkish coffee to be so strong.
See Also: What Is The Difference Between Turkish Coffee And Espresso?
Turkish Coffee Not Foaming: Common Reasons
Troubleshooting coffee can get complicated. However, making Turkish coffee is relatively simple compared to other specialty coffee methods. So, assuming you know the basic Turkish coffee recipe instructions, the lack of foam is probably because of:
- Stale Coffee: Besides losing its flavor, the C02 and other compounds in old coffee will break down, meaning you will struggle to get foam. So, buy fresher coffee (check the expiration date,) and be sure to store it properly!
- Grind Not Fine Enough: The fine powder-like grind for Turkish coffee is critical—it should be even finer than espresso! Consider using a quality grinder or ordering fresh pre-ground Turkish coffee.
- Needs More Heat Cycles: The texture and foam develop best over multiple heat cycles, on medium/low heat. You can even scoop some of the foam into your cup between cycles.
- Needs More Stirring: You should not need to stir while brewing as the heat does that for you, however, stirring before turning on the heat will help create evenness and eliminate any dry pockets.
- Coffee-to-Water Ratio is Wrong: If you do not use enough coffee, you will struggle to get enough foam and texture. I recommend a 1:6 ratio, or one tablespoon of ground coffee for each 120 milliliters of water.
Finally, make sure you have the proper equipment, beans, and grind. This guide to authentic and popular Turkish coffee brands should cover the coffee aspect. While you can make Turkish coffee in any pot, the design and material of a cezve promote proper heating. The copper material and narrow neck are crucial for foam production.
Read this guide to choosing the best Turkish coffee pot for more information, or check out my top recommendation from that article below:
Features:
- Copper Turkish coffee pot (made in Turkey) and wooden spoon
- 2mm thickness (built for maximum durability)
- Wooden handle for comfortable use
- Engraved traditional floral pattern
- 12 fl oz capacity
How To Fix Turkish Coffee Without Foam
If any of the above issues seem like your problem, consider adjusting them one at a time to figure out the core issue. The trickiest fix is learning the perfect heat and timing for your stove and cezve size. When in doubt, use lower heat to avoid burning the coffee and have patience to let the foam develop slowly.
However, the easiest fix is to use fresher coffee. If you open a fresh package before its expiration date and you still can’t get foam, the issue is either your ratio or your heating process (assuming you have a good cezve.)
Lastly, if you have a quality grinder and grind right before brewing, ensure that you are using the finest setting possible.
Note: The foam on Turkish coffee is distinct from espresso crema, which involves microbubbles and emulsified oils.
See Also: How To Make Turkish Coffee At Home: Easy Recipe & Instructions
Other Tips
As an immersion brewing method, Turkish coffee is supposed to have an intense flavor and thick texture that packs a punch. So, besides the solutions mentioned above, let’s review some basic tips to make consistently strong Turkish coffee with a thick texture and solid layer of foam.
- Imported from the premier coffee company in Turkey
- Ideal for brewing in a Turkish coffee pot
- The most popular Turkish coffee in the world
- Resealable can for freshness
Should You Stir Turkish Coffee?
Like any coffee brewing method, even contact between all coffee grounds and the water is crucial. And, since finely ground coffee easily creates static dry clumps, stirring before you brew is extra helpful with Turkish coffee.
Stirring gently during brewing may also help, but use a wooden spoon to avoid damaging your precious cezve!
How To Make Thick Turkish Coffee
Since the thickness of Turkish coffee comes from fine grinds and unfiltered serving, using fresh coffee at the finest grind setting is key. Read this guide to the top Turkish brands that you can order online. Follow the directions for making Turkish coffee, and include the following points to ensure extra thickness:
- Fresher coffee will create more foam and thickness
- The key to a thick texture is fine grinds integrating into the liquid.
- Heat many times over low heat to slowly thicken up the mixture.
- Scoop some foam into your cup as you brew so the thickness is as integrated as possible.
How To Make Turkish Coffee with Foam Every Time
This picture is of a Turkish coffee I had while visiting Istanbul, and the texture and foam were perfect! Needless to say, my wife and I definitely had access to fresh Turkish grounds while there, which is probably the most crucial factor.
So, if you want to make Turkish coffee with foam every time, using fresh grounds is a must. In this example, I happened to use an Arçelik automatic machine for this, a brand you’ll only find in Turkey. However, the Beko Turkish Coffee Machine has the same design and gets it perfect every time.
With a traditional cezve, just be sure to use lower heat and have patience!
Features:
- Perfect Turkish coffee every time, ready in 3 minutes.
- 120V machine designed for North American outlets
- Precise temperature to create extra foam
- Easy to clean
Why Doesn’t My Turkish Coffee Foam after Many Boils?
If your Turkish coffee refuses to form foam or bubbles even after many cycles of heating and reheating, stale coffee is the most likely explanation. However, if you are sure the coffee is fresh, you might not be using enough of it. Generally, more is better than less with Turkish coffee, and grinding to fine is also better than too coarse.
Features:
- 2 cups & 2 plates
- Iznik porcelain used by the former Ottoman emperors
- Classic Ottoman floral pattern
- Perfect for Turkish, Greek, or espresso coffee.
The proper coffee-to-water ratio for Turkish coffee is 1:6—any weaker, and you may struggle to get thick foam and texture. If you have a legit Turkish coffee cup, fill it just below the rim with water. These 120 milliliters should make the delicious ratio with one tablespoon of ground coffee. However, many people prefer a bolder ratio, something similar to espresso.
FAQs
Hopefully, you’re already on track to know why your Turkish coffee doesn’t foam. However, let’s answer some common questions before wrapping up.
Should Turkish coffee have foam?
Turkish coffee should have a thick layer of foam and bubbles on the top, including a thick texture throughout the liquid. If your Turkish coffee isn’t foaming, there is a problem with the coffee, grind size, or brewing.
Why is my Turkish coffee not foaming on a machine?
Since a Turkish coffee machine ensures proper heat and timing, a lack of foam on a Turkish coffee machine is probably because of stale coffee. Try ordering fresher coffee to see if it improves. Also, consider giving the mixture several stirs before you put it into the machine. Lastly, if you’re using a machine from a different country, make sure the voltage is correct.
How do I get more crema on my Turkish coffee?
If you want to get more foam on your Turkish coffee, you can heat it for 3-4 cycles and scoop out some of the foam into the serving cups in between. Transferring the foam several times helps create a thicker texture and will ensure all of the foam makes it into your cup.
Final Thoughts on Getting Proper Turkish Coffee Foam
I hope one of these solutions will solve your Turkish coffee foam problem. Freshness is the most common consideration, but learning how to get thick foam is also a matter of mastering the process of heating and reheating on medium/low heat.
For freshness at home, I use smaller 100-gram bags of Mehmet Efendi Turkish Coffee to avoid larger bags going bad after opening. Their 250-gram cans are also nice because they reseal.
Whatever solutions you find, I hope you will quickly figure out how to enjoy the best Turkish coffee!
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