Elliniko Kafe (Greek Coffee)
Local name: Ελληνικός Καφές
In short: Very fine ground coffee brewed slowly in a small long-handled pot until a thick foam rises, served in a demitasse with cold water. It takes about 7 min in total and makes 2 servings.
- Prep
- 2 min
- Cook
- 5 min
- Total
- 7 min
- Servings
- 2
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 20 kcal
Greek coffee is brewed, not filtered: powder-fine coffee is heated slowly with water in a small long-handled pot called a briki until a thick foam, the kaimaki, rises. It is poured into small cups and sipped slowly, never to the last grounds. Greeks order it by sweetness, and it is the drink of long conversations. The trick is gentle heat and no stirring once it warms.
Instructions
- Measure the water into a briki or very small saucepan, using the serving cups so you get the right amount. Add the sugar, if using, and the coffee, and stir until the coffee is wet.
- Set the pot over low heat and do not stir again. Heat slowly for 3 to 4 minutes, until the coffee begins to darken and foam gathers at the edges.
- When the foam rises to the brim, just before boiling, take the pot off the heat right away.
- Spoon a little foam into each cup, then pour in the coffee slowly so the foam stays on top.
- Let the cups sit for 1 minute so the grounds settle. Sip slowly, stopping before the grounds at the bottom, and serve with a glass of cold water.
Tips
- Heat the coffee slowly. Gentle heat builds a thick, creamy foam, while fast boiling ruins it. Take it off the heat as soon as it rises.
- The coffee must be ground to a powder. Regular espresso or filter grounds sink too fast and will not foam.
Questions and answers
How do you order Greek coffee?
By sweetness. Sketos is plain with no sugar, metrios is medium sweet with about 1 teaspoon, and glykos is sweet with about 2 teaspoons.
Is Greek coffee the same as Turkish coffee?
The method is nearly identical, with finely ground coffee heated in a small pot. In Greece it is simply called Greek coffee, and cardamom is not usually added.
Why do you not drink the grounds?
The grounds are very fine and settle at the bottom of the cup. They taste bitter and gritty, so you stop sipping when you reach them.
How long does it take to make Elliniko Kafe (Greek Coffee)?
About 7 min in total: 2 min of preparation and 5 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Elliniko Kafe (Greek Coffee)?
About 20 kcal per serving, with 0 g of protein, 4 g of carbohydrates and 0 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 20 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 4 g |
| Fat | 0 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Sugar | 4 g |
| Sodium | 5 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
