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Culture

Article/Photos by Dianne Wang
Ibrik Coffee

What Makes A Good Pot

They say, how long it takes to brew Ibrik coffee (more commonly known as
“Turkish” coffee), how long you should wait to take the first sip. I waited roughly 3
minutes or maybe longer to drink my very first Ibrik coffee, and was told by my Greek
friends to drink it slow. Because “it takes long to make, it should take long to drink”. I
insisted on adding no sugar, only wanting to experience the original taste, and the experi-
ence was acceptably strange, very intense but not that unpleasant.

Konstantinos (Konstas) Komninakis, the
2016 World Ibrik Championship winner at
Just Made 33 in Athens.
Note: In Greece, Ibrik coffee is called Greek
Coffee, and is offered at almost every café.

Making It
Like any other coffee brewing
method, coffee bean, roasting, water, and
brewing temperature all take effect on
brewing a good pot of Ibrik Coffee.

A pot of Ibrik on brew.

Coffee – Roast Matters
The stirring after one minute of brew helps more even extraction. In the old times, every house-
hold in Greece (or Turkey) has a pot or
While recently in Athens, Greece, I paid a visit to Konstantinos (Konstas) two, and brew every day. Just like the old
Komninakis, the 2016 World Ibrik Championship winner at Just Made 33. It was there, style Italian espresso, coffee was roasted
I was offered a completely different experience that changed my perception towards very dark, and people were used to the
Ibrik Coffee, it was there I smelt the floral aroma in the cup as if brewed by a chemex. It bitterness and heavy texture. However
was there in Athens, Kostas taught me the tips of brewing a good Ibrik coffee and how nowadays, young people no longer drink
to taste it. it because no one likes this bitter beverage.
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