Cezve

Cezve is a small long-handled pot with a pouring lip designed specifically to make Turkish coffee. It is traditionally made of brass or copper, occasionally also silver or gold. In more recent times, cezve are also made from stainless steel, aluminium, or ceramics.

Etymology

The word cezve is of Turkish origin, where it originally meant a pot or kettle. It is borrowed from Arabic jazwa, a derivative of jazā’, meaning 'to pour'. In the Balkans, the word is also known as džezva. In Ukraine, it is known as cezve. In Russia, it is known as turka.

Design

The body and handle of a cezve usually made of brass or copper, materials that conduct heat well and allow for precise temperature control during coffee brewing. The small size of the cezve is designed to prepare just one or two servings of coffee at a time, as Turkish coffee is typically served fresh. The long handle is designed to keep the hand away from the heat and to give the user better control over the brewing process.

Use

To brew coffee in a cezve, finely ground coffee is immersed in water and heated until it froths. This froth, which is very important in Turkish coffee culture, is achieved by a combination of the fine grind and the slow heating. The coffee is not filtered out, so the cup of coffee is then allowed to sit for a few minutes after serving to allow the grounds to settle at the bottom.

Cultural significance

The cezve is an important part of coffee culture in the Middle East and Eastern Europe. It is used in the traditional coffee preparation method in Turkey, where coffee is often served with a ritual significance. The cezve is also used in many other countries where Turkish immigrants have brought their coffee culture.

See also

• Turkish coffee
• Coffee culture
• Coffee preparation