GREEK COFFEE

Greek coffee, also known as “Ellinikos Kafes”, is a robust and flavorful coffee served with foam on top (kaimaki) and the grounds remaining at the bottom. This style of coffee is made using finely ground coffee beans, without any filtering.

The preparation of Greek coffee involves using a special pot called a briki, which comes in various sizes to create the perfect amount of foam.

To create traditional Greek coffee, one must master the technique and demonstrate “meraki” – a Greek term for putting passion, love, and soul into what one is doing.

In Greece, coffee is typically consumed 2 to 3 times a day in small demitasse cups. In general, each cup contains just a little over 100 mg of caffeine, which equals the amount in about a cup and a half of American coffee.

Ingredients

Greek Coffee

Sugar

Water

Coffee pot  called a briki.

Greek coffee cup

Directions

Measure out a full coffee cup of water (about 2 1/2 -3 ounces or 75-90 mls) and pour into the briki. If you are making more than one coffee make sure your briki is big enough, you will need space to let the coffee bubble and foam.
Add 2 teaspoons of coffee and 2 teaspoons of sugar for every 1 coffee cup and stir. This ratio is considered a somewhat strong coffee.
Place the briki on the gas and turn on so that it is on low heat.
Very slowly let the coffee heat up, (keep the flame very-very low). Do not leave the coffee unattended.
You will slowly see the surface start to tremble (I describe it like a volcano waiting to explode).

Once it starts foaming, lift it slightly from the heat until the foam/bubbles settle and then put it on the fire again and let it start foaming and puffing up. Then remove. This step is important to get a good coffee.

You don’t want to let it over-boil otherwise it will not have that creamy/foam on top, but you don’t want it under-boiled because then you may taste the grounds in the coffee.
Serve in the coffee cup.

If you are making more then one, separate the foam in each coffee cup.
Serve the cup on a small saucer with a glass of cold water.

Plain pronounced Sketos: Only coffee and no sugar

Strong pronounced Varis: 2-3 teaspoons of coffee with 1 teaspoon sugar

Light pronounced Elafris: ½-1 teaspoon of coffee + 1 teaspoon sugar

Sweet pronounced Glykos: 1 teaspoon coffee +2 teaspoons sugar

Strong-Sweet pronounced Variglykos: 3 teaspoons coffee +3 teaspoons sugar

Yes and No pronounced Ne ke Ohi: 1 teaspoon coffee + ½ teaspoon sugar