How Much Caffeine in Turkish Coffee? Is It Stronger than Regular Coffee?

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People nowadays need their caffeine buzz to last the full workday. If you need an extra heavy dose, Turkish coffee should be on your priority list! 

Turkish coffee has more caffeine than most other coffee drinks. You’ll get 165 mg of caffeine in an 8-ounce cup of this intense coffee, compared to 95 mg in drip coffee.

This article will bring to light the caffeine content and strength of Turkish coffee compared to other variants of coffee.

How Much Caffeine Is in Turkish Coffee? 

Yes, Turkish coffee is high in caffeine. It has 25 mg caffeine per fl oz, which is higher than most variants of joe. The typical 2 1/2-ounce serving of this Turkish-style brew has 50 mg, and an 8-ounce cup has 165 milligrams of caffeine.

Turkish coffee is also unfiltered. After cooking 1 part ultra-fine ground coffee, 12 parts cold water, and granulated sugar in a cezve or Turkish copper or brass pot, you pour everything from the coffee pot, including the grounds, into a Turkish-style cup called a mirra.

What if you use more coffee grounds?

Demitasse Turkish cup is made with a teaspoon of pulverized coffee beans. That amount of coffee gives the drink its typical 50 mg of caffeine. 

However, if you use a tablespoon (three teaspoons) of grounds to make your Turkish coffee, each cup may contain at least 75 grams of caffeine. It’s not exactly three times as much because the water won’t fully extract the extra grounds.

How strong does Turkish coffee taste?

Turkish-style coffee tastes undeniably strong. It has a concentrated flavor because everything is poured into the cup, including the coffee grounds. Yet, it can also taste bittersweet due to the melted sugar. 

How to Make Turkish Coffee at Home 

Turkish coffee being made in an Ibrik, a Turkish coffee pot

Now that you already know its caffeine content, here’s a quick and easy recipe for this Turkish-style caffeine infusion at home.

  1. Pour a cup of cold water and two teaspoons of freshly ground coffee beans into each serving.
  2. (Optional) Add a cube or heap of sugar to your coffee-and-water mixture.
  3. Place the coffee pot or saucepan on the stove and set it on low heat.
  4. Slowly stir the liquid a few times for 3-4 minutes until a dark foam forms.
  5. Remove the pot from the stove and fill half the cup with the liquid over the foam.
  6. Boil the remaining coffee for another 10-15 minutes before filling the cup to the brim.

Turkish Coffee vs Other Types of Coffee

Is Turkish coffee stronger than regular coffee? 

Yes, Turkish coffee tastes stronger and has more caffeine per fluid ounce than your plain brewed coffee. It has 25 mg of caffeine per fl oz, while regular coffee only has an average of 11.8 mg of caffeine per fl oz.

Of course, the total caffeine content hinges on the cup size. Drip coffee is often served in an 8-ounce mug. It has an average of 95 mg of caffeine, while Turkish coffee is poured in a 2 1/2 cup with 50 mg of total caffeine. 

So if you drink a 6-ounce Turkish coffee, you’ll consume nearly 150 mg of caffeine! 

Does Turkish coffee have more caffeine than espresso?

Italian coffee is one of Turkish coffee’s rivals in terms of concentration and strength. However, espresso is the winner in terms of caffeine content. 

An espresso shot has 63 mg of caffeine per fl oz — more than twice the amount of caffeine per fl oz in Turkish coffee.

But again, we need to take into account the serving size. An espresso shot is only one ounce, so it has a total of 63 mg of caffeine. That’s just barely more than the 50 mg in a 2.5-ounce cup of Turkish coffee. 

Which is more caffeinated: Turkish coffee or latte?

Turkish coffee is more caffeinated than a latte per fluid ounce. It has 25 mg of caffeine per fl oz, while a single-shot latte has just under  10 mg. 

Surprisingly, lattes will have the edge when comparing their caffeine content per serving. A 12-ounce latte (regular size) has 75 mg of caffeine, while Turkish coffee is usually served in a small cup with only 50 mg of caffeine.

Is Turkish coffee stronger than Nescafe?

If you don’t have an espresso machine or coffee maker, you can still enjoy your morning jolt of Nescafe, a worldwide famous brand of instant coffee. 

Unfortunately, Nescafe can’t beat Turkish-style brew concerning caffeine content because a cup of classic Nescafe without any additives only has 43.4 mg of caffeine. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you drink Turkish coffee every day?

Yes, you can make Turkish coffee your go-to cup every day. It has a fair share of health benefits, albeit its risk of having high sugar intake. For flavor enhancement, you can replace sugar with cinnamon or cardamom.

What kind of coffee/roast should I buy to make Turkish coffee?

If you want to stick to the traditional way of brewing Turkish coffee, you’ll need medium-roast Arabica coffee beans. The coffee grind must be extremely fine to perfect its distinct strong taste.

Can you make decaf Turkish coffee?

Yes, you can use decaffeinated beans to make Turkish coffee, but don’t expect it to be 100% caffeine-free. According to the FDA, you can still get at least 2 mg of caffeine from a whole pot of Turkish coffee.

Can you drink milk with Turkish coffee?

Milk is not traditionally added to Turkish coffee. Pouring milk or cream into your coffee will make it lose its distinct coffee flavor. 

To cut its bitterness, just add more sugar or spices. If you insist on drinking creamy coffee, you can still try other types of coffee drinks.

Can you eat Turkish coffee grounds?

Coffee grounds never fully dissolve, so it’s inevitable to consume them while sipping your cup of Turkish coffee. But rest assured that eating Turkish coffee grounds is safe, plus you can reap some health benefits from doing so.

What can you eat with Turkish coffee?

Sweets go well with intense caffeine infusion. Hence, you can pair cakes, muffins, and other decadent desserts with Turkish coffee. Having Turkish coffee with baklava on the side is also highly recommended.

What’s Next?

Drinking Turkish coffee lets you experience coffee on another level. However, getting buzz from this cuppa joe doesn’t have to be pricey at all. You can still create your strong coffee experience without a high-end coffee machine at home.

If you want to brew on a budget, you can start by learning how to make coffee on the stove and buying a budget coffee maker

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