Turkish Coffee - Grind Size Myth
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Video comparison of the grind size for Turkish coffee
There is a myth about the grind size for Turkish coffee. Some say that it must be like a powder. Some - that you need around 7-9 clicks on Comandante c40.
But most people searching for a special "Turkish coffee grinder", because "espresso grinders can't grind that small".
Reality
There is some truth to it, but mostly it's a myth. First - Mehmet Efendi coffee grind size is not that small. And most of the coffee grinders can manage this.
The biggest advantage of a small grind size - you don't need to mix the coffee after placing it on the heat. So you're mixing once, after adding the water.
But I personally make Turkish coffee using the grind size which I use for Espresso (for 12 g dose in non-pressurized basket using Delonghi Dedica).
In this video, I've used even bigger grind size that I use for 18 g dose in Espresso. And it still worked.
How it affects the flavor
The smaller the grind size the more "mouthfeel" you'll get. I suppose it's from oils. Because it's easier to dissolve them when the water don't need to go deep into the tunnels of the coffee bean structure to get them out. Even if it can dissolve them - it will be harder to transport them out of the coffee particle.
I've tried even the grind size for Pour Over in Turkish coffee and it still had the soul of Turkish Coffee. So there is definitely no need to go super small. Yes, cup will be slightly less intense, but sometimes it's required for coffee to be balanced.
What grinder to use
My favorite grinders (in terms of longevity of the burr, grinding speed and overall feel):
- Kinu m47 - the best all-rounder, but ~$200
- Timemore C3 - the best affordable all-rounder ~$79
- 1Zpresso J - fast, but could be harder to crank ~$139
- 1Zpresso Q - Also fast, but less "espresso oriented" ~$109
Why Comandante c40 not in the list? Because it is relatively slow. And they have an issue with the clicks. I've used my Mk4 version from 2021 on 2 clicks setting, while more recent Mk4 models start to catch the beans only from around 4 clicks. And seems to not have that small grind size that my model had. Because of that inconsistency and unpredictability, it's not in the list.
