Why is a drop of cold water added to the coffee pot when brewing coffee?
Small tricks used when preparing Turkish coffee can change the final result in the cup. Adding a drop of cold water to the edge of the cezve (coffee pot) or on top of the coffee is known as one such method.
-
It Can Help Better Preserve the Foam: One of the most important characteristics of Turkish coffee is the dense foam that forms on top of the cup. Boiling the coffee quickly and at a high temperature can disrupt the foam's structure, causing the surface layer to disperse. Adding a very small amount of cold water can temporarily lower the temperature of the mixture. This helps the coffee heat up in a controlled manner, resulting in better foam formation. However, the freshness of the coffee used, the degree of grinding, and the stirring method are also very important in foam formation. Therefore, it is not correct to consider a single drop of cold water as a guarantee of perfect foam.
-
Preventing Coffee from Boiling Too Quickly: In ideal Turkish coffee preparation, it's important not to boil the coffee vigorously for too long. As the temperature of the cezve (Turkish coffee pot) rises, rapid movement occurs on the surface of the coffee. Adding a very small amount of cold water can slow down this process by briefly lowering the temperature of the mixture. This allows the coffee to heat up in a controlled manner. This small intervention is especially noticeable in coffees prepared over high heat. However, the most important point is to cook the coffee at a controlled temperature rather than keeping the cezve over high heat for a long time.
-
Adding cold water can help the coffee brew more evenly. As the water, coffee, and sugar in the pot heat simultaneously, the mixture's temperature gradually rises. Adding a very small amount of cold water can temporarily slow down this temperature increase. This method prevents the coffee from reaching a high temperature suddenly, creating a more controlled brewing process. Controlled heating can help the coffee's aroma develop more evenly. However, temperature isn't the only factor determining the taste of coffee; the quality of the water used, the freshness of the coffee, and the quantity also affect the result. Therefore, adding cold water should be considered only a small part of the correct coffee brewing technique.
