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Greek Coffee & Tea |
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| Escape to your favorite relaxing place in Greece, whether it be a cafe in a small village or on a beach chair looking out to the sea! Enjoy a delicious cup of Greek coffee or Greek tea while picturing the olive tree-lined mountains of the mainland. Sip a refreshing Frappe while planning your next visit to the islands. |
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| Greek Tea |
Greek Coffee |
Greek Decaf |
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| Demitasse Cup Sets |
Nescafe Frappe & Shakers |
Greek Coffee Pots |
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Greek Coffee & Tea Gift Baskets |
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Greek Coffee Information |
Greek Coffee is the most popular drink in Greece. It is a ritual of daily life, consumed at home, at work, and in coffee houses that thrive in even the smallest Greek village. Sharing a cup of coffee is a sign of friendship as well as an excuse to catch up on the day's events, flirt a little, or perhaps, play a game of chess. Greek coffee has a long, interesting, and varied history, and it's been a vital part of that country's culture for hundreds of years.
What is Greek Coffee?
Greek Coffee is a very fine ground coffee, similar in consistency (but not taste) to American instant coffee. It is prepared in a special coffeepot called a briki. Greek coffee is generally considered very strong by American standards and it is boiled three times to achieve this strength. Sugar, if desired, is added to the grounds before the coffee is brewed. In Greece, you order the degree of sweetness desired when you order your cup of coffee. A special vocabulary exists just to order coffee. There are 46 different degrees of sweetness. Below are the most common ones:
Pikro - Bitter
Sketos - Without Sugar
Metrio - Medium, with about 1 tsp. Sugar
Glyko - Sweet, with about 2tsp. Sugar
Variglyko - Very Sweet
Greek Coffee History
What is known today as Greek coffee (and Turkish coffee) has its roots in the hills of Ethiopia. Arab traders found it there in the 15th century and brought it back to the mid-east countries. By the 16th century, it had made its way to Western Europe. The Turks were introduced to coffee around 1550 and through the Ottoman occupation, this beverage made its way to Greece shortly thereafter.
In Greece, brewing the perfect cup of coffee is an art form. It is a sign of maturity when a young Greek girl learns to make her first proper cup of coffee. There are many subtleties and nuances to Greek coffee making and the best hostesses can deftly create a cup with a frothy foam floating on top.
Preparing Greek Coffee
Use a briki, a small, usually brass or copper pot with a small mouth, a pouring lip, and a long handle, to prepare Greek coffee. First, measure the coffee using the coffee cup as a guide. Measure one cup of grounds for each cup desired. Greek coffee is served in a small cup, similar but slightly smaller than a demitasse cup.
Add one demitasse cup of water to the briki , followed by the desired amount of sugar. For metrio, add 1tsp. of sugar for each cup of coffee. Bring the water and sugar to a rolling boil. Remove the pot from the fire. Stir in the coffee and return the briki to the heat. The coffee will boil to the top immediately, so be prepared to remove the pot again in just a few seconds. Return the briki to the heat and again remove it after a few seconds. Repeat once more, for a total of three boilings. Pour the coffee immediately into Greek coffee cups, filling each to about 1/4" from the top.
No spoon is served (since the coffee is already sweetened). Cream or milk is never added to Greek coffee. In Greece, it is customary to serve a tall glass of ice water with coffee.
Note: You cannot use an American-style coffeemaker to brew Greek coffee. The grind is too fine and it will clog your coffee machine and make a big mess. Instead, use a briki.
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