Best Turkish Coffee Maker in Egypt: Capacity, Water Tank, and Foam

How many cups at a time?

Most Turkish coffee machines make from 1 to 4 or 5 cups in a single pot. For one or two people, a small machine like the Okka Minio is enough. For a family of 4 drinking together, choose 4 or 5 cups. And if the house has many guests, machines with two pots like the Beko TKM 8961 B make up to 6 cups and save time.

Water tank or a pot you fill by hand?

• Pot only: You put cold water, coffee, and sugar in the pot and press a button. Simpler, cheaper, and easier to clean.
• With a water tank: You fill the tank once, and the machine draws the water it needs for the number of cups you selected. Convenient if you make coffee several times a day, but the tank needs to be emptied and dried if you won't use it for a few days, and limescale builds up in it faster.

The foam: What makes the difference?

The machine heats the coffee slowly and stops before it boils, which is the secret to consistent foam. But the result still depends on you: use finely ground, fresh Turkish coffee, follow the measurements in the manual using the spoon that comes with the machine, and use cold water, not hot. If the foam comes out scanty, the coffee is likely old or the grind is coarse. Cardamom-infused coffee works normally, but wash the pot well afterward because of the smell.

Mistakes that ruin the foam

• Filling the pot above the maximum cup mark, causing the coffee to boil over or the foam to gather.
• Stirring the coffee after the machine starts heating.
• Making the second pot without washing the first one and drying it.
• Using coffee ground months ago, even if the pack is sealed.

Safety and automatic shut-off

The most important feature in a Turkish coffee machine is that it turns off automatically before boiling over. Also look for dry-boil protection, an anti-overflow sensor, and a sound or light alert when the coffee is done. Not all product pages write these things clearly, so if the feature is important to you, make sure it is written before you order.

Cleaning and limescale

Wash the pot with warm water and a soft sponge after each use, and do not leave coffee grounds in it until the next day. The machine body must never get wet, just wipe it with a damp cloth. With Egyptian water, limescale builds up on the sensor and in the tank, so clean it with a descaler or citric acid according to the manual every month or two. Okka Minio, for example, states on its page that it is not dishwasher safe.

Other alternatives to know

There are other widespread machines: Philips Series 5000 (HDA150) is one of the cheapest Turkish coffee makers from a major brand, Kenwood CTP10 for up to 5 cups, Beko BKK2300 with a single pot, and Tornado TCME-100-MILK if you want coffee with milk at a lower price than Okka Rich. Black & Decker TCM730 makes Turkish coffee, milk, and hot chocolate, but it was unavailable at the time of review.

Before you buy

• Make sure the machine is 220V and its plug is suitable.
• Check the warranty: Okka pages say the warranty is from New Star, Arzum's agent in Egypt. And any machine marked "international warranty" is harder to service here.
• Some sellers accept card payment only, not cash on delivery, so check the payment method.
• As soon as it arrives, make sure the pot, spoon, and tank (if any) are present and intact.