Turkish Coffee Guide: The Difference Between Light, Medium, Dark, Spiced, and Plain

The main difference between light, medium, and dark roast coffee is the roasting level: the more heat and time, the stronger, more bitter, and less acidic the taste. "Muhawwaj" means coffee with added spices (usually cardamom), while "Sada" means plain coffee without any additions.

Roast Levels

Light: Light roast, smoother taste with clearer acidity, revealing the original character of the coffee bean. Suitable for those who prefer a less intense coffee.
Medium: A balance between strength and smoothness — the most popular and satisfies most tastes.
Dark: Deep roast, strong and bitter taste with a heavy body, and noticeable caffeine kick. For those who want their coffee to "wake them up."

Muhawwaj or Sada?

Muhawwaj has cardamom and sometimes other spices added, giving it a warm, oriental aroma and taste — ideal for hospitality and gatherings. Sada is pure coffee without additions, allowing you to experience the taste of the coffee itself and suitable for those who like to control their flavor.

Grinding is the Secret

Turkish coffee requires a very fine grind ("as fine as powder"). More importantly, the coffee must be ground at the moment of order — ground coffee quickly loses its aroma and essential oils after grinding, so coffee ground in front of you makes a big difference in taste.

How to Make Perfect Turkish Coffee?

One teaspoon of coffee per cup of water, on low heat, without boiling quickly to create the "face" (foam). Let it almost boil, remove it, and return it once or twice for the foam to form.

Order Your Coffee Fresh

At Snacks Roastery, we roast daily and grind at the moment of order. You can choose your preferred roast level from our selection of coffee here, and we deliver to all governorates of Egypt.

Snacks Roastery — Ground at the moment of order · Delivery to all governorates of Egypt