Is Turkish Coffee Healthy?

History tells us that coffee consumption began long ago in Africa. An Ethiopian herder named Kaldi noticed that his sheep became hyperactive after eating the berries growing on coffee plants, according to the website Talk About Coffee. Local Sufi monks at first scolded Kaldi but soon found that they could pray longer if they consumed coffee themselves. Turkish coffee preparation uses standard coffee beans to produce boiled, unfiltered coffee. According to the National Institutes of Health, coffee is not a health risk for most people.

Description

Coffee plants typically grow in high elevations along a band near the equator. Loamy, well-drained soil, along with high humidity, is needed. Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Nicaragua and Uganda are some of the nations where coffee beans are grown and harvested. There are two varieties of coffee bushes: arabica and robusta. Cultivated coffee bushes are pruned to 3 to 7 feet to make picking the beans easier, according to the Coffee Association of Canada. The beans are dried, roasted and ground.

Making Turkish Coffee

Making Turkish coffee is much different from the way most Westerners brew their cuppa Joe. The process starts with extra-fine coffee grounds. Often a special hand grinder called a khave degirmeni is used, because electric grinders cannot produce a fine-enough powder. Cold water and the coffee powder are put into a traditional Turkish coffee pot, which has a long handle. Some people also add sugar. The pot is held over the stove and heated slowly. The coffee is then poured into tiny coffee cups, along with the grounds, which settle to the bottom.

Health Considerations

Researchers are testing for a positive connection between Alzheimer's disease and memory, according to the National Institutes of Health. The NIH reports that most of the studies examining coffee consumption and type-2 diabetes have demonstrated that coffee drinking is linked to a lower risk of developing type-2 diabetes, although adding sugar may cancel its benefits. Scientists suggest that the lowered risk is caused by something other than caffeine, because decaffeinated coffee has the same fundamental effect. But unfiltered coffee, such as Turkish coffee, can increase your cholesterol. Coffee oils contains cafestol, which raises LDL or bad cholesterol, according to Harvard University. Using a paper filter removes cafestol.

Contraindications

The stimulation of caffeine is the reason most people drink coffee. The downsides of caffeine, however, include insomnia, headaches and irritability. Pregnant and nursing women are advised to lower their caffeine intake. The amount of caffeine in boiled coffee depends on how long it is cooked. Boiled coffee, such as Turkish coffee, contains more caffeine than drip coffee, according to the December 1996 issue of "Food Research International."