For those who like deliciously strong coffee, this is a great thing to have. It is not like any other coffee making method. A great way to learn how the rest of the world drinks coffee. It is a connection the coffee's history.
Negative Product Points
Grit. It is not the easiest coffee maker in the world to use. It is tricky to find the sweet spot where it is foaming the coffee, but not boiling (but you can do it.) It requires patience, not really a negative point for me, but some just won't be able to stare at the coffee and wait, wait, wait...
Detailed Commentary
I believe that every coffee-lover should have one (or six). You can find detailed instructions on Alt.coffee, and Natasha's Cafe. Here is my best advice. I use a Light-Italian style espresso blend, because they perform well at high temperatures. Grind finer than fine. Add your coffee powder, sugar, cardamom and or other spices, and water. I can't tell you how much coffee, water, sugar, or cardamom to use, because I have six different sizes, and I don't know what size you have. I start at medium heat until it starts to foam up. Before it reaches boiling, I turn down the flame and wait until it foams again, I take it off the heat for a moment, and turn down the flame to the lowest setting and let it foam again. It is important to note that you are not really boiling the coffee, this will destroy it's face (the foam). Once it has boiled, you can not recover the foam. When finished, pour slowly into tiny demitasse cups. It is common to slurp the coffee, but that's up to you. Don't drink the sludge in the bottom. I still drink espresso 90% of the time, but I really love this style of coffee. I think that someone who loves coffee should try all the different styles of coffee making. Coffee is, after all, a pleasure. Coffee is not a responsibility, it is a joy. For those who want to try the different forms of great coffee making, the Ibrik is indispensable.
Buying Experience
I found six Ibriki strung together, from tiny to large, in a flea-market. I paid $26.00 for all six. The lady at the register wanted to know what they were. When I told her, another lady asked me about this stove-top coffee maker that her daughter had brought back from Spain. I told them how to use the Moka pot, and the Ibrik. They were delighted, and so was I.
Three Month Followup
If you intend to brew this kind of coffee, you should invest in a dedicated Turkish coffee grinder. The coffee powder can really clog up a burr grinder.
One Year Followup
I rarely have coffee in this fashion, but I am glad to have these Ibrik pots. It is nice to have a low-tech coffee after years of high-tech espresso madness. The Ibrik is no substitution for espresso (for my taste), but it is a very nice alternative.
