Domaca Kafa – traditional Balkan coffee with lokum

You don't drink "domaća kafa" on the go. It's a moment in itself. In the Balkans, making coffee means sitting down, taking your time, and leaving room for conversation. One cup can easily last an hour.

The preparation is simple, yet precise. Finely ground coffee, slowly heated, with a full and strong flavor. Served in small cups, with sugar cubes and something sweet on the side, usually lokum. Not for stirring into the coffee, but to guide the taste of the coffee step by step.

How do you drink it?
Take a sugar cube, bite off a small piece, and then take a sip of coffee. This way, you taste the balance between sweet and bitter without altering the coffee itself. Eat a piece of lokum in between sips.

Ingredients (2 cups)

• 200 ml water

• 2 heaped teaspoons of finely ground coffee

• Sugar cubes to taste

• 4–6 pieces of lokum

Preparation

1. Pour the water into a džezva or small saucepan and heat until just below boiling point.

2. Remove from heat, add the coffee, and stir briefly until everything is combined.

3. Return to low heat and let the coffee slowly rise. Do not let it boil. Once the foam forms, it's good.

4. Carefully pour into small cups. Optionally, first distribute a little foam over the cups, then add the rest.