Delicious Turkish coffee doesn’t have to come at the cost of sweating over the stove for ten minutes, especially when automatic machines have modernized the process. In my SAKI Turkish Coffee Maker review I'll be looking at an affordable automatic machine that claims to make truly authentic Turkish coffee.
Delicious Turkish coffee doesn’t have to come at the cost of sweating over the stove for ten minutes, especially when automatic machines have modernized the process. In my SAKI Turkish Coffee Maker review I’ll be looking at an affordable automatic machine that claims to make truly authentic Turkish coffee.
To be honest, I’m all for it. As much as I love the traditional method, it’s pretty hard to get right and demands all your attention. That’s why I’ve got high hopes for the SAKI Turkish Coffee Maker. Let’s get started by taking a first look at what the SAKI is all about!
sophisticated machine
SAKI Turkish Coffee Maker
With foam control
Compact and lightweight
Double foam function
Overflow sensor
Four-cup capacity
Too much plastic
SAKI Turkish Coffee Maker Review Overview
Making Turkish coffee may be an ancient culinary art, but it’s never looked as sleek and modern as it does on the SAKI Turkish Coffee Maker. I won’t pretend that this machine is prettier than the old-fashioned cezve your grandma used, but it’s far from ugly.
SAKI has incorporated stainless steel into this machine’s design, which is an easy way to win points in my grade book. Not only is this a nod to the copper and brass that’s traditionally used for Turkish coffee, but stainless steel is always more durable than plastic. It’s also just a more attractive design choice.
Style might be subjective, but I suspect most people would rather make their coffee in a classic stainless steel machine versus a flimsy plastic shell.
Granted, there is still more plastic than I’d like on the outside of this machine, but it could be worse. Some Turkish coffee makers only use plastic – I’m looking at you, BEKO.
Speaking of the competition, here’s another way that the SAKI Turkish Coffee Maker comes out on top: its price. At $N/A, this is one of the more affordable automatic Turkish coffee makers you’ll find on the market. It’s cost-effective by a relatively slim margin, but I still think it’s worth mentioning.
Considering the price, I can admit that my original expectations for the SAKI Turkish Coffee Maker weren’t high. I expected to get nothing but a bare bones electric machine. However, despite its modest appearance, the SAKI has a few impressive features lurking underneath the lid.
No spoilers, of course! You’ll need to read the rest of my SAKI Turkish Coffee Maker review if you want to find out how this little machine performs.
SAKI Turkish Coffee Maker Features
From color options to Cook-Sense technology, this machine has quite a few features to discuss. Let’s continue my SAKI Turkish Coffee Maker review by taking a closer look.
Size
While size tends to vary widely among drip coffee makers and espresso machines, that is not the case with Turkish coffee makers. Most of these little machines are just that – little. At just over 2 pounds (0.9 kilograms), you won’t need to be a bodybuilder to transport the SAKI Turkish Coffee Maker. Plus, you won’t have any problems finding space on your kitchen counter for the SAKI to hang out in.
Colors
While it may not have the eye-catching patterns you’ll find on copper and brass Turkish coffee pots, the SAKI is still a stylish machine. You can pick between two color options: black and gold or white and rose gold. Both color choices only add to the SAKI’s modern, sleek appeal. Frankly, I’m just happy to see an option that isn’t completely monochrome.
I don’t think you can go wrong with either one, but personally, I prefer white and rose gold. However, if you’re worried about stains or marks sticking out, the black and gold should look just as good.
Immersion Brewing
The SAKI wouldn’t be a true Turkish coffee maker if it didn’t use immersion brewing. What is immersion brewing, you ask? Well, it’s one of the oldest ways to make coffee – you use it every time you make a French press. And since immersion brewing is kind of a broad term, I’ll narrow it down even more: Turkish coffee uses decoction.
With decoction, you combine finely ground coffee in a loose container with water, letting it boil until the liquid is sufficiently “cooked.” To no one’s surprise, Turkish coffee is most famous for using decoction, but isn’t the only one; Cowboy coffee uses a similar technique.
Now, with an automatic Turkish coffee maker like the SAKI, you won’t need to boil your coffee over the stove. The coffee maker includes a hot plate as well as a coffee pot. Your job is just hitting the power button and letting the machine worry about the rest.
While I’m skeptical of hot plates when it comes to drip coffee, I can appreciate their usage in Turkish coffee. It takes all the hard work out of immersion brewing, so you don’t have to worry about timing or temperature.
User Interface
The SAKI has a modest user interface to go with its understated design. If you were waiting on a complicated control panel or touchscreen, you won’t find them here! As you’ll find with this machine (and most Turkish coffee makers), less is more.
On top of the SAKI, you’ll find three buttons to control the entire brewing process. Two of those buttons are for picking how much coffee you want to make. The other button controls your foam, but I’ll talk about that later in my SAKI Turkish Coffee Maker review.
And that’s the entire user interface! Believe it or not, I’ve reviewed Turkish coffee makers with fewer controls than this.
Ultimately, I think the SAKI’s interface does everything it needs to. It still offers control over the important aspects of your Turkish coffee, namely brewcapacity and the amount of foam. However, it’s not bogged down with complicated controls that require you to crack open the user manual.
Ember Cooking Technology
A cup of Turkish coffee without foam is like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich without jelly. It just doesn’t feel right. Just to be clear, I’m not talking about milk foam here. There are no steam wands or milk jugs involved. Turkish coffee naturally froths up during the brewing process, resulting in a delicious layer of foam on top.
Many people consider foam to be a crucial component of the perfect cup of Turkish coffee. Fortunately, this is one of the few features you do have a little control over with the SAKI. This machine uses an Ember function, which doubles the foam if you use it.
Not everyone may want extra foam, but if you do, you won’t find a way to create it on every Turkish coffee maker.
Brew Time
Most people don’t upgrade to automatic Turkish coffee makers because they prefer the design – they do it for the reduced brew time. If you’ve ever made traditional Turkish coffee on the stove (or over hot sand if you’re really interested in tradition), then you know that it can be a little time-consuming.
With a cezve, Turkish coffee can take up to ten minutes to brew. However, the SAKI promises a two to three minute brew time for a good cup of Turkish coffee. That cuts off more than half the regular brewing time, which is a major advantage to using this machine.
Now, you’ll notice that most automatic Turkish coffee makers make similar claims as far as brew time goes. The BEKO Turkish coffee maker, for instance, promises two cups in as little as three minutes.
So, while the SAKI isn’t any faster than the competition, it will still beat that old-fashioned cezve in your cupboard any day.
Auto Shutoff
If you’re like me – and most coffee drinkers – turning off the coffee maker tends to be forgotten when you’re rushing out the door. Fortunately, auto shutoff is one of the features you’ll find on the SAKI Turkish Coffee Maker.
After sitting idle for several minutes, the SAKI will automatically shut off. No need to worry about wasted energy or high electricity bills here!
Cook-Sense Technology
Another perk of using an automatic Turkish coffee maker? Many of them include a version of Cook-Sense technology. Cook-Sense brews your coffee at the same temperature every time, so you’re more likely to get a consistent cup of delicious coffee.
Just to clarify, you don’t have any control over the temperature. As cool as that would be, temperature control is a little too advanced for most Turkish coffee makers. You’ll need to stick with the stove top if you want to fiddle with the cooking temperature.
Still, the consistency of the Cook-Sense technology is a big selling point in my opinion. Who wants to play guessing games about how drinkable their coffee is going to be that morning? Not me!
As long as you don’t change the recipe, you should be able to count on the same consistent taste and flavor.
Anti Spill Technology
No matter how you brew it, there’s always a risk of overflowing with Turkish coffee. Foamy Turkish coffee is great, but not when it ends up spilling all over your kitchen. As the coffee comes close to boiling, the SAKI has an overflow sensor to prevent accidents.
The sensor detects the heat, and if it’s too high, the machine will shut down to ensure there is no overflow. In other words, you don’t have to hover over the coffee pot every morning. When the coffee is done, you’ll get a sound and light warning to let you know it’s time to pull the carafe off the hot plate.
While I’m on the subject of anti spill technology, I might as well mention the double spout. With a spout on each side, you can pour the coffee cup with your right or left hand. I have a feeling that my left-handed readers will appreciate this design feature!
Capacity
Unlike drip coffee makers, Turkish coffee isn’t something you can make in large batches. A traditional cezve may only hold two cups at once, and most automatic coffee makers have similar capacities.
The SAKI actually has one of the larger capacities I’ve seen at four cups. On top of the machine, you have two buttons to pick from. You can choose to make one to two cups or three to four cups.
Of course, I’d be a little cautious using the SAKI at its full capacity, especially if you like double foam. Even with the smart sensor, you may be risking overflow if you try to make four cups at once. Still, the large capacity is a nice perk for bigger households with more than one coffee drinker.
Warranty
With a two year replacement warranty, the SAKI has a nice little safety net. Hopefully, you won’t need to use it, but if you do, SAKI prides itself on being buyer-friendly. Keep in mind that a replacement warranty means just that – the company will send you a replacement, not a refund.
How to Use the SAKI Turkish Coffee Maker
If the simple user interface I talked about earlier in my SAKI Turkish Coffee Maker review didn’t convince you that this machine is easy to use, this section should. Seriously, I don’t think you’ll need to worry about keeping the user manual around. Here’s how to use the SAKI Turkish Coffee Maker:
Start by combining your coffee grounds, water and sugar (if you’re using it)in the SAKI coffee pot. Make sure you increase or decrease the measurements based on how many cups you plan to make.
Give the ingredients a good stir with a measuring spoon before you put the pot on the hot plate. Remember, you only stir before cooking! As soon as that carafe hits the hot plate, your measuring spoon should stay in the sink where it belongs. Trying to stir while it cooks or after it’s done brewing will only mess up that delicious foamy layer.
Once you’ve stirred the grounds and water together, you can place the pot on the hot plate and turn on the SAKI. Don’t forget to select how many cups you’d like to brew. Oh, and if you want double foam, now is the time to press the Ember function button.
Now, you just let the coffee maker do its job! Since the machine has one touch control, that means you won’t need to do anything until after it’s done brewing. When the coffee is ready, the machine will alert you by lighting up and making a beeping sound.
The final step is to pull the carafe off the hot plate and pour the coffee into espresso cups. You can manually turn the coffee maker off, but as we’ve discussed, the SAKI has auto shutoff too. Within fifteen minutes, you should see the machine shut off on its own.
Pro tip: Pair your Turkish coffee with a cool glass of water and something sweet. The water acts as a palate cleanser, and the bittersweet taste of Turkish coffee will complement any sugary treat.
SAKI Turkish Coffee Maker Cleaning
Alright, we’ve reached everyone’s least favorite part of my SAKI Turkish Coffee Maker review – the cleaning section. Or, if you’re a clean freak like me, you may actually enjoy cleaning and descaling your coffee maker. Either way, the SAKI is a relatively low maintenance machine when it comes to, well, maintenance.
As with most coffee makers, you can use a damp cloth to wipe off the exterior housing. If you’re wiping off stains or spills, a little mild cleaner or dish detergent will go a long way. However, be sure to keep abrasive sponges and cleaning agents far away from this machine. Using those tools is a surefire way to ruin the heating element or damage the coffee maker.
You can use water and a mild cleaner to rinse the carafe after every use, but eventually, you will need to descale it. Deposits and stains naturally build up over time within the coffee pot, but descaling every few months can prevent this. For this process, SAKI recommends adding a teaspoon of citric acid descaler and a little bit of boiling water to the carafe. Let the solution sit for ten minutes before rinsing it out.
Ultimately, the SAKI shouldn’t feel like a chore to maintain. Besides descaling it or rinsing out the carafe, there’s very little elbow grease involved. And as long as you don’t submerge the coffee maker in water or put it in the dishwasher, keeping up with regular maintenance should extend its lifespan.
SAKI Turkish Coffee Maker Specifications
SAKI Turkish Coffee Maker | |
Manufacturer | SAKI |
---|---|
Model number | SKTKM-1 |
Product category | Grind and brew coffee maker |
Housing material | Plastic |
Color options | Black, White |
Carafe | Thermal |
Keep warm function | No |
Milk frother | |
User interface | Buttons and dials |
App | |
Removable water reservoir | |
Water reservoir capacity | N/A |
Brew capacity | 19 fl oz / 562 ml |
Single cup function | |
Reusable coffee filter | |
Coffee pod compatible | |
Grinder | N/A |
Grind adjustment levels | N/A |
Bean hopper capacity | N/A |
Ground coffee option | |
Brew styles | 1 |
Adjustable coffee temperature | |
Coffee strength adjustment levels | |
Hot water function | |
Water filter | |
Power consumption | 600 W |
Weight | 2.6 lb / 1.2 kg |
Dimensions | 9.5 x 7.0 x 6.5 in |
Warranty | 2 years |
SCA certified home brewer | |
Notes | Included Accessories: Turkish coffee measuring spoon, Brewing guide. |
Current price on Amazon | $78.00 |
All specifications |
Verdict: SAKI Turkish Coffee Maker Review
sophisticated machine
SAKI Turkish Coffee Maker
With foam control
Compact and lightweight
Double foam function
Overflow sensor
Four-cup capacity
Too much plastic
We’ve reached crunch time in my SAKI Turkish Coffee Maker review! While the SAKI is far from perfect, it’s one of the more advanced automatic Turkish coffee makers that I’ve seen. Namely, the brew capacity and foam control that you won’t find with most of the competition.
With Cook-Sense technology and an overflow sensor, it doesn’t skimp on what’s under the hood either. So, if you’re looking for a lightweight machine that’ll cut your brewing time in half, you may have found a winner in the SAKI Turkish coffee machine. Now, you’ve just got to find a great coffee grinder to pair it with!
I hope you’ve enjoyed my SAKI Turkish Coffee Maker review. Have you ever used an automatic Turkish coffee maker like this one? I look forward to reading about your experiences in the comments section!
SAKI Turkish Coffee Maker Review FAQ
The SAKI Turkish coffee maker can make up to four cups of regular or decaf Turkish coffee.
You can use any kind of coffee beans you’d like with this machine, but Arabica beans tend to be a common choice among Turkish coffee enthusiasts.
The finer, the better! The consistency of your ground coffee should be close to cocoa powder, which you can achieve with a manual or electric grinder.
Yes, the SAKI Turkish coffee maker is relatively easy to clean. You can simply rinse out the carafe after every use.
Yes, the SAKI Turkish coffee maker is easy on the environment – it doesn’t use pods and it brews smaller quantities within a few minutes.