Arabic coffee

Name: Arabic coffee
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 6 min
Total time: 21 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Levantine
Ingredients: 4 tablespoons lightly roasted Arabic coffee; 5 cups water; 1 tablespoon cardamom; 1/4 teaspoon saffron

Lightly roasted Arabic coffee simmered gently in the dallah with cardamom and saffron, served clear in small cups.

Vegan

Cooking time: 21 min
Hands-on time: 15 min
Free time: 10 min
Difficulty: Easy
Cuisine: Levantine
Calories: 20

The coffee of hospitality, poured before the conversation starts. Its secret is a low flame that never lets it boil over, because hard boiling draws out the coffee's bitterness, and cardamom added only in the last two minutes so its aroma isn't lost.

Before you start

Before you beginRead the steps completely, measure the ingredients, and prepare the tools before turning on the heat or oven.
Timing the servingPrepare what you can in advance and leave the final touches until serving time to maintain the texture.

Ingredients

4people

Amounts follow the number of people

For the coffee

4 tablespoons lightly roasted Arabic coffee — finely ground
5 cups water
1 tablespoon cardamom — coarsely ground
1/4 teaspoon saffron — optional

The quantity can be doubled, adjusting the sweetness after tasting, and adding ice to each cup when serving.

Equipment

Dallah — A small pot works, but the dallah pours cleanly without stirring up the grounds.
Small cups — Arabic coffee is served hot and in small amounts.

Method

Boil the water in the dallah, then add the coffee and stir once.
5 min
You’ll know it’s ready when
The coffee has spread through the water and the foam has risen.
Lower the heat and let the coffee simmer gently without boiling over.
10 minYou can walk away
You’ll know it’s ready when
A quiet simmer at the rim, not a rolling boil.
Tip: A hard boil draws out the coffee's bitterness — gentle heat is the secret.
Add the cardamom and saffron in the last two minutes, then turn off the heat and let it settle.
4 min
You’ll know it’s ready when
The cardamom is clearly fragrant and the grounds have settled at the bottom.
Tip: Cardamom loses its aroma if it boils for long.
Pour it gently into the serving dallah and serve in small cups.
2 min
You’ll know it’s ready when
The coffee is clear and the grounds have stayed behind in the pot.