Saudi coffee (Gahwa)
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Saudi coffee (Gahwa)

Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia

Saudi Coffee, also known as "ghahwa," "gahwa," or "qahwa," comes from the Saudi Arabian Kingdom. It is a traditional Arabic coffee popular in the Middle East, North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and the Gulf. It stands out for its old-school brewing method, flavors and the rituals that surround its consumption.

 

Contents

 

Coffee Beans, Spices and Brewing times of Saudi Coffee

Saudi coffee is most commonly (and traditionally) made using lightly roasted arabica beans and cardamom spice. These ingredients are responsible for creating Saudi Coffee's color and flavor. Over time, as other spices became more accessible in the Arabian Peninsula, other species were added to the brew which resulted in Saudi coffee evolution, and now there are many popular spices and flavors used: such as ginger, saffron, cloves, and fennel.

Central Saudi Arabia:

In central Saudi Arabia, the roast is most often golden, coming from using spices such as cloves and saffron.

North Saudi Arabia:

In the north, the coffee is brewed for about 30 minutes to achieve a deeper taste and color, and its most commonly not made with any spices or flavors.

South Saudi Arabia:

In the south of Saudi Arabia, people enjoy a light roast with the most diverse blend of spices of all other regions: ginger, cinnamon, fennel, cloves, and even saffron.

West Saudi Arabia:

Meanwhile, the western regions of Saudi Arabia prefer moderate roasting with mastic, and unlike all other regions, their brewing is much shorter, its “only” 15 minutes long.

East Saudi Arabia:

People from the Eastern regions use only saffron in their coffee.

 

Origin and History of Saudi Coffee

The history of Saudi coffee dates back to the 15th century in today's country of Yemen. At that time, coffee was already used in Yemen’s Sufi monasteries, where monks relied on its stimulating properties to stay alert during long hours of nighttime prayer and devotion. From Yemen, coffee began its journey across the rest of the Arabian Peninsula, eventually spreading to Mecca and Medina, which are two of the most significant cities in the Islamic world. After reaching Mecca and Medina its popularity rapidly grew, and became available in many major Islamic hubs such as Cairo in Egypt, Damascus in Syria, Baghdad in Iraq, and Istanbul in Turkey.

 

Despite coffee's popularity in the Western world, it was not accepted in the Islamic world because the Islamic religious leaders formed the anti-coffee coalition and preached against coffee in mosques across the Islamic world. In 1511, many conservative religious leaders in Mecca issued an unofficial but an very effective ban on coffee and coffee consumptions, citing that coffee's stimulating effects are similar to being under the influence of drugs. This decision was later overturned in 1524 by Sultan Suleiman I of the Ottoman Empire (today's Turkey). Sultan Suleiman I, together with the support of a fatwa from the Grand Mufti (religious leader in an Islamic country) Mehmet Ebussuud el-İmadi managed to lift the coffee ban in the Ottoman Empire. However, this decision did not influence the rest of the Islamic World and many official and unofficial bans remained in place while new bans were occurring. One of the bigger coffee bans occurred in Cairo in 1532, where coffee houses, coffee shops and coffee warehouses were raided, looted and burned while their workers and owners were punished.

 

Ingredients

  1. 2 tablespoons lightly roasted arabica coffee beans, finely ground
  2. 1 teaspoon cardamom powder (this is the most traditional spice for Saudi Coffee)
  3. 1 pinch saffron (optional)
  4. 1–2 cloves (optional)
  5. 2 cups water

 

How to Make Saudi Coffee

  1. Boil Water: Start by boiling the 2 cups of water in a dallah (if you have one) or a standard pot.
  2. Add Coffee: Add the ground coffee to the boiling water and reduce the heat, allowing it to simmer gently for at least 15 minutes up till 30 minutes. (Read more about this in the Coffee Beans, Spices and Brewing times of Saudi Coffee )
  3. Add Spices: Add the cardamom to make the most traditional brew. If you prefer to experiment with the more modern Saudi coffee brews add saffron or cloves during the brewing process or just after it's done. If you add the spices after the brewing is finished, let the coffee steep for an additional 3–5 minutes to absorb the flavors.
  4. Serve: Pour the brewed coffee into a serving pot and then pour it into small “finjan” cups and serve warm.

 

Watch this video for a step-by-step guide on how to make Saudi Coffee:

 

Serving Saudi Coffee

Serving Saudi Coffee in the Islamic World is a cultural ritual, showing the values of hospitality and respect. While the customs may vary slightly across different provinces of Saudi Arabia, certain traditions are universally and strictly followed, such as that the responsibility of pouring coffee falls to the male householder, his son, or a close male family relative. When a male pours coffee to his guests, he shows respect and honors their presence.

 

The male serving the coffee remains standing, especially when having females as guests. The male holds the traditional coffee pot, or “dallah”, in the right hand and “finjan” coffee cup in the right hand. Finjan cups are very similar to the cups used for drinking Bosnian Coffee and Turkish Coffee. Then the male server pours coffee for the guests in order, maintaining a respectful distance of about three steps, and always starting with the male guest to honor him, and then continuing to pour coffee for the guests' wives. When approaching a seated guest, the male server steps forward within two steps, leans slightly, and extends his arm downward to hand the cup directly to the guest. This gesture demonstrates humility and respect.

 

Welcoming phrases like "Tafaddal" (here you are), "Sammi" (invoking Allah’s name), or "Taqahwa" (enjoy your coffee) are spoken as the coffee is poured and served. Guests typically receive the cup with their right hand, holding it delicately between the index finger and thumb. As a sign of trust and quality assurance, the first cup is often served to the male householder, demonstrating that the coffee is safe to drink. Afterward, priority is given to the male elders and the most honored guests.

The ritual of serving Saudi coffee is not merely about offering a drink but symbolizes hierarchy, shows respect, and reflects the traditions of Arabian hospitality.

 

Saudi Coffee Facts and Trivia

  • UNESCO Recognition:in 2015, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) included the Saudi coffee and Arabic traditions that surround it as a part of the Saudi Arabian Kingdom and in some Gulf countries: the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Oman.
  • Year of Saudi Coffee: Year 2022 was declared as the Year of the Saudi Coffee by the Saudi Arabian Kingdom.