How to Make Cafe Arabe: Spiced Arabic-Style Coffee

If you’ve ever tried Arabic coffee and wondered how it balances sweetness, spice, and coffee so perfectly in just a few sips, you’re not alone. Many coffee lovers are curious about how to recreate that rich, aromatic experience without a traditional copper dallah. The answer lies in the precise combination of dark roast coffee, sugar, and warm spices—simple ingredients, carefully measured.

To make Cafe Arabe, use 75cc of slightly dark roasted coffee, add 10g of sugar, and a small pinch each of ground cinnamon and cardamom . That’s the standard formula. Modern versions often use a drip or pour-over method, though traditionally it’s brewed in a brass or copper pot.

What Is Cafe Arabe?

Cafe Arabe is a spiced Arabic coffee style found across the Arab world. Unlike traditional espresso-based drinks or filtered coffee, it blends finely brewed coffee with sugar and aromatic spices. The coffee used is typically a slightly dark roast—not espresso dark, but roast level enough to bring out body and complexity. The defining elements are the 10g of sugar and the small measures of cinnamon and cardamom, which shape its signature flavour.

Traditional vs Modern Brewing Methods

Originally, Cafe Arabe is brewed in a special brass or copper pot (called a dallah) where ground coffee is combined directly with cinnamon bark pieces and cardamom seeds, then steeped or boiled with hot water. This imparts a deep infusion of spice flavours. However, modern interpretations—especially those adapted by specialty coffee enthusiasts—often use a pour-over or drip method for cleaner extraction and more control. The core ingredients remain consistent, but the equipment and process have been updated for today’s kitchens.

What You’ll Need: Ingredients & Ratios

Here’s the precise formula used in the modern pour-over version of Cafe Arabe:

• Coffee: 75cc (approximately 75ml) of slightly dark roasted coffee
• Sugar: 10g (about 2 teaspoons)
• Ground cinnamon : a small pinch
• Ground cardamom : a small pinch

The coffee is brewed using a pour-over or drip method, then mixed directly in the cup with the sugar and spices. That’s where the flavour integration happens—unlike recipes where spices are brewed directly with the coffee, this version lets you adjust sweetness and spice intensity to taste.

Step-by-Step: How to Make Cafe Arabe at Home

Follow this straightforward method to replicate the Cafe Arabe experience using tools you likely already have:

1. Measure and grind your coffee: Use about 75cc (roughly 50–60g coffee yield depending on brew method) of slightly dark roasted beans. Grind to a pour-over appropriate size—similar to table salt or a bit finer.
2. Brew the coffee: Use your preferred pour-over method (e.g., V60, Kalita Wave) with hot water (around 90–94°C). Aim for a standard pour-over brew time and ratio. This article doesn’t specify the exact brew method details, but the focus is on a clean, well-extracted cup.
3. Add sugar and spices to the cup: Before pouring the brewed coffee, place 10g of sugar and a small pinch each of ground cinnamon and cardamom into your serving cup.
4. Pour and mix: Pour the brewed coffee over the sugar and spices. Stir until the sugar dissolves and the flavours meld. Serve immediately.

This method highlights the clean taste of the coffee while layering in the warmth of cinnamon and the citrusy, floral notes of cardamom. Adjust spice and sugar levels to your preference.

Why These Spices?

Cardamom and cinnamon are not random additions—they’re essential to the identity of Arabic coffee. Cardamom brings a bright, citrusy, slightly minty aroma that complements the roasted coffee flavours, while cinnamon adds a subtle sweetness and warmth. Used in small amounts, they enhance without overpowering. This spice pairing is deeply rooted in Arabic coffee culture and gives Cafe Arabe its distinct profile.

Mistakes to Avoid

When making Cafe Arabe, watch out for these common pitfalls:

• Using too much spice: A small pinch is enough. Overdoing cardamom or cinnamon can mask the coffee flavour entirely.
• Incorrect coffee roast level: Too light a roast may lack the body to carry the spices; too dark can clash with the sweetness. Slightly dark roast is ideal.
• Adding spices to the brew basket: In the modern method, spices are added to the cup—not the filter—to preserve clarity of flavour and allow for adjustment.
• Sugar added after brewing: For best integration, sugar should be in the cup before pouring so it dissolves fully and combines with the brewed coffee and spices.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Cafe Arabe coffee?

Cafe Arabe is a spiced Arabic-style coffee made with slightly dark roasted coffee, 10g of sugar, and a small pinch each of ground cinnamon and cardamom. It’s known for its balance of sweetness, spice, and coffee flavour, traditionally brewed in a copper pot but now often made via pour-over.

How much sugar is in Cafe Arabe?

Cafe Arabe includes exactly 10g of sugar per serving, which is roughly 2 teaspoons. This amount is mixed directly in the cup with the coffee and spices.

What kind of coffee roast is best for Cafe Arabe?

A slightly dark roasted coffee is recommended for Cafe Arabe. It provides enough body and roast character to complement the sugar and spices without being as intense as an espresso roast.

Should I brew the spices with the coffee?

In the traditional method, spices are brewed with the coffee in a copper pot. In the modern pour-over version described here, the spices are added to the cup after brewing, along with the sugar, for better control and flavour clarity.

Can I use any spices in Cafe Arabe?

Traditionally, Cafe Arabe uses ground cinnamon and cardamom. These are the core spices. While you can experiment, the classic flavour relies on just these two in small amounts.

Is Cafe Arabe the same as Turkish coffee?

No. While both are spiced and served unfiltered, Cafe Arabe uses a slightly dark roast, sugar, and usually a pour-over or copper pot method. Turkish coffee is typically unbrewed finely ground coffee boiled with water (and sometimes sugar and spices) in a cezve.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Cafe Arabe

For making Cafe Arabe, we recommend FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Yirgacheffe or Guatemala Antigua beans. The Yirgacheffe offers bright citrus, floral notes, and medium acidity—perfect for balancing the warmth of cardamom and cinnamon. Guatemala Antigua provides a fuller body with chocolate and spice undertones that complement the syrupy sugar and aromatic spices in this drink. Both beans are roasted to a level that works well with traditional Arabic coffee preparation. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.