What Is Arabic Coffee (Qahwa)? How to Make It at Home

Arabic coffee — called qahwa (قهوة) across the Arabian Peninsula — is one of the oldest coffee traditions in the world, and one of the most commonly misunderstood. It’s not the same as Turkish coffee. It’s not bitter. And it almost never contains sugar.

This guide covers everything about authentic Arabic coffee: what it is, how it’s made, the regional variations across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and the Levant, and how to brew your own version at home.

What Is Arabic Coffee?

Arabic coffee is a lightly spiced, often greenish-yellow brew made from lightly roasted or green coffee beans and cardamom. Traditional Gulf-style qahwa — from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain — uses unroasted or very light-roasted beans, giving it a pale yellow color. Saffron and rosewater are added in ceremonial versions.

Levantine Arabic coffee (Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Syria) uses slightly darker roasted beans and is closer in color to espresso, though still fragrant with cardamom.

What it is not: Arabic coffee is not Turkish coffee. Turkish coffee uses dark-roasted, finely ground beans, is often sweetened, and has dense sediment. Arabic qahwa uses light-roasted coarsely ground beans, no sugar, and has minimal sediment.

Arabic Coffee vs. Turkish Coffee: Key Differences

Types of Arabic Coffee by Region

Saudi / Gulf Qahwa

The most recognized style. Uses green (unroasted) or very lightly roasted coffee beans — sometimes called “white coffee” in the Gulf. The beans are a very light tan or yellow-green. Cardamom is essential; saffron and rosewater are added for special occasions.

Served at room temperature or slightly warm in a small handleless cup (finjan). Traditionally served with dates.

Emirati / Khaleeji Qahwa

Very similar to Saudi qahwa. May include cloves, ginger, and a small amount of cinnamon alongside the cardamom. In the UAE, qahwa is the centerpiece of majlis hospitality.

Lebanese / Levantine Arabic Coffee

Uses medium-light roasted beans and heavy cardamom — visually darker than Gulf qahwa but still flavored and spiced. Often called ahweh in Lebanese dialect. This is the version sometimes confused with Turkish coffee, but it’s brewed differently (shorter brew time, less sediment) and always served with cardamom.

Palestinian and Jordanian Coffee

Similar to Lebanese style. Palestinian coffee (café Falasteeni) uses medium roasted beans with heavy cardamom. May include cloves and a small amount of nutmeg. More robust than Gulf qahwa but never as dark or sediment-heavy as Turkish coffee.

Egyptian Coffee

Darker than most Arabic coffee styles. Medium to dark roasted, brewed in a cezve similar to Turkish coffee, but typically less sugar and often flavored with cardamom.

What Is Qahwa?

Qahwa (قهوة) is simply the Arabic word for coffee — but in context, it specifically refers to the traditional preparation described above. Outside the Arabian Peninsula, “qahwa” often refers specifically to the spiced Gulf-style version.

The word “qahwa” entered European languages and eventually became:

• Turkish: kahve
• Italian: caffè
• French: café
• English: coffee

How to Make Arabic Coffee at Home

What You Need

For Gulf-style qahwa (authentic):

• 2 tablespoons lightly roasted or green Arabic coffee beans (ground medium-coarse)
• 2 cups (480ml) cold water
• 6-8 cardamom pods, lightly crushed (or ½ teaspoon ground cardamom)
• Pinch of saffron threads (optional, for ceremonial version)
• ¼ teaspoon rosewater (optional)
• 3-4 whole cloves (optional for Gulf variation)

For Levantine-style (Lebanese/Palestinian):

• 2 tablespoons medium-light roasted coffee, ground medium-coarse
• 2 cups (480ml) cold water
• ½ teaspoon ground cardamom (or 5-6 pods, crushed)

Step-by-Step Instructions

Gulf Qahwa Method:

1. Add water, cardamom pods, and saffron (if using) to a dallah or small saucepan
2. Bring to a low boil over medium heat
3. Add the lightly roasted coffee grounds
4. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 15-20 minutes
5. Strain through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth
6. Add rosewater if using
7. Serve immediately in small finjan cups (50-75ml portions)

Levantine Method (Lebanese/Palestinian):

1. Combine water and ground cardamom in a small saucepan or cezve
2. Add coffee grounds and stir to combine
3. Heat over medium until steam rises (do NOT fully boil)
4. Reduce heat to low and simmer 8-10 minutes
5. Strain into cups
6. No sugar added — serve with dates or dried figs

Equipment Options

The Serving Ritual

Arabic coffee etiquette carries cultural significance equal to the drink itself:

• Host serves right to left (eldest/most honored guests first)
• Finjan cup is filled only 1/3-1/2 full — leaving room for the guest to hold the cup comfortably
• Right hand only — offering or receiving with the left hand is considered rude
• Three cups tradition — the guest is expected to accept up to three refills; shaking the cup side to side signals “I’ve had enough”
• Always served with dates — the sweetness of the date balances the unsweetened bitterness of the qahwa
• Temperature — Gulf qahwa is served warm, not scalding hot

Arabic Coffee Ratio Guide

Arabic Coffee vs. Espresso

Arabic coffee is not stronger than espresso per ounce — espresso’s pressurized extraction concentrates more solids. However, Gulf qahwa’s light roast gives it a different kind of stimulation since light roast beans retain more caffeine than dark roasts (contrary to popular belief).

Where to Buy Arabic Coffee Beans

Authentic Arabic qahwa requires beans roasted to a much lighter profile than standard espresso or filter coffee. Look for:

• Saudi or Yemeni green/white coffee beans — sometimes labeled “qahwa beans” or “white coffee beans”
• Yemeni coffee (Haraazi, Mattari, Ismaili varietals) — naturally light-roasted, high quality
• Light roast Arabica from Ethiopia or Yemen — if dedicated qahwa beans unavailable, light-roast these yourself or use the lightest roast available

Pre-ground cardamom coffee blends from Middle Eastern grocery stores work well for Levantine-style.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Arabic coffee different from regular coffee? Arabic coffee (qahwa) uses very lightly roasted or unroasted green coffee beans, is flavored with cardamom, never contains sugar (traditionally), and is brewed by simmering rather than pressurized extraction or paper-filter drip. The flavor is grassy, floral, and spiced rather than bitter and roasted.

Is Arabic coffee stronger than espresso? Not in the traditional sense. Arabic qahwa has roughly 40-70mg caffeine per 75ml cup versus espresso’s 60-75mg per 30ml shot. Espresso is more concentrated, but since qahwa uses lightly roasted beans (which preserve more caffeine by weight than dark roasts), the per-bean caffeine content is actually higher. The perceived “strength” of qahwa is gentler and more aromatic than espresso’s intense hit.

Is Arabic coffee good for your stomach? Many people find Arabic coffee gentler on the stomach than dark-roasted espresso or drip coffee. The lighter roast reduces chlorogenic acids (which can trigger acid reflux in sensitive individuals), and cardamom has historically been used to aid digestion. However, individual reactions vary — if you have a digestive condition, consult your doctor before changing your coffee habits.

What is qahwa? Qahwa (قهوة) is the Arabic word for coffee. In the context of traditional preparation, it refers specifically to the spiced, lightly roasted coffee made throughout the Arabian Peninsula and Levant. The word is the linguistic root of the English word “coffee.”

The Cultural Significance

Arabic coffee is recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage — it was inscribed by Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, and Qatar in 2015 as a symbol of Arab hospitality and generosity.

In traditional Arab society, refusing a cup of qahwa from a host is considered a significant social snub. Serving coffee well — in the right cup, at the right temperature, with the right dates — is a form of eloquent hospitality that communicates respect for your guest.

Arabic Coffee vs. Other Specialty Coffees

Related Guides

• What Is Turkish Coffee — and How Is It Different? — the most common comparison
• Cardamom Latte Recipe — if you love the cardamom flavor in lattes
• Cafe Cubano (Cuban Espresso) — another intense cultural coffee tradition
• Cafe Con Leche — Spanish-style sweet milk coffee