Moroccan · Drink
Qahwa Harra (Moroccan Spiced Coffee)
Moroccan spiced coffee — qahwa harra or qahwa bel a'ashab — is coffee brewed or dosed with a warming spice blend that Marrakech spice sellers grind to order: black pepper, nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, sometimes sesame, aniseed or a whisper of dried ginseng. The result is dark, aromatic and gently peppery, a coffee that tastes distinctly of the souk.
- Prep
- 5 min
- Cook
- 10 min
- Total
- 15 min
- Serves
- 4
- Level
- Easy
Ingredients
- 4 heaped tsp ground coffee (or to your usual strength)
- For the spice blend: 1/2 tsp black pepper, 1/2 tsp nutmeg, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp ground ginger, 1/4 tsp ground cloves, 1/4 tsp aniseed, 1/2 tsp toasted sesame (all ground together)
- About 700 ml water
- Sugar and hot milk, to serve (optional)
Method
- 1
Make the spice mix
Grind the pepper, nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, aniseed and sesame together into a fine powder. This is the sort of custom blend Marrakech spice merchants mix to order for coffee.
- 2
Combine with coffee
Stir about 1 teaspoon of the spice blend into your ground coffee — more or less to taste. Keep the rest in a jar for future brews.
- 3
Brew
Brew the spiced coffee as you normally would — in a pot, cezve, moka or filter — using the water. If brewing in a pot, simmer gently a couple of minutes then let the grounds settle.
- 4
Serve
Pour and serve black with sugar, or lengthen with hot milk. It is aromatic and warming; start with a little spice and build up.
Chef's tips
- Start with less spice than you think — the pepper and clove are assertive and easy to overdo.
- Grind the blend fresh; pre-ground spices lose the aromatic punch that makes this coffee special.
- Make a jar of the blend so you can spice each pot to taste rather than mixing every time.
Frequently asked questions
What spices go in Moroccan coffee?
Blends vary by seller and family, but common ones are black pepper, nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, sesame and aniseed. Some traditional mixes even include dried ginseng or grains of paradise. Spice shops in Marrakech grind custom coffee blends to order.
Is Moroccan spiced coffee sweet?
It is served both ways. The spice blend itself is warming and slightly peppery rather than sweet; sugar and hot milk are added to taste, as with ordinary coffee.