Arabic Coffee Benefits: What the Research Says and What to Watch
Quick answer: The main benefits of Arabic coffee come from what it has and what it lacks. It contains caffeine, which helps you feel alert, and natural plant compounds called polyphenols, which are higher in lightly roasted coffee. It is also traditionally served without sugar. Large studies link regular coffee drinking with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes and liver disease, but these studies show associations, not proof. Because gahwa is boiled and not paper-filtered, people with high cholesterol should keep their cups moderate.
Gahwa is the drink of welcome across Saudi Arabia, Oman and the Gulf. Online, it is often described with long lists of benefits. This guide takes a more careful look: what is actually in a cup of Arabic coffee, what the research says, the myths, and the few things to watch. For how to make and serve it, see our complete Arabic coffee guide.
Arabic coffee benefits
What research says about gahwa, and how to enjoy it the healthy way.
What Is in a Cup of Arabic Coffee?
- Caffeine: the natural stimulant in all coffee.
- Polyphenols: plant compounds such as chlorogenic acids, which act as antioxidants.
- Cardamom: the classic spice, which gives gahwa its aroma.
- No sugar: traditional gahwa is unsweetened, and black coffee has almost no calories.
Unlike a sweet café latte or a 3-in-1 sachet, a plain cup of gahwa brings caffeine and flavour without added sugar or milk fat. That alone makes it one of the lighter coffee choices, as long as the dates on the side stay modest.
1. It Helps You Feel Alert
Caffeine is the best-known effect of any coffee. It helps many people feel more awake and focused, which is one reason gahwa is served at long gatherings and during Ramadan evenings. Small cups also make it easy to drink a little at a time.
2. It Contains Antioxidant Polyphenols
Coffee is one of the richest sources of polyphenols in many diets. Roasting changes these compounds: a 2022 study of Brazilian and Middle Eastern coffees found that total phenolic content dropped as the roast got darker, and that lightly roasted samples showed the strongest antioxidant activity in the lab[2]. Arabic coffee is roasted much more lightly than Turkish coffee or espresso, so a freshly brewed cup keeps more of these compounds. The same study, however, found low phenolic levels in an instant Arabic coffee blend, so fresh coffee brewed in a dallah is the better choice.
3. Regular Coffee Drinking Is Linked With Lower Disease Risk
A large 2017 review in the BMJ combined more than 200 earlier analyses of coffee and health[1]. It found that people who drank about three to four cups of coffee a day had a lower risk of death from any cause than non-drinkers. Higher coffee intake was also linked with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes and of several liver diseases. However, most of this evidence is observational: it shows a link, not cause and effect. Also, most studies looked at coffee in general, not at Arabic coffee in particular.
4. It Is Naturally Free of Sugar
Traditional gahwa is served without sugar, and the sweetness comes from the dates. This makes it a far better daily habit than sweetened coffee drinks. Dates, however, are naturally rich in sugar, so if you are watching your sugar intake, keep to a few dates rather than a whole plate.
5. What About Cardamom?
Cardamom gives gahwa its warm aroma, and it has a long history in traditional medicine. Human trials have looked at cardamom and blood sugar, blood fats, inflammation and blood pressure, but a recent review described the results as limited and inconsistent[6]. So enjoy cardamom for its flavour, not as a treatment.
Myths About Arabic Coffee
| Myth | What research shows |
|---|---|
| “Light roast has much more caffeine.” | A Saudi study of traditionally brewed Arabic coffee found that a darker roast lowered caffeine only slightly, and the difference was not significant. The type of bean mattered most.[3] |
| “Boiling it longer makes it stronger in caffeine.” | In the same study, boiling for 30 minutes extracted less caffeine than boiling for 15 minutes.[3] |
| “Arabic coffee is a cure.” | Coffee research shows associations, not cures. Gahwa is a healthy habit and a tradition, not a medicine. |
What to Watch Out For
- Caffeine limits: according to the European Food Safety Authority, up to 400 mg of caffeine a day is safe for most healthy adults, and up to 200 mg a day during pregnancy and breastfeeding[5]. Many small cups add up, so count them on long majlis evenings.
- Cholesterol: boiled, unfiltered coffee contains natural oils called cafestol and kahweol, which can raise LDL cholesterol. A 2025 Swedish study found the highest levels in boiled coffee, while filtering removed most of them[4]. Gahwa is boiled, but it is also left to settle and strained, and it is served in small cups. If you have high cholesterol, keep your cups moderate and ask your doctor.
- Sleep: caffeine can keep you awake, so drink your last cup a few hours before bed.
- The dates: they are the main source of sugar in a gahwa session.
How to Get the Most From Your Gahwa
- First, choose a fresh, lightly roasted Arabica coffee rather than an instant blend.
- Then let the grounds settle after boiling and strain the coffee into the dallah.
- Also, serve it without sugar, and keep the dates to a few.
- Finally, watch the total number of cups across the day, especially in the evening.
For how much caffeine is in other drinks, see our caffeine chart. And if you want a caffeine-free cup in the evening, try date seed coffee.
Gulf-style Arabic coffee, roasted in Oman
100% Arabica, light roast, blended with cardamom, with no sugar or sweetener. Brew it fresh in a dallah and serve it in small cups.
Arabic Coffee Benefits: Quick Questions
Is Arabic coffee healthy?
For most healthy adults, unsweetened Arabic coffee in moderate amounts can be part of a healthy diet. It contains antioxidant polyphenols and caffeine, and research links regular coffee drinking with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes and liver disease.
Does Arabic coffee raise cholesterol?
Boiled, unfiltered coffee contains cafestol and kahweol, which can raise LDL cholesterol. Letting gahwa settle, straining it and keeping cups small reduces the amount you drink. People with high cholesterol should ask their doctor.
Does Arabic coffee have a lot of caffeine?
Each small cup has less than a mug of regular coffee, but the amount depends on the beans and on how much coffee is used. Many cups across a day can add up.
Is Arabic coffee better than Turkish coffee?
Arabic coffee is roasted more lightly, so it keeps more polyphenols, and it is traditionally drunk without sugar. Turkish coffee is darker and often sweetened while brewing.
How many cups of Arabic coffee a day is safe?
It depends on cup size and strength. Healthy adults should keep their total caffeine from all drinks under 400 mg a day, and 200 mg during pregnancy.
Hosting guests? Find out how much coffee, water and cardamom you need with our Arabic coffee calculator.
Sources
- Poole R, et al. Coffee consumption and health: umbrella review of meta-analyses of multiple health outcomes. BMJ, 2017. www.bmj.com
- El-Hawary EA, et al. LC/MS and UV in coffee authentication and antioxidant effects: Brazilian and Middle Eastern coffee. Antioxidants, 2022. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- AlShareef SM. Caffeine extraction from Arabic coffee: the role of brewing and roasting. Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University Journal of Applied Sciences. journals.imamu.edu.sa
- Orrje E, et al. Cafestol and kahweol concentrations in workplace machine coffee compared with conventional brewing methods. Uppsala University, 2025. www.uu.se
- European Food Information Council. EFSA opinion on the safety of caffeine. eufic.org
- McCormick Science Institute. Cardamom: potential health benefits (review of human trials). www.mccormickscienceinstitute.com
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