Instant Arabic Coffee: What It Is, Ingredients and How to Make It
Quick answer: “Instant Arabic coffee” (also sold as instant Saudi coffee) means one of two things: an instant mix in small sticks or sachets that dissolves in hot water with no dallah and no boiling, or pre-measured ground Arabic coffee already blended with cardamom and sometimes saffron, which you still simmer but without weighing or mixing. The first is faster; the second tastes like dallah coffee. Read the ingredients: some instant mixes contain coffee creamer, maltodextrin, flavourings and sugar.
Arabic coffee is part of every home and majlis in the Gulf, but making it in a dallah takes time. This guide explains the “quick” options, what to look for on the pack, how to prepare them, and how they compare with traditional dallah coffee. For the traditional method, read how to make Arabic coffee.
What is instant Arabic coffee?
1. Instant mixes (sticks or small sachets)
A powder that dissolves straight in hot water. It is usually made from soluble coffee with cardamom, saffron or clove flavour, and many mixes also contain coffee creamer and maltodextrin to give body and colour.
2. Pre-measured ground Arabic coffee
Real ground Arabic coffee, pre-blended with cardamom and sometimes saffron, packed in sachets sized for one dallah. It is not instant: you simmer it like any Arabic coffee, but you skip the weighing and mixing.
Instant Saudi coffee
“Saudi coffee” is Arabic coffee with the light (blond) roast popular in Saudi Arabia, usually with cardamom and often saffron and clove. Instant Saudi coffee is the same idea in either form. Read more about Saudi coffee.
What to read on the pack
- Coffee listed first: a good sign.
- Maltodextrin or creamer listed first: less coffee, more fillers.
- Sugar or brown sugar: traditional Arabic coffee is unsweetened, so choose no added sugar if you drink it that way.
- Cardamom and saffron: check whether they are real ingredients or only “flavour”.
How to make instant Arabic coffee
Instant mix (sticks or sachets)
- Empty one stick or the amount shown on the pack into a small cup.
- Pour in the amount of hot water the pack directs.
- Stir until fully dissolved and serve straight away, with dates if you like.
Pre-measured ground Arabic coffee
- Bring about 500 ml of water to the boil in a dallah or small pot.
- Add the sachet (about 30 g) and lower the heat.
- Simmer for 10–15 minutes, without letting it boil over.
- Take it off the heat and let it rest for 3–4 minutes so the grounds settle.
- Pour slowly through a strainer into a thermos or serving dallah, and serve in small finjan cups.
No dallah? A small saucepan works the same way. For the full traditional method, see how to make Arabic coffee.
Instant, pre-measured or dallah coffee?
| Instant mix | Pre-measured ground | Traditional dallah | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Under a minute | About 15–20 minutes | 20+ minutes |
| Tools | Cup and hot water | Dallah or pot | Dallah, scale, sometimes a grinder |
| Taste | Close; varies by brand | Same as dallah coffee | Your own blend |
| Ingredients | May contain creamer, maltodextrin, sugar | Coffee and cardamom (plus saffron) | Coffee, cardamom and what you add |
Pre-measured Arabic coffee from Lucarise
Lucarise Arabic coffee is not instant: it is ground Arabic coffee with cardamom from Sohar. Arabic coffee with saffron comes in 30 g sachets with 1 g of saffron, made with 500 ml of water for about 5–6 cups, with no weighing. To compare with regular instant coffee, read what is instant coffee.
More ways to brew: see our specialty coffee guide, with grind, ratio, origins and every brewing method in one place.
Run a café, restaurant or shop?
Lucarise makes café drinks in business packs in our own factory in Oman: 1 kg café bags, 100-sachet hotel boxes and distributor cartons. Prices on request.
Instant Arabic Coffee: FAQ
Is instant Arabic coffee the same as regular Arabic coffee?
Not quite. Instant mixes dissolve straight away and taste close, but many contain creamer and maltodextrin. Pre-measured ground coffee is real Arabic coffee simmered in a dallah.
Does it contain sugar?
Some instant mixes contain sugar or brown sugar. Check the ingredients and nutrition table, and choose no added sugar if you drink it the traditional way.
Does it have caffeine?
Yes, it is made from coffee. Arabic coffee cups are small, so each cup has less caffeine than a regular mug of coffee.
How is it different from regular instant coffee?
Regular instant coffee, such as gold instant coffee, is made to drink black or with milk. Instant Arabic coffee is a mix flavoured with cardamom and often saffron, made to taste and look like Arabic coffee.
How can I make Arabic coffee quickly without a dallah?
Use a small saucepan with the same amounts, or choose an instant mix that dissolves straight in hot water.
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