Ramadan Coffee Recipes: 3 Special Iftar Drinks
Coffee at Iftar: A Saudi Tradition
Coffee has a special place at the iftar table across Saudi Arabia. After a long day of fasting, a carefully made coffee drink can be both reviving and celebratory. These three recipes are designed with iftar in mind — not too heavy, naturally energising, and infused with the warm spice notes that define Arabian hospitality.
Recipe 1: Saffron Cardamom Latte
Ingredients: 2 shots espresso, 200ml whole milk, a generous pinch of saffron, ½ teaspoon ground cardamom, 1 teaspoon honey.
Method: Steep the saffron in the hot espresso for 1 minute. Steam the milk with cardamom until hot and frothy. Stir honey into the espresso, then pour the spiced milk over the top. A drink that tastes like Arabian nights in a cup.
Recipe 2: Date and Espresso Reviver
Ingredients: 2 shots espresso (cooled slightly), 2 Medjool dates (pitted), 100ml warm milk, a pinch of cinnamon.
Method: Blend the dates with warm milk until smooth. Strain if desired. Pour into a glass and add the espresso over the top. The dates provide quick natural energy after fasting, and their sweetness perfectly complements the espresso’s bitterness.
Recipe 3: Iced Rose Latte (Ramadan Special)
Ingredients: 2 shots espresso (cooled), 200ml cold milk, 1 tablespoon rose syrup, ice, dried rose petals to garnish.
Method: Stir rose syrup into milk. Fill a glass with ice, pour the rose milk over the top, then gently pour the cold espresso over the back of a spoon to create layers. Garnish with a few dried rose petals. This drink is as beautiful to look at as it is to drink.
All three drinks can be prepared in advance (aside from the final assembly) and kept chilled until iftar time — making them perfect for hosting guests during Ramadan.
