Morocco, a North African country bordering the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, is distinguished by its Berber, Arabian and European cultural influences.
Morocco is a gateway to Africa and a country of dizzying diversity. Where you can find epic mountain ranges, ancient cities, sweeping deserts – and warm hospitality. There are a lot of things you can see and experience in Morroco, and one of the things a must try when visiting the place is their Morrocan Spiced Coffee.
Morrocan spiced coffee is a well-known beverage in Morroco. This coffee is a fragrant blend of dark coffee and warm spices that are rarely served in street cafes and is typically made at home. Morrocan spiced coffee is not your ordinary blend of brew because this traditional cup of coffee is exotic and a bit luxurious, yet it’s still familiar with its pleasant aroma and comforting warmth with the usual cup of Joe.
What’s comforting about this Morrocan spiced coffee is you can add your own spiced like the cardamom, black pepper, cinnamon, a pinch of sesame seeds or anise seed.
Here’s an amazing recipe for Morrocan Spiced Coffee by The Hungry Traveler.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup whole coffee beans (or 6 tablespoons freshly ground coffee)
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/8 teaspoon ground clove
- 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 4 cups water
- Cream and sugar (optional)
Instructions
If using whole beans:
Place the coffee beans and spices in a burr grinder and grind on the coarsest setting until you reach a rough texture similar to breadcrumbs. Pour the spiced grounds into the bottom of a French press.
If using ground coffee:
- In a small bowl, stir together the spices and the coffee grounds. Pour the spiced grounds into the bottom of a French press.
- In a stovetop or electric kettle, heat the water to around 195 degrees. You can do this by bringing it to a boil and then letting it rest for around 1 minute.
- Once the water is ready, pour about 1/2 of the water over the coffee and let it sit for 30 seconds.
- Use a spoon to gently stir the mixture and then add the rest of the water. Place the lid on the French press and leave the plunger all the way up. Let brew for 3 minutes.
- Press the plunger all the way down and pour the coffee into cups. If you are not drinking it immediately, pour it into a carafe or pitcher for serving. If you leave it in the French press, it may become bitter.
- Serve the coffee black, or with sugar and cream as desired.
Notes
This recipe can be adapted to the brewing method of your choice. Simply stir together the spices and ground coffee before proceeding to brew your coffee as you normally do. Feel free to modify the spices to your liking.
In the instruction given above the procedure is specified using a French press, but you can brew Moroccan spiced coffee using the brewing method you typically prefer (automatic drip pot, pour over, etc.). All you have to do is stir together the spices and coffee grounds and proceed as usual. I typically brew coffee in an Aeropress, but this French press is great if you’re making coffee for a group.
You can use whole beans and grind them yourself or use pre-ground coffee. Whatever you choose, make sure you pick dark roast beans and use only fresh spices to bring out the warmth and aroma of a real Morrocan spiced coffee.
