Quick answer: Cardamom coffee is coffee brewed with ground green cardamom, a floral, slightly sweet spice used in Arabic and Middle Eastern coffee. To make it, grind about 4 green cardamom pods with 20 grams of coffee and brew as usual in a pour-over, French press or AeroPress. Add milk and sugar if you like; avoid smoky black cardamom.
Recently, I was in Brooklyn and had the pleasure of trying Sana’ani from Qahwah House, a medium roast coffee with cardamom. With just a little milk and sugar, it was a divine experience, and it inspired this article.
Adding cardamom to coffee is nothing new. It is common in the Middle East, where cardamom is one of the main elements of Arabic coffee, and the spice is also widely used in Indian cooking. It adds a floral flavor to coffee, and with milk and sugar it makes a creamy, smooth drink.
In this guide 4 sections
What kind of cardamom should you use in coffee?
Use green cardamom pods, the most common kind, which you can find at most grocery stores. Green cardamom has a floral aroma and a flavor that gives coffee a dessert-like taste.
Avoid black cardamom. It is dried over an open fire, which gives it a smoky, sometimes minty flavor meant for savory dishes like curry. In coffee it overpowers everything else.
If you can’t find green cardamom pods at your local grocery store, check the price of these pods at Amazon.
Ground cardamom powder, usually made from green pods, also works, but it tends to taste less vibrant than pods you grind yourself.
How do you make cardamom coffee?
If you grind your coffee fresh, it’s easy: you can grind the cardamom right along with the beans. If you use pre-ground coffee, crush the pods in a spice grinder or with a mortar and pestle.
Ingredients (1 cup)
- 20 grams of coffee beans (for ideas, see our ranking of the best whole bean coffees)
- 4 green cardamom pods
- 1 cup of hot water
- Milk and sugar or honey to taste (optional)
Steps
- Prepare the pods. Either crack the pods and remove the seeds, or use the whole pods; the pods are edible.
- Grind the cardamom together with your coffee beans and mix the grounds thoroughly.
- Brew as usual with a pour-over, French press or AeroPress. Don’t use this mix for espresso; the cardamom grinds inconsistently and can cause problems in an espresso machine.
- Serve black or with a little milk and sugar.
Four pods per 20 grams of coffee is my favorite balance, but adjust to how strong you want the cardamom flavor.
A warning: if you grind cardamom in your coffee grinder, the smell and flavor will linger for a few days. I keep an old hand grinder just for cardamom.
At Qahwah House they served the cardamom coffee in a teapot over a tea candle to keep it warm. It was very Instagrammable!
Cardamom coffee health benefits: what the research says
Cardamom contains compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and it has long been used as a traditional remedy for digestive complaints. The research in people is limited, though.
A small 2009 study gave 20 adults with newly diagnosed stage 1 high blood pressure 3 grams of cardamom powder a day for 12 weeks, and their blood pressure fell significantly. That is far more cardamom than you would add to a cup of coffee, and one small study isn’t proof, so enjoy cardamom coffee for its flavor rather than as a treatment. Some animal studies suggest cardamom may protect against stomach ulcers, but this hasn’t been shown in humans.
Frequently asked questions
What does cardamom coffee taste like?
It tastes like your usual coffee with a warm, floral aroma. With milk and sugar it tastes almost like a dessert.
Can you add ground cardamom to brewed coffee?
Yes. Stir a small pinch of ground cardamom into your cup, or add it to the grounds before brewing for a more even flavor.
What goes well with cardamom in coffee?
Cinnamon, honey and milk are classic pairings. My favorite is cardamom coffee with acacia honey and a touch of cinnamon.
For more ways to flavor coffee, see why to add a pinch of salt to coffee or browse our guide to the different types of coffee.
This article is for general information and isn’t medical advice.
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