Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony-Style Spiced Coffee with Cardamom and Cloves
A fragrant, deeply aromatic coffee infused with cardamom and cloves, inspired by the traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony experience. This african-inspired cocktails & drinks ready in about 15 minutes brings together water, whole cloves, to taste sugar (optional) for a refreshing, crowd-pleasing drink — a bright, easy pour for parties, gatherings, or any warm-weather afternoon when you want something festive without alcohol-only options. Each serving lands at about 5 calories and feeds 2, so it works for entertaining, brunch, or a non-alcoholic option at the bar cart. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp freshly roasted Ethiopian coffee beans, coarsely ground
- 2 cups water
- 4 pods green cardamom pods, lightly crushed
- 3 cloves whole cloves
- to taste sugar (optional)
- 1 cup boiling water for rinsing
Instructions
- Step 1: Rinse 3 tbsp freshly roasted Ethiopian coffee beans with 1 cup boiling water to cleanse and awaken the beans; discard the rinse water.
- Step 2: In a small pot, combine the rinsed coffee beans with 2 cups water, 4 lightly crushed green cardamom pods, and 3 whole cloves.
- Step 3: Bring the mixture to a gentle boil over medium heat, then reduce to low and simmer for 5 minutes to extract the aromatic flavors.
- Step 4: Remove from heat and let the coffee grounds settle for 2 minutes.
- Step 5: Carefully pour the spiced coffee through a fine mesh strainer into cups.
- Step 6: Add sugar to taste if desired, stirring well to dissolve.
- Step 7: Serve immediately in small cups, savoring the rich and fragrant coffee reminiscent of the Ethiopian coffee ceremony.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony-Style Spiced Coffee with Cardamom and Cloves take to make?
Total time is about 15 minutes (5 min prep + 10 min cook). Most home bartenders find this fits a single afternoon; scale up the batch for parties or pitchers.
How do I store leftover Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony-Style Spiced Coffee with Cardamom and Cloves?
Refrigerate any leftover ethiopian coffee ceremony-style spiced coffee with cardamom and cloves in a sealed pitcher or jar for up to 3–4 days. Do not reheat — drinks are served chilled. If the recipe uses sparkling water or fresh herbs, hold those back and add fresh just before pouring so the drink stays bright and fizzy.
Can I substitute ingredients in Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony-Style Spiced Coffee with Cardamom and Cloves?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony-Style Spiced Coffee with Cardamom and Cloves for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 2 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 2). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony-Style Spiced Coffee with Cardamom and Cloves?
African cocktails & drinks like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
