Coffee Traditions in North Africa: From Street Carts to Specialty Cafés
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Khalid Al Mansoor
- . February 16, 2026
- . Update: February 16, 2026 6:54 pm
The Coffee Traditions in North Africa can be described as a rich mixture of African culture and the Ottoman, Mediterranean, and French cultures. In Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt, coffee is not merely a drink, it is a cultural practice as well as hospitality. Usually dark and potent, it is typically flavoured with spices such as cardamom, cinnamon or cloves, and drunk in small cups in a slow way. The amount of sugar is determined in advance at the time of brewing, between unsweetened and very sweet.
From Street Carts to Traditional Cafés
The traditional ahwah in Egypt is thick and Turkish-style coffee made in a cezve, where Egyptians sit to talk and play games. Algeria is the home of mazagran, an iced coffee that was first served in the 19th century. In Morocco and Tunisia, afternoons that are social are accompanied by coffee, and sometimes by a pastry or dates. In North Africa, the vibrant perfumed mixtures are sold by street vendors throughout the region, which keeps Coffee Traditions alive in ordinary places.
The Rise of Specialty Coffee Culture
Even big cities such as Cairo and Casablanca have modern cafes, where people can find single-origin Arabica and products that are based on espresso. This dynamic scene incorporates the world barista trends with Coffee Traditions in North Africa and provides elegant spaces with the maintenance of the old-established rituals of welcome and solidarity.
FAQs
1. What are the typically used spices in North African coffee?
Popular additions are cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves, as well as nutmeg.
2. What is Mazagran?
Mazagran is an iced coffee, sweetened, which originated in Algeria.
3. Does North African hospitality value coffee?
Oh, the coffee serving is one of the major welcoming and respectful gestures.
