Can Saffron Be Added to Coffee?
Most people know about saffron in food and tea, and that naturally begs the question… Could saffron also be added to coffee?
The short answer is yes, saffron can be a great addition to your coffee.
In this article, I want to explore with you how saffron tastes in coffee, the right way to add it, and how it interacts with caffeine. And at the end, I’ll also share some of our favorite saffron coffee recipes.
Let’s dive in.
Does Saffron Taste Good in Coffee?
While the taste of saffron is somewhat hard to describe, a lot of people quite like the taste of saffron in their coffee. This is especially true for lattes and other coffees with milk, because saffron carries slightly bitter floral notes with a touch of sweetness. Naturally, this makes it a great addition for these types of coffees.
If you prefer black coffee though, it really depends. Most people who drink their coffee black don’t like to add anything to it, and perhaps saffron might not be the best addition in that case. On the other hand, because of its slight bitterness, some people find the taste of saffron in their black coffee quite enjoyable because it further enhances the bitterness of their coffee with that floral touch.
But the only way to truly find out if it’s something for you is to just try it! If you don’t have saffron already, we actually sell very small quantities of saffron for people who want to dabble with its taste. You can find our 1 gram jar right here.
How to Add Saffron to Coffee?
If you’re eager to try it now, don’t just toss your saffron threads directly into the coffee just yet. This will result in minimal flavor and aroma. As with any other use of saffron, the threads actually need a gentle encouragement to release its flavor and aroma fully.
How to Bloom Saffron for Coffee?
This process of releasing the flavor and aroma of your saffron threads is called blooming. Here’s our favorite way to bloom saffron for coffee, simple and quick.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- 3-5 saffron threads
- 2 tbsp of warm water or milk (not boiling!)
- A small bowl
Steps:
1. First, crush the saffron threads lightly in a mortar and pestle. Alternatively, you can use the back of a spoon.
2. Add hot water or milk. For milk-based coffees, go with milk. For black coffees, just use water. Try and aim for 120-140°F (50-60°C), and avoid boiling at all costs. This destroys the delicate compounds saffron is made up of.
3. Let sit for 10 minutes (or 20-30 minutes for even more taste and aroma). For French press users, simply prepare at the same time and let it sit with your coffee.
4. Combine the bloomed saffron with your brewed coffee or mix into your milk before frothing.
Tip: The longer you let saffron bloom, the more floral your coffee will taste. Don’t rush :)
For our iced coffee lovers: Bloomed saffron can actually be frozen perfectly in ice cube trays. Simply bloom your saffron as instructed above with slightly more water, and pour in an ice cube tray. Instead of regular ice, try saffron-infused ice for your next iced coffee!
Eager to learn more about the different ways of blooming and when to use each one? We've recently written a Saffron Blooming Guide that you can read next here.
How Much Saffron to Put in Coffee?
Because saffron is so potent (and expensive), a little bit goes a long way!
As a general rule, we recommend 3-5 threads for a single cup of coffee. That means 8-10 threads for a coffee pot.
This may sound quite little, but it’s best to start small. Excessive use can quickly dominate the taste of the coffee and turn it too bitter. If you taste subtle floral, honeyed notes, great! That’s exactly what we’re aiming for!
Does Saffron Interact with Caffeine?
This is a logical question, and one that turns up again and again in our community.
In short, saffron and coffee don’t interact with each other. Instead, they actually tend to balance each other out beautifully.
As you undoubtedly know, caffeine stimulates our nervous system which leads to improved alertness and focus. Saffron on the other hand, supports your natural circadian rhythm, your sleep and wake cycle.
As a result, it gives you an energetic lift when taken in the morning (with or without coffee), and helps winds you down when taken in the evening.
How Saffron Interacts with Caffeine?
Saffron contains 3 natural compounds: crocin, picrocrocin, and safranal. These 3 compounds have been studied more and more in recent years, and research has confirmed they lower depression and anxiety, and improve mood.
That’s because these compounds seem to quietly increase serotonin production, a neurotransmitter that affects mood, motivation and stress. We discussed this at length in our article "Will Saffron Make You Sleepy?" which we'll link here.
Caffeine on the other hand, works by blocking adenosine receptors which delays fatigue and makes you feel less tired. When paired with saffron, many notice a beautiful harmony: coffee stimulates and saffron reduces the jitters and calms anxiety many people experience on coffee.
That’s why saffron coffee not only tastes different, but feels different too!
Saffron Coffee Recipe Ideas
Once you try saffron in your coffee and maybe, just maybe fall in love with it, the possibilities become endless. I feel we couldn’t send you on your way without giving you a few delicious saffron coffee recipes you try, so here they are.
How Saffron Coffee Connects with Afghan Culture
In my home country of Afghanistan, saffron is deeply intertwined with daily life. It’s used in tea, milk, main courses, and desserts. For us, it represents hospitality to our guests, and is treated with care and without rushing. For example, blooming the saffron is often shared with our guests.
When you stir our saffron into your coffee, we’re now continuing our ancient culture with modern practices, and I believe that’s truly beautiful.
At Heray Spice, all our saffron is hand-harvested in Herat, Afghanistan with love and with care. It means a lot to us that we can share this delicious treat of nature all around the world and even see new traditions like this be born.
Final Thoughts
So, can saffron be added to coffee? Absolutely!! I would even go a little further and dare to say saffron belongs in coffee!
And when you brew your next saffron coffee, take a moment to admire that golden color, take in the aroma and sip slowly :)
Ready to Try Premium Afghan Saffron in Your Coffee?
A high-quality saffron is a must if you want to elevate your coffee.
Every batch of our Afghan Heray Saffron is certified Grade A, ethically sourced from farmers we work closely together with. And on top of that, we only sell from the last harvest to guarantee maximum purity and freshness.
Allow me to invite you to taste the difference.
