dallah

A dallah is a traditional Arabic coffee pot used for brewing and serving coffee, especially in the Arabian Peninsula and Gulf states. The pot's most recognizable form has a bulbous lower body, a long curved spout, a high domed lid, and a looping handle opposite the spout. The spout's length and shape are designed to pour in a smooth stream and minimize spills. Materials range from brass and copper to silver or plated metal, and craftsmen often decorate dallahs with engravings, niello, or calligraphic motifs.

Dallahs are closely associated with gahwa, the lightly spiced Arabic coffee poured in small cups during social visits and ceremonies. The coffee is commonly prepared with green beans, roasted lightly and flavored with cardamom, and sometimes saffron. In Gulf hospitality, the host presents visitors with coffee poured from the dallah into tiny finjan cups, a ritual that signals generosity and welcome.

Today, dallahs continue to symbolize hospitality; while many are collectible antiques, contemporary versions are used in daily service and ceremonial occasions. They appear in museums, hotels, and private collections, and are produced in various sizes and designs, from traditional hand-hammered metal to modern stainless steel.