Eid morning doesn’t just mean getting up for prayer and celebrating the arrival of Ramadan’s end. It also means the excitement of being able to have a cup of morning coffee again.
During Ramadan, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset for thirty days before concluding the holy month with Eid, a celebration that typically lasts one to three days. On Eid, families gather in their new clothes as it is said to be Sunnah, one of the teachings of Prophet Muhammad, while they exchange gifts and have a feast. But aside from traditional Eid celebrations, a new custom has been on the rise: the morning coffee cup.
Because of the no-eating-or-drinking restriction, Muslims are forced to give up their morning cup of coffee during Ramadan. For young Muslims with a caffeine addiction, this isn’t a full-on sacrific. Many have found a cheat code in flooding late-night coffee shops after Taraweh, a voluntary nightly prayer during Ramadan, to get their caffeine rush even if it is at 10 PM.
Since social media has boosted this trend, many go-to coffee shops with Muslim owners are overpacked, and instead of enjoying the experience, it becomes a hassle to find a seat and wait in long lines for your drink.
Here is a solution to those long lines and overpacked Muslim coffee shops: supporting the Muslim pop-up cafes. Appearing at markets, community events and cultural gatherings throughout the city, pop-up cafes have become the easiest way to enjoy a drink without the hustling crowd. So instead of hitting up the same overpacked coffee shops in Los Angeles this Eid, consider this your hidden gem list of where to get the best drinks to sip and celebrate with. You may have to search for their location by looking at their Instagram, but it is totally worth it.
#1: Peregrines
Peregrines Coffee has built both a mobile presence and a permanent cafe, making it the only place on this list that you can reliably find year-round. They operate downtown inside the Bank of America at 333 S Hope St, Suite 3900, Los Angeles. The pop-up can also be rented for private events, bringing the cafe experience directly to you. Their menu blends classic cafe drinks with flavor inspired by Middle Eastern coffee traditions. Popular options include the Cardamom Latte, Pistachio Latte and Spanish Latte. They also offer add-ons to each drink, such as Tonka and clove. You can find more about what they offer here.
Our recommendation: Pistachio Latte
#2: Mufi Cafe
Alongside familiar options like vanilla, caramel and brown sugar lattes, Mufi offers more distinctive drinks such as the Gulab Juman Latte, which incorporates notes of rose and cardamom inspired by the beloved South Asian sweet. You can find Mufi Cafe’s rotating location here.
Our recommendation: Rasmalai Matcha
#3: Sukoon Cafe
Sukoon’s menu blends familiar cafe drinks rooted in Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern flavor profiles. Popular drinks include the House Latte, the Pandan Cloud and Pistachio Matcha. You can find Sukoon Cafe’s locations here.
Our recommendation: Karak Chai
