Sharing my coffee experiences on The Blog
UAE AeroPress Championship: Your Guide to Competing
AeroPress season is here. Whether you're brewing your first cup or getting ready for the national championship on November 12, this is your guide to brewing like the people who've won it.
Serkan Oral on coffee, art and slowing down in Dubai
Serkan Oral can’t look at a cup of coffee or a painting without asking what it went through to get to him. We sat down with him to talk Turkish coffee, single origin and Dubai.
The Most Thorough Matcha Class I've Sat Through (And Why You Should Book Mark Mwangi)
I've sat through a lot of coffee cuppings, but Mark Mwangi's matcha masterclass reset everything I thought I knew. From the real history of tencha to a sensory scorecard built the way the SCA cupping form is, here's what stuck.
The Scale That Made Me Care About Scales: BOOKOO Themis Ultra Review
I never thought much about my scale until the BOOKOO Themis Ultra changed that. IP67 waterproof, live flow tracking, and an app that logs every brew, here is why it is staying under my dripper for good.
Heritage in a Bowl: Meet the Medina Affogato
There's no single recipe for qahwa. It changes from house to house, region to region That tradition is exactly what's behind the Medina Affogato, hot spiced Arabic coffee poured table side over frozen black sesame and vanilla gelato, launching the 9th of September at Medina Coffee in Dubai.
Slurp & Socialize: The Recap
More than 80 coffees. Nearly 300 people. Roasteries from seven countries in one room. Here's what happened at Slurp & Socialize, and why the numbers were never really the point.
Coffee Isn't Just Waking You Up, It's Looking After You Too
I don’t think twice about how much coffee I drink. But almost everyone around me has a story about coffee turning on them at some point. Turns out most of what we’ve been taught to fear about it doesn’t hold up. Here’s what’s actually in your cup, why it might be one of the better things you do for your heart, and why the safe caffeine limit is a lot higher than most people think.
Coffee Break Vol. 2: Dubai’s Next Chapter, Told Over Coffee
At Coffee Break Vol. 2, the conversation moved beyond the industry and into the city itself. Vol. 1 was about the industry. Vol. 2 was about the city. Who is building Dubai's next chapter, what it is costing them, and why the community that showed up during a difficult period is the most important story being told right now.
Coffee Break Vol. 1: The Most Honest Coffee Conversation I Have Sat In
Green coffee prices are at record highs, shipping costs are climbing, and consumer behavior has shifted. At Coffee Break Vol. 1 in Dubai, the people navigating all of this sat in a room and talked honestly about where the industry is heading and what to do about it.
What I’m Brewing — Apr & May
From one Eid to another, a lot of good coffee has passed through my bar. Here's everything I've been brewing lately, from a Kenya that had the whole UAE talking to a roastery from India that quite literally shouts at you.
Two Events This Week That Are Worth Your Time
Two events. Two very different sides of coffee. Mokha 1450 brings together some of the most experienced voices in the industry for an honest conversation about where things are heading. Two days later, they invite you to slow down and experience what makes coffee worth fighting for in the first place. This week in Dubai is worth showing up for.
The Program Built to Give Coffee Talent a Real Shot
Youth Academy Middle East just completed its first edition. Six scholarships, world class trainers, and a generation of coffee talent ready to make their mark in the Middle East.
What I’m Brewing — Feb & Mar
From Azura's top 100 recognition to Apollon's Gold out of Tokyo, The Chronicle's debut releases and Subko's Project Pearl from Ratnagiri Estate, here's what's been on my home bar through February and March and why every single one earned its place.
How to Tell If Your Matcha Is Actually Ceremonial-Grade (And Why Most Isn't)
Not all matcha is ceremonial-grade and the difference matters more than most café owners realize. After a matcha training session with Aiya Matcha at Mokha 1450, here's a practical guide to identifying authentic ceremonial-grade matcha, understanding the supply chain, and sourcing it right for your business.
Coffee Omakase: A Front Row Seat to the Craft
What happens when you stop choosing your coffee and leave it entirely to the barista? Over the past two years, I experienced four different coffee omakase sessions in Dubai, from brewing on the Binocular with Mariam Erin to pastry pairings by Grandmother Coffee Roastery and two remarkable tastings at Benchmark Coffee. Each one revealed a different side of coffee.