Sharing my coffee experiences on The Blog
From Darjeeling to Dubai: Sonam Sherpa's Coffee Story
Sonam is a man of many talents. While coffee brewing might come to mind first, his true strength lies in his unwavering dedication and relentless pursuit of perfection. It was a genuine pleasure to feature him on The Coffee Story, an interview series that highlights people in our vibrant coffee community, sharing their stories to inspire others.
A Recap of the Aiya Matcha Masterclass
Matcha has been all the rage lately, and for good reason! Coffee enthusiasts were invited to learn about the artistry of matcha and discover its rich history, benefits, and true flavor. The attendees learned how to make ceremonial-grade matcha and much more thanks to Aiya, Victoria Arduino and Alpro.
Don’t like the taste of Matcha? Read this!
Just like coffee, my first experience with matcha wasn’t great. It tasted bitter, earthy, and had a strange fish-like smell. Milk helped mask these flavors to a certain degree, but I couldn’t quite understand why matcha beverages were becoming so popular.
And then recently, my perception changed when I discovered a matcha brand that made me realize I haven’t tasted the right grade matcha all along. Discovering the right ceremonial-grade matcha is like entering another rabbit hole, similar to my journey in specialty coffee.
The Coffee Collective #07: International Coffee Day
Today, coffee is more than just a daily pick-me-up; it’s a chance to reflect on the challenges faced by coffee growers around the world.
With rising prices and decreasing supply, the coffee crisis is real. As we enjoy our cups, let’s remember the journey from bean to brew and support those who make it possible.
Here’s to appreciating coffee, not just for its flavor, but for the hands that bring it to life.
The Coffee Collective #06: Recharging Social Energy
Reconnecting with old friends helps recharge social energy. Reflecting on recent events, I’m reminded of the importance of staying connected. In this week’s newsletter, I cover a very unexpected pairing with coffee, visit to a cafe that has redefined coffee for me, a cupping event that bids farewell to the summer and many more.
The Coffee Collective #05: Prioritizing health and self-care
I am truly moved by so many of you asking about my next newsletter. It warms my heart to know that you are reading it and for that I am grateful. In this week’s newsletter, I cover a beautiful cafe in Sharjah called Sabaku, the UAE Aeropress Championship, upcoming events such as the Esmeralda Auction Cupping in collaboration with M-Cultivo and Victoria Arduino taking place today and much more.
The Coffee Collective #04: Reading can damage your ignorance
After my little rant in the previous newsletter about not reading, I took it upon myself to read every moment I got, every free time I had, especially every time I pulled out my phone to browse social media. In this week’s newsletter, I cover my Substack recommendations, Below Zero Beans by Blacksmith, the ultimate coffee + pastry pairing experience in Dubai, Exploring Flavor Wheel Workshop with Irina Sharipova and much more.
A Flavorful Symphony: Dubai based Roastery Perfects the Ultimate Coffee Pairing Experience
An experience I didn’t realize was needed. A bite of the pastry, a sip of the coffee, there’s no harmony between the two. This is why food pairing is important. This is where Blacksmith Coffee Roastery comes in and answers the problem I didn’t know needed solving. Three pairings — each coffee brewed differently and paired with a dessert that does not overshadow each other.
The Coffee Collective #03: The Ethiopian Coffee Crisis
A much needed Eid break is getting over today. I’ve been catching up on sleep and spending more time with my family, two areas where I’ve been lacking lately. In this week’s newsletter, I cover Map It Forward’s five-part series on A Crisis in Ethiopia, the ROR Puerto Rican Cupping event, the Art of Arabic Coffee and much more.
The Coffee Collective #02: it has been a busy week
It has been a busy week. Event after event in peak summer. In this week’s newsletter, I cover th upcoming Puerto Rico Cupping in collaboration with ROR Coffee Solutions, the grand opening of bkry, the success of Harvesting Sustainability, the Hadsel Coffee Cupping at Grandmother Coffee Roastery and the Papermill Coffee I have been brewing from The Coffeevine May Box.
The Coffee Collective #01: A Colombian Coffee Month
Welcome to the first of many newsletters to come. In this newsletter, we cover the events Harvesting Sustainability, Hadsel Cupping at Grandmother Coffee Roastery, the best representative of specialty coffee, World MS Day and What I’ve been brewing.
Mastering the French Press: 5 Tips from a Coffee Specialist
The cafetiere, also known as a French press, offers a time-honoured way to brew rich and delicious cups of coffee. While seemingly simple, this brewing method has several nuances that, when perfected, yield an exceptional result. The experts at Howden Coffee share five tips for brewing a masterpiece in your French press.
Building a directory of the most aesthetic cafes in the world
Andrew Chung is an architect, photographer, website designer, coffee drinker and founder of Best Cafe Designs. His site charts the growth of global cafe culture and collaborates with over 40 architects, photographers and writers. In this interview, we find out about how the idea of Best Cafe Designs was conceived, the cafes he features, design trends, website design, and his top cafe picks.
Hosting my First Event: Slurp and Socialize
Have you heard? We are hosting the coffee community to Slurp and Socialize, a coffee cupping and networking event on the 23rd of April at the Victoria Arduino Experience Lab in Dubai. We are bringing coffees from some of the finest roasteries around the world and the UAE.
Making a Difference at Origin with ROR Roastery
International Women’s Day at ROR was nothing short of inspirational as they announced their partnership with Esther Mukangango, a Rwandan women farmer representing the Nyampinga Cooperative. Esther shares her story on how women-led farms are making waves in Rwanda and through her coffee we got a glimpse of the cooperative’s sheer will and determination to rise from poverty and create a better life for themselves and their families.