I meet people for a living—mostly networking and building connections. While many find it fun, it can be draining. By day's end, my social energy is often depleted, turning extroversion into introversion. This cycle repeats, though some days are better than others.

Today, I was reminded to reconnect with old friends who were once close. A study, "People are surprisingly hesitant to reach out to old friends," resonated with me. The more time that passes, the more distant friends can feel. However, reconnecting with them can help restore that social energy.

I find it easier to start my newsletters with a non-coffee topic—something that's been on my mind. This time, I'll begin with a recap of events I enjoyed attending over the past two weeks.

Coffee Meets Cheese: an Unexpected Pairing

Who knew coffee and cheese could be paired together? 🤯

Palette by Roasteria hosted an event showcasing the magic of pairing coffee with cheese. Let me tell you first hand that it was unexpected and something out of the ordinary.

These were my favorite pairings:

A bold Brazilian met its match with Petit Basque complimenting and adding almond and buttery notes in the mix.

The funky favorite — Indonesia paired beautifully with Gruyère and Roquefort boosting fermented flavors and enhancing complexity making funky coffees more approachable.

Palette is redefining coffee experiences with these bold pairings, and I’m all for it. There’s another event taking place in two weeks time. More details below under Events.

A Journey Through Kranti’s Coffee

True to their word, a month later, Kranti Coffee hosted their second cupping event, this time at the stunning Ferment Artistry Cafe. The session was perfectly timed, coinciding with Sonam’s recent win at the UAE Aeropress Championship.

The agenda remained consistent—an exploration of exceptional coffees, highlighting their nuanced tastes and aromas.

Their unique selling point was featuring a selection of specialty coffees from India, alongside origins from Vietnam and Myanmar.

Two aspects of this event really stood out to me. First, the experience of tasting one of these coffees both as an espresso and in a milk-based drink was astonishing—it was hard to believe it originated from India.

Second, it was refreshing to see a few dedicated coffee enthusiasts actively participating in the event. Meeting new people and hearing their perspectives added a fresh dimension to the experience.

As I mentioned before, Kranti is set on redefining the way cupping events are done by adding creative twists, like allowing attendees to brand their own tote bags and sign them off with their names. I’d say they’re definitely on the right track. What do you think?

Mastering Ibrik

It’s not every day that you get the opportunity to watch Mariam Erin, the UAE Cezve/Ibrik Champion in action and learn the art of brewing Ibrik coffee firsthand.

A big shoutout to Brewing Gadgets for organizing such an exceptional session. Mariam took us on a journey from the rich history of Ibrik to the unique qualities that set it apart.

The highlight, though, was her signature drink—the very one she presented on stage. This drink, a tribute to her mother who wasn’t a coffee fan, was crafted to not only make coffee more approachable for her but also ended up making us fall in love with this brewing device.

The Coffeevine September Box

Another month, another stellar release from The Coffeevine. Every month, some of the from around the world make their way to Dubai, thanks to The Coffeevine.

For the month of September and featured in the European Coffee Roasters, Miga Coffee Roasters and Dalston Coffee Roasters are the new kids on the block along with a familiar name, Coffee Collective.

Featured in Global roasters is Wyndhams Coffee, a small family roastery from Barbados, and Bloom Coffee from Marrakesh, bringing specialty coffee to Morocco.

The Coffeevine started featuring decaf coffee not too long ago. A super nice sugarcane processed Colombian coffee roasted by the well-known Uncommon, roaster based in Amsterdam, is featured in this box.

The order form closes on the 9th of September.

We have also set up a group on Instagram to communicate with the members directly when a new edition is launched and coffee has been delivered. Feel free to join here.

Cafe Visit

Redefining the Coffee Experience

The name of a coffee shop is crucial—it’s the first impression that shapes a consumer’s experience. After that, other elements come into play, like social media presence, aesthetics, the personalities of the baristas, and of course, the coffee menu.

Benchmark has set a standard in my mind that surpasses anything I could have imagined. The buzz in the community suggested that this concept, developed by the Archers’ team, would be unlike anything experienced in the UAE, and it truly is. I can, and I will, vouch for it.

An individual’s imagination is limitless, but it can only stretch as far as their surroundings have nurtured it.

BKRY has raised the bar — it’s something you have to experience to believe. And then entered Benchmark — what I’ve experienced in a single night has set the benchmark far above anything I’ve encountered in specialty coffee.

From the Benchmark blend in a flat white to the various non-coffee drinks I’ve enjoyed, my understanding of what an experience can be has fundamentally changed.

Perhaps this is what sets this team apart—they constantly create buzz, break barriers, and are seen as innovators. It all starts with a deep desire to push boundaries. Check out pictures of the space below:

The Outlier

It’s rare to meet someone who inspires you right from the start. When I first met Rashed, I told him he reminded me of Patrik Rolf in his early days, except Rashed began roasting at home. Fast forward to today, and he’s roasting alongside his team at the newly opened Station, with two successful locations now in Abu Dhabi.

What amazes me isn’t just his relentless pursuit of the next mind-blowing coffee—like Geisha Flowers, Baby Banana, Cotton Candy, and Sidra (Grapes), not to mention the top-secret beans he has in store. It’s not just the constant innovation in packaging or website design that’s reshaping the coffee experience. And it’s not even the fact that I have LMTD bookmarked as one of the few sources of inspiration for my own content. There are countless reasons why I could spend hours soaking up ideas and concepts from Rashed and his team.

I’m grateful to be in the UAE, surrounded by gems like this, and to witness it all firsthand. As I’ve said before, I’m genuinely excited about this concept and eager to see how they continue to push boundaries and reinvent themselves as true outliers in the local coffee scene.

Events

Farewell Summer Cupping | South Coffee & Roastery

The promise of a unique cupping experience from South Coffee & Roastery, one of the leading roasteries in Sharjah. This is an apt title for an event and I am expecting to cup some really good coffees in this one.

I was told that there are limited spots, I would register now if I were you.

🗓️ Date: Saturday, September 7

⏰ Time: 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM

📍 Venue: South Coffee & Roastery

Cheese and Coffee Pairing | Palette by Roasteria

Discover the delightful pairing of specialty coffee and carefully selected fine cheese, each chosen to complement and elevate the other.

Ideal for both enthusiasts and newcomers, taste the unexpected in this unusual pairing.

🗓️ Date: Saturday, September 14th 2024

⏰ Time: 2 PM - 4 PM

💵 Price: AED 150/person

📍 Venue: Palette by Roasteria

As always, thank you for reading if you have reached this far and if you haven’t subscribed to my newsletter, do sign up. It encourages me to write more and create more content. I’ll see you in the next one.