The Finest Coffee Tasting Experience by Two Neighbors

I have been invited to multiple coffee tasting events, and like those, I expected the same at Two Neighbors this past weekend — somewhere along the lines of a coffee cupping or a bar side brewing experience. Boy, was I wrong?

This was single handedly the finest coffee experience I have had so far. Comparable to fine dining which is typically placed in an opulent setting, offering sophisticated and lavish dishes padding the atmosphere with mellifluous background music

Is it a frame or a window? Gone are those good old days of espresso machines designed for function not form. Ticking both the boxes, the Aremde’s design is beautiful no matter how many times you set your eyes on it.

Imagine being seated with other coffee enthusiasts in front of a coffee bar which is the statement piece of the cafe. Placed in front of you is an elegant setting of a neatly arranged tray with information of the coffee paired with a chocolate.

This, dear reader, was the finest three course coffee offering by three roasteries based in the UAE: Three Coffee, Archers Coffee and Cypher Urban Roastery. Each cup of coffee was paired with a single origin chocolate from Mirzam.

Prior to the coffee being served, the barista gave a short presentation on the coffee, informing us of the producer, facts about the farm, description of the terroir, processing method of the coffee and then proceeded to brew the coffee.

The coffee was then served to us, wherein we were given clear instructions to smell the aromas, and mindfully sip the coffee identifying the complex tasting notes. The chocolate pairing was brilliant, and the whole experience left us feeling wholesome.

This unique experience can only be crafted by none other than Raza Abbas, Hospitality Director of Two Neighbors, Black Salt and Peko. He has a knack for creating experiences for his customers that they can take home memories.

When I took a seat at this exclusive table and saw what the first round comprised of, I knew instantly that Raza was not kidding when he said we were going to taste some of the finest of the finest here.

Here’s a snapshot of the three courses and what you can also expect in future tasting events:

Round 1

Panama Geisha Janson Lot 855 roasted by Three Coffee, paired with Mirzam 72% Dark Chocolate Single Origin Madagascar.

The Janson Family Estates are one of the most sought after coffee farms and well recognized for producing some of the finest Panama has to offer — so good that they are placed exceptionally high in the Best of Panama competitions.

I have brewed this at home extensively but my drinking experience at Two Neighbors elevated to altitudes this coffee was grown at — a staggering 1,700 masl.

The growing conditions are fertile — fertile volcanic soil and a unique microclimate, resulting in a Geisha with beautiful notes of strawberry, chocolate, lychee, all enveloped in distinct white floral aromatics.

Paired with the Geisha is 72% Dark Chocolate originating from Madagascar. The chocolate itself was pleasant to smell with prominent notes of chocolate, caramel with citrus undertones. There was a layer of smokey note that was discussed but I was unable to identify, which apparently develops during the drying process.

Round 2

Colombia La Palma Y El Tucan Geisha - Lot 002 roasted by Archers Coffee paired with Mirzam 65% Dark Chocolate Single Origin Vietnam.

The coffee originates from a farm which also functions as an eco-tourism destination, established by founders Felipe Sardi and Elisa María Madriñan.

Their coffee has been used in national and world coffee competitions. The Geisha we tasted is processed using an anaerobic natural method to bring out a very floral and fruity tasting cup. The tasting notes were quite similar to the Panama in the first round, but it was the distinct aromatics of lychee that got to me.

Paired with the Geisha was a 65% Dark Chocolate originating from Vietnam. This is the epitome of “don’t judge a book by its cover.” Plain on the outside, a very complex treat on the inside; tantalizing our taste buds with berries, stone fruits and a sweet winey finish.

Round 3

Yemen Zuhur Haraaz - Nano Lot roasted by Cypher Urban Roastery paired with Mirzam 72% Dark Chocolate Single Origin Tanzania.

Coffees from Yemen are not only underrated but also underestimated. They also fetch some of the highest prices because of various factors I’ll expand in another article in the near future.

You’d think that Geishas are often considered delicate and complex. Coffee from Yemen are not far behind, tasting notes range from strawberries, stone fruits, raisins and floral notes. A treat for the experienced palate.

Paired with a 62% Dark Chocolate originating from Tanzania, this was low-key berrylicious.

What Two Neighbors have managed to do here is take you on a sensory experience with some of the finest coffees from three different origins offered by the best roasteries in the UAE. It was informative and interactive, the hosts were charming and gracious, and I cannot think of a better way for an introduction to the world of specialty coffee for someone who is not aware of the intricacies of the coffee industry or even for a coffee connoisseur who has a taste for exceptionally produced coffee.