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Coffee & The City - 5 of Dubai's Best Gourmet Coffee Houses
Creating the focal point of entertaining and ambience, coffee (known as “gahwa”) is a big thing in the UAE and one of the most important aspects of hospitality. A symbol of generosity, it is said that welcoming a guest to your home is incomplete without coffee, which should be prepared and served in front of them in an intricate, ancient set of rituals.
Coffee culture is a huge part of Dubai’s social scene with shops strewn across the city, catering to all palates and budgets. In this blog, we’ll take a look beyond the usual chain-names to explore some of the more boutique, home-grown gourmet coffee houses.
5 Best Coffee Houses in Dubai
| 1. Raw Coffee Company | 2. Nightjar |
| 3. Boon Coffee | 4. Coffee Planet |
| 5. Surge Coffee |
1. Raw Coffee Company
Raw is all about ethically sourced, quality and sustainable coffee. Their warehouse roastery is based in Al Quoz and you can visit to sample their beans and buy your chosen blend. Raw offers a subscription service, which can be purchased online for weekly, fortnightly or monthly deliveries. Choices are plentiful - you can select ‘Roasters choice’ or a specific product and have it ground to suit your brewing method.
They also have a cafe onsite which serves up breakfasts, pies and desserts alongside their handcrafted coffees. Founded in 2007, Raw has cemented itself as one of Dubai’s premier gourmet coffee producers. For more information, or just to chat, you can contact them on 04 339 5474.
2. Nightjar
”Keep it simple, make it good” is the philosophy behind Nightjar, whose flagship warehouse can be found in AlSerkal Avenue short drive to Umm Al Sheif. As well as individual units, they offer wholesale services which include equipment and staff training. Their roastery, open from 10:00 - 17:00 Saturday - Thursday, turns out seasonal blends made from carefully selected beans, grown by farmers in micro and nano-lots and with whom Nightjar has curated close relationships.
Of course, they also have a cafe on site, open 7 days a week from 10:00 - 21:00, serving up a delicious range of hearty food, alongside mocktails and (of course) their own coffees. If you can’t make it there in person, you can shop online and as well as coffee, equipment and accessories you can also purchase from their line of Nightjar merchandise. If you want to talk to them, you can call 050 365 1120.
3. Boon Coffee
Boon near Jumeirah Lake Towers was founded by Orit Mohammed, who hails from Harar - the birthplace of coffee trading. She started the company with a “passion for great coffee and a desire to share unique experiences with others”. Her company works closely with all their farming partners and in addition to ensuring fair compensation they also reinvest in communities, funding educational projects.
Closer to home, Boon offers wholesale coffees including custom blends, barista training and equipment maintenance. They also have 5 cafe locations across Dubai, promising “coffee nirvana”. Orit and her team have also partnered with Frying Pan Adventures, to bring Ethiopian coffee rituals to interested foodies across the city. Of course, you can shop online and have their fabulous range of beans delivered right to your door!
4. Coffee Planet
Coffee Planet near Jumierah lead by Robert Jones, which was launched in 2005 with the goal of providing “the finest global Arabica coffee, delivered perfectly every time”. He has developed the brand’s 360 solutions and is responsible for helping them become the UAE’s largest coffee roaster.
The brand started in fuel stations, when the company focus was improving “on the go” coffee options but now they have a far broader reach. Their roastery produces around 300 tonnes of coffee per month, alongside their capsules. All of their products are available online or in supermarkets - their online store also offers a selection of non-dairy milks, alkaline water, equipment and accessories.
5. Surge Coffee
Certainly the most boutique name on our list, Surge is an Emirati founded and run company, launched in 2016. Based in Al Quoz and short drive from the Dubai Hills Estate community, they of course have an in-house roastery and eatery but they also offer a full spectrum of coffee-based consultation services for machines, commercial spaces, refurbishments and training.
They also have a schedule of classes and courses from introduction to coffee knowledge, to latte art and coffee roasting. Their website doesn’t have too much information but their social media is as slick as you would expect, giving a tantalizing glance at what awaits you when you visit. Call them on 058 953 5337.
We hope that this list has inspired you to try a new coffee spot in the city. Of course, if you’re looking for a new home where you can welcome guests (with or without coffee) please contact our Private Client Advisors today, for the very best sale and rental options in Dubai.