Coffee Farms of Addayer

Coffee Farms of Addayer

Saudi Arabia is flourishing with opportunities in specialty coffee and chocolate Experience a Country of two coffee cultures: Arabic and specialty Saudi Arabia is a country of two coffee cultures: Arabic and specialty. With one, you have highly ritualized and historic coffee traditions that welcome guests. With the other, you have have a growing appreciation for lighter roasts and third wave brewing methods – and even some specialty coffee production

The Middle East is experiencing huge growth in its coffee industry. Specialty coffee shop chains are thriving here, particularly in Dubai and Saudi Arabia. There is also a growing number of professional events, including the upcoming International Coffee and Chocolate Exhibition in Riyadh, which the organizers describe as the largest coffee and chocolate exhibition in the Middle East. With over 9,000 branded coffee outlets in 12 countries, the region has ample opportunity for investors and is providing a new market for global producers. But what do those coffee shops look like and what are the opportunities for growth? Let’s take a look at specialty coffee in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia has a fascinating history with coffee. The traditional coffee ritual here includes roasting beans in front of guests and the use of a dallah, a beautiful Arabic coffee pot. Today, the beans are more commonly roasted in the kitchen, but the hospitality custom is still a part of Arabic life. In recent years, Western-style coffee shops have opened across the Middle East. And with them, a different form of coffee consumption is developing. There is growing appreciation for lighter roasts and increasing use of third wave brewing methods. Khalid Bajere is a purchasing manager at Al Halees Group. He tells me that he has seen the coffee industry expand in Saudi Arabia in recent years. He tells me that “the young generation are typically the new coffee consumers for  blended coffee and coffee with additives like milk and flavored syrups. The old generation is loyal to the old style of coffee like Turkish coffee or espresso.”