Foreign brands edge out Arabic coffee

ABU DHABI — Most UAE national connoisseurs admit that the Arabic coffee is nowadays losing its market to coffee from the US and other parts of the world, which are being served in a new and attractive fashion.


Most of a cross-section of nationals in various age groups who spoke to Khaleej Times blamed the creamy and flavoured coffee, which is now becoming the ‘dernier cri’ (prevailing custom or preference) of a lot of people, thanks to the lack of outlets that serve the traditional Arabic coffee in a pleasant, quiet and comfortable ambience.

Made from freshly-roasted and ground beans, the beverage containing cardamom and always presented with dates, no more matches the exact degree of the individual preferences, they said.

Those spoken to also agreed that most of the existing coffee shops that serve Arabic coffee, are polluted with hubble-bubble (shisha), are noisy and have limited menus.

“I am always looking for something new and have a different taste. The Arabic coffee is fantastic and part of our deep-rooted tradition, but it should get some sort of innovation to it. There are no coffee shops or cafes that serve Arabic coffee with cream or different flavours, for example. That is why I often prefer to have coffee with a different taste like espresso,” said F. Al Dhairi, a 31-year-old national, who was enjoying a cold creamy coffee at a restaurant.

He said if there was a place that serves Arabic coffee with a different ‘style’, variety of tastes and aromas, he would frequent it regularly.

Mohammed Naif, a 27-year-old national, believes outlets that serve American and Turkish coffee, have alluring designs including the furniture, the privacy they provide and above all the wide range of flavours they serve.

“I really go to such places because they provide me with the privacy I need and the varied tastes of coffee that I am hooked to,” said Naif.

Abdullah Hussein, a 55-year-old, thinks absence of venues that serve the Arabic coffee in a way that could attract the youth, is the main reason for young men to opt for other cafes.

“If cafes that serve the beverage in a nice and modern style are existing while no places are dedicated to serve Arabic coffee in a traditional yet attractive way, naturally young men will be tempted to try what is new and always changing,” said Hussein.

M.A, a 20-year-old, however, had a different opinion. “Many young people consider Arabic coffee as an old tradition. Something unique to our ancestors. Famous coffee shops have become dominant because, according to some people, they are part of modernity.”

On why traditional Arabic coffee is not included in the menu of brand coffee shops here, one of the managers of ‘Starbucks’ outlets in the capital opined: “This is an American franchise with a set menu that doesn’t include traditional Arabic coffee. However, if there was a demand of this type of coffee we could propose to the owner of the franchise in the Middle East to add it to the menu,” said the manager who declined to be named.

“During last Ramadan, for example, we introduced ‘date frapuccino’ sauce because during the holy month there was a demand of dates,” he added.

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