Tag: dubai coffee shops

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I was at WATCH House, Dubai

I’ve had many coffee experiences in 2025, some old and some new and often I wonder and perhaps I pray that one of my faves will open up in the city I live in and so my prayers were answered when I read in Coffee News that Watchhouse, London premier specialty coffee chain was opening in Dubai. Best of all, it wasn’t one of those bulletins that tells you it’ll happen in 2 years’ time, but rather in a matter of weeks and that’s what happened in November 2025. Yay!


 
Located in a glorified pop-up district called Marsa Boulevard, which opens from 4pm-12pm, next to Dubai Festival City Mall, occupied by many local coffee and cake brands and a very few global brands is Watch house.

 You’ll be glad to know that I went twice in the space of 4 days.

On my first visit I wasn’t surprised to see a long queue as I’m sure that many of the Emiratis that were queuing are quite familiar with this brand in central London. 
 
I waited patiently with my daughter and as it was nighttime, I ordered a batch brew. There wasn’t much space to sit because it was too crowded, but we found two seats in front of their brew bar, dotted with lots of V60 brewers.


I found out later from one of the barista that they pre-dose and pack their filter coffees and place them in a freezer and just take them out and start brewing once an order is placed. As we sat down waiting for my coffee, I noticed an AeroPress champion trophy and asked, “who won this?” as I had been a judge at the UAE AeroPress championship two days back and was introduced the guy who came third. 


 
He kindly offered us any coffee we wanted on the house and my daughter went for the matcha … (I was thinking, coffee… but you know trends and GenZ… sigh). In any case I thought, okay a flat white, so that I could sample their milk-based rinks.
 


I don’t know what they put in this, but it was definitely one of my favourite flat whites of the year… why? Well, I asked the manager and he mentioned the milk they used, and I thought that’s the difference, because their espresso blend, 1829 Espresso, is the same they serve in London.
 
The batch brew was nice too, with hints of dark fruit but then I noticed he gave me the Ethiopian instead of the El Salvador (I think) I ordered.


 
A few days later I met a friend for lunch at the same mall and when we finished IO realised that it was 3:30pm…. 30 minutes until Watchhouse opens. So, I strolled around and got there at 4pm prompt…. I was their first customer. I walked around, took a few shots. I was tempted to go all out and get a cake slice… who wouldn’t.


 
However, one of the staff suggested that a chocolate tart (last pic) will go best with my flat white, so I succumbed. My flat white was beautifully poured by one of their main baristi, hailing from Cameroon. (oops I forgot this name). 


I met the head barista from Zimbabwe and he schooled me on their philosophy and I mentioned that I’ve known the brand for years and it’s my go to in London.


Another delicious experience.
 
I can’t wait to go back and try one of these with my wife….
 
Perhaps the mini-Basque cheesecake. 

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The Best Smelling Cortado I ever had

As soon as Ramadhan finished in May 2022, I rushed to meet a friend at one of my fave cafes in Dubai, Qahwaty at the Dubai International Financial Centre (known as DIFC), which hosts as many international companies you can think off. As I waited for a friend, the head barista , Dhani, hailing from Indonesia asked me what I thought about my cortado and I replied that it was fine. Unimpressed with my answer, I think, he then asked me what I love to taste in espresso based coffee with milk and I said… “well balanced, low-to-medium acidity, not too much fruit, hints of nuts and spices like vanilla (actually like my blend) and then he said, “okay I’m going to prepare something for you”

As I waited and sipped my cortado, he presented this…

Upon raising the cup to my mouth, I was hit by the smell of tropical fruits like mango and banana (now, these are one of my five favourite fruits – the rest are pineapple, strawberries and pear, in case you were wondering). Okay I digress.

BUT did you know that 80% of our taste buds come from our sense of smell ? If you don’t believe me, just google it here. It’s what I also learnt when I did the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) Sensory Skills course in June last year.

So, you can imagine the anticipation of my taste buds when I smelt this tropical nirvana. As I tasted the coffee, I detected hints of pineapple acidity and although the coffee smelt like a topical paradise, the taste was a lot more subdued – I can’t imagine a banana, mango coffee milkshake with hot milk….

BUT I was not disappointed, as I rejected my earlier cortado in favour of this myriad of flavours in a cup. Wow, wow, wow – said thrice for excitement.

Of course I questioned Dhani about what he did as he was delighted with my response. In short he created a blend of coffee on the spot using Colombian coffee and Brazil from two different roasters based in Dubai.

Wow!

I just thank God for this experience which I won’t forget for the rest of my life.

Indeed the best smelling milk based espresso drink I have ever had. Here it is one more time

If you are ever in the DIFC area, look out for them – a small coffee shop located outside the gate village, first floor, in front off the Ritz Carlton, opposite Wild and Moon and not too far from ICD Brookfield.