Author: Qahwa World

Who is Minran Mohamed? Tell us a little bit about yourself

My name is Mohamed Minran and l’m from the city of Colombo in Sri Lanka. I am ambitious and driven, I thrive in challenging and environments constantly set new goals for myself.

At a young age, I had to stop my education as I needed to work in order to support my family. l have previously worked in data entry for a private company, as a part-time employee at a pharmacy, as well as in the customs department in Sri Lanka

By working in the Sri Lankan customs department, I developed and improved myself by taking on bigger roles as well as more responsibilities. I prefer to have something to strive towards as I am not comfortable with settling and enjoy opportunities for self-improvement in order to achieve a level of personal fulfilment and success.

When and how did your journey with coffee begin?

I was introduced to the coffee industry much later in life. Five years ago, I moved to Dubai and started work as a waiter and my job allowed me to learn about espresso machines and prepare coffee Although the company, I was working with did not specialize in coffee, I found myself becoming more curious about coffee. Two years later, I began my Specialty Coffee journey through my employment with Mokha 1450.

Although I had no previous knowledge about specialty coffee, Mokha 1450 provided all the necessary training, and I gradually learnt how truly special and diverse coffee is.  I learnt where and how it is grown, the ypes of processing. roasting profiles, and how much each step in the process adds to the value of the final cup profile both in terms of flavor and pricing. Much like wine. People have refined and different tastes when it comes to how they prefer their coffee.

What do you find most interesting about the Specialty coffee industry in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)?

In the UAE, specialty coffee has grown fairly fast and it is a very competitive market. Today UAE is the most developed coffee market in the Middle East and one of the leading coffee destinations in the

world. The diversity and high levels of coffee offerings here are quite unique aswell as the fact that Mokha 1450 pioneered the concept of offering every brewing method possible which has been widely adopted throughout the industry here.

What is your favorite coffee origin and why?

My favorite coffee origin is Guatemalan Asobagri. The reason for my choice is that this coffee has the right balance, body, sweetness and the roast profile we use for this coffee is such that it is exceptional both brewed as well as an espresso without highlighting any harshness. The producers of this coffee are also very unique and special.

What would you say is your unique approach when it comes to brewing coffee?

I believe brewing coffee is a complex process with a lot of variables involved. It can be overwhelming to keep track of every minute detail and my unique approach that of being mindful and paying attention to and finding enjoyment in all the small details.

What was your experience like competing in the Mokha 1450 Barista Craft Coffee Competition?

It was a great experience as each barista brought their own ideas to the table. There was a lot of interaction amongst baristas that became not only a learning experience, but great baristas fun that allowed each barista personality to come through.

What was your unique theory on curating a coffee that is perfectly matched to flavor profile preferences of people living in the UAE?

Coffee is a universal language. It makes people feel comfortable, especially in a country like the UAE where coffee is a part of of the national identity. People in the UAE like a more romantic and flavorful cup and, in my experience, usually prefer low acidity. With notes of chocolate and fruits However, it is complicated to have one theory on flavor profile and preference as we often get a varity of preferences.

What is your advice on becoming a professional barista?

I suggest attending coffee festivals, shops,exploring different coffe reading about coffee and following notable coffee connoisseurs on social media. Learning is essential and leads to more informed exploration.

Experimenting with different brewing methods, coffee roasting and flavor profile to develop your palate and broaden your knowledge base. I believe that engaging with your customers and sharing the knowledge on the nuance of different coffee varieties, and making their coffee experience memorable is a valuable trait barista. Once you grow as a professional barista, you could even

challenge yourself by creating a signature drink that showcases your unique style and creativity which could make you stand out in the industry.

What is the coffee that you prefer to drink every day, origin, preparation method flavor profile and why?

Personally, I prefer brewing the Guatemalan coffee using a V-60. Which will give you a very balanced cup with coffee that keeps me sweet notes, invigorated all day.

ELLE Café, a captivating new hospitality venture launched in collaboration between ELLE magazine and renowned design consultancy Whitney Robinson International, has marked its grand entrance into Saudi Arabia with the unveiling of its inaugural boutique store.

Nestled within the fashionable Via Riyadh shopping center, Café ELLE materializes as the maiden endeavor arising from the partnership between the esteemed French fashion publication and Whitney Robinson, former Editor-in-Chief of Elle Décor. Robinson, who holds the exclusive license for the boutique café brand through his design consultancy, previously collaborated with prominent US fashion house Ralph Lauren to introduce Ralph’s Coffee to the Middle East. According to Robinson, there has been an overwhelming surge of interest in Western brands within Saudi Arabia in recent times.

The enticing menu at Café ELLE presents a delightful array of espresso-based beverages, alongside an exclusive “specialty” range that showcases indulgent matcha, beetroot, and rose-infused lattes and cappuccinos. Additionally, patrons can relish a diverse selection of breakfast delights, freshly baked pastries, and innovative cocktail options. Notably, Via Riyadh is also home to renowned establishments such as LA-based café chain Joan’s on Third, French café and restaurant brand Les Deux Magots, and UK-based specialty coffee chain Over Under.

Reflecting on his ambitions while serving as Editor-in-Chief of ELLE Décor, Robinson expressed his long-standing dream of creating cafés and hotels under the esteemed ELLE Magazine brand. These would be spaces that empower interior designers, fashion designers, chefs, and artists, embodying the same spirit of discovery that has defined ELLE Magazine since its inception in 1945. Over the past three years, Robinson has been able to transform this dream into reality. He takes immense pride in introducing Café ELLE as the pioneer of a novel universe of fashion-inspired restaurants and co-working spaces that embrace a local approach, drawing inspiration for recipes, ingredients, uniforms, and decor from the cities they reside in while embracing a global mindset that taps into the editorial essence of ELLE’s expansive network spanning 80 editions in 80 countries.

Whitney Robinson International and ELLE Magazine are poised for further expansion, with plans to venture into premium café and hotel projects across the Middle East and the Americas. The second Café ELLE is set to grace the vibrant cityscape of Doha, Qatar, although no specific timeline has been divulged thus far.

The branded coffee shop market in Saudi Arabia has witnessed remarkable growth, bolstered by one of the world’s most rapidly developing economies. Research conducted by the World Coffee Portal reveals that the country’s market for branded coffee shops expanded by an impressive 18.5% last year, exceeding a staggering count of 3,550 outlets. This makes it the largest market of its kind within the Middle East.

The escalating demand for boutique coffee shops within the region is evident, as 63% of industry leaders surveyed in Saudi Arabia and the UAE regarded the growth of specialty coffee as the foremost consumer trend influencing the coffee shop market in the MENA region. Additionally, 24% of those surveyed recognized coffee connoisseurship as a key consumer trend.

Beyond Saudi Arabia, ELLE also operates four coffee shops under a separate ELLE Café brand, captivating the palates of discerning customers in Thailand, Japan, and Taiwan.

Black coffee is simply coffee that is prepared naturally without any additives such as sugar, milk, cream, or added flavors. Although it has a slightly bitter taste compared to flavoured coffee, many people enjoy a cup of strong black coffee. For some, it is part of their daily diet.

Nutritional Value of Black Coffee

If you’re looking for a low-calorie, low-fat, and low-carbohydrate beverage, black coffee is the way to go. Simply put, coffee is only a problem if you regularly drink it with milk, sugar, cream, etc. With these additions, even a cup of coffee can contain as many calories as a large slice of cake.

Typically, an 8-ounce cup of black coffee contains: Fat – 0% Cholesterol – 0% Sodium – 0% Carbohydrates – 0% Sugar – 0% Potassium – 4%

Black coffee has low nutritional value except for a small amount of potassium. It doesn’t add many calories.

So, in simple terms, black coffee is very low in calories, making it an ideal beverage for those looking for a regular drink that won’t harm their health.

If you want to get more nutrition from coffee, you can choose different types of coffee beverages, such as latte, mocha, cappuccino, etc.

Black coffee contains chlorogenic acid, which helps slow down the production of glucose in the body. This means that if you drink black coffee after a meal, your body will produce less glucose and fat cells. Black coffee also contains antioxidants that aid in weight loss.

Side Effects of Black Coffee

Excessive consumption of black coffee can lead to side effects:

Drinking too much black coffee can release high levels of stress hormones in the body, which can only lead to anxiety and tension. It’s easy to feel jittery after consuming large amounts of caffeine.

Drinking too much coffee can seriously disrupt your sleep patterns. If you’re trying to get a good night’s sleep, it’s advisable to avoid coffee a few hours before bedtime.

Black coffee contains a high amount of caffeine and acid, so excessive consumption can lead to stomach acidity. You’re likely to experience stomach cramps and spasms.

Consuming excessive amounts of coffee in the body can make it difficult for the body to absorb minerals such as iron, calcium, and zinc from your daily diet.

As part of its commitment to building a better world, the Italian coffee company is revealing the secrets of the coffee bean this summer, to allow coffee lovers in the UAE to immerse themselves in an unparalleled world of freshness, intense flavor and experience.

Lavazza, the world-famous Italian coffee company, has revealed a set of tips for coffee drinkers to help them master its preparation in a way that gives more happiness and enjoys its aroma and taste. Everyone can discover the unique quality of the coffee beans and embark on a sensory journey that goes beyond the immediate taste. This means paying attention to details with the utmost care and focus, an approach that perfectly aligns with coffee lovers who love to immerse themselves in the rituals of its unique preparation.

Drawing on more than a hundred years of experience in making coffee, Lavazza experts have shared some inside tips that make their fans true experts in their preparation, and for a sensory experience that turns coffee into a true ritual.

Tip 1 – Prioritize freshness and aroma
Coffee is a delicate substance, when exposed to external substances (such as oxygen for example), its properties can be affected, and even altered.

Whole bean coffee gives a superior result in terms of aroma and freshness. The grinding process of the beans pulls out all the compounds that give coffee its delicious taste and aroma, for an immersive experience that conquers all the senses even before the first sip. If you grind your coffee right before brewing it will be one of the freshest cups of coffee you will ever make.

Tip 2 – Pay attention to the grinding method
To get an excellent result in a cup of coffee, the exact grind method must be selected based on the extraction system chosen, and the grind result will vary according to the amount of pressure used in each method.

In order we have the following:
• Very fine grind ideal for preparing Turkish coffee  Extraction does not include filtering.
• Fine grind ideal for preparing espresso  extraction at approximately 9 bar pressure, finally fine-tuned for perfect extraction in approximately 25/30 inch cup.
• Medium/Fine grind ideal for mocha pot preparation  Extraction at approximately 1 bar pressure.
• Medium/Coarse grind ideal for brewing filter coffee  extraction under ambient pressure.

Tip 3 – Storage is key
Once the package is opened, Lavazza experts recommend storing the coffee in an airtight container, in a cool, dry place away from sources of light and heat. These precautions will help keep your coffee beans fresh for a longer period.

Tip 4 – Make it a coffee ritual
Some people may prefer convenient ground coffee for faster and easier coffee making at home. But grinding the coffee beans gives it a completely different taste, producing not only a richer and more crunchy flavour, but the same method naturally imparts positive vibes to your morning, turning your daily coffee habit into a ritual that enhances the rest of the day, not only with caffeine, but also with focus. and happiness.

About the Lavazza Group
Founded in Turin, Italy, in 1895, Lavazza has been owned by the Lavazza family for four generations. Today, the group is one of the leaders in the global coffee scene, with a turnover of more than 2.3 billion euros and a group of major brands that lead its respective markets, such as Lavazza, Carte Noire, Merild and Cake Horse. The company is active in all business sectors with operations in 140 markets, 9 factories in 6 countries and more than 4,200 collaborators worldwide. The group’s global presence is the result of a growth journey that extends for more than 125 years and the production of more than 30 billion cups of “Lavazza” coffee annually, which is evidence of a remarkable success story, and the continuation of providing the best types of coffee in all its forms by focusing on all aspects of the supply chain. From the selection of raw materials all the way to the final product in the cup.

The Lavazza Group has revolutionized coffee culture through continuous investment in research and development: from the perceptual sense that marked the company’s first success in the selection of coffee blends, to the development of innovative packaging solutions; From sipping the first espresso in space to dozens of industrial patents. The group’s ability to foresee the future is also reflected in the focus on sustainability in its comprehensive concept, economic, social and environmental, which has always been a criterion for guiding corporate strategies. The slogan “Awaken to a better world every morning” represents the goal of the “Lavazza” group to create sustainable value for shareholders, collaborators, consumers and the communities in which it operates, combining competitiveness with social and environmental responsibility.

In March of this year, award-winning luxury specialty coffee brand Mokha 1450 tasked its baristas with curating a coffee experience like no other, one that uniquely targets the flavour profile preferences of UAE coffee connoisseurs.

After an exciting internal competition, three finalists were selected, and their coffee creations will feature at all Mokha 1450 locations for a limited time. The baristas will also receive a percentage of the revenue from coffee bag sales and will feature as the cover story in Mokha 1450’s compendium Barista Craft Magazine that guests receive when they purchase a bag of the coffee.

Each of the three specially created coffees will feature at all Mokha 1450 locations for a limited time only, with emphasis only on the baristas, as no information on the origin of the coffees will be provided so as not to influence the guest’s palate or detract from the experience the barista has crafted. This is the first initiative of its kind in the UAE and, indeed, across the specialty coffee industry globally.

Garfield Kerr, CEO of Mokha 1450, explains, ‘Baristas in the UAE are some of the most talented in the world, as exemplified through their work in one of the world’s leading specialty coffee markets. Yet, because of inscrutable market conditions, baristas in the UAE are not paid a salary that is commensurate with their counterparts in other leading specialty coffee regions. To solve this dilemma, we offer an innovative and new approach. One that rewards our championship-winning baristas and, indeed, our customers through a unique speciality coffee experience available nowhere else in the world.

THE MINRAN COFFEE

The first coffee featured in the Barista Craft Series is from Mohammed Minran. One can expect tasting notes of cherries, honey, exceptional sweetness, and fruity flavours, with a milk chocolate finish and an added dose of innovation and luxury.

While numerous studies have shown that coffee preferences amongst countries can be identified and quantified, there are differences, of course, within any populace. Hence, each similar segment of the UAE coffee-consuming public represents a discrete circle in a Venn Diagram.

Therefore, the monumental task of the barista is identifying where those circles overlap and curating a coffee whose flavour profile highlights these unions. The result of this exploration is an experience like no other, a coffee entirely new that would not exist had the challenge not been presented and accepted in the first place, a coffee whose origin will not be shared to remove the limitations of expectations as well as to highlight the barista alone.
The outcome is a unique coffee that is a luxury to be shared with our clients, whom we recognize as the connoisseurs that they are and who will be the final arbiters of whether our baristas have truly hit the mark. The Minran coffee as an espresso, milk-based, or brewed coffee is priced from AED20 to AED88, and each bag costs AED245. The Minran Coffee will be available to the public as of Monday, 8th of May 2023.

THE MAGAZINE

Created, edited, and published entirely by the Mokha 1450 team, the Barista Craft Magazine is a conceptual and artistic method of communicating the innovations, creativity, and ethos of the Mokha 1450 brand, as well as a means to highlight the integral role the baristas play in crafting unforgettably unique and luxurious bespoke experiences for our connoisseurs.

The magazine is a limited edition run and will only be available with each bag of coffee within the Barista Craft Series.

The European Coffee Symposium is the leading event for senior executives from across the vibrant European coffee shop and food-to-go sector, offering 400 key industry players a platform to gain the latest market insight, build new relationships and drive business performance.

Now in its thirteenth year, the European Coffee Symposium offers a combination of cutting-edge insights and unparalleled networking opportunities for top executives from across the coffee shop, food-to-go and foodservice landscape.

This year, the European Coffee Symposium takes place at The W Hotel in Barcelona, 27-29 November 2023. Top speakers already confirmed include:

Roland Horne
CEO and Founder WatchHouse

Ignacio Llado Alvarez-Salas
Managing Director Blank Street UK

Koral Ibrahim
Founder & Managing Director, The Ready House

Maxwell Colonna Dashwood
Coffee Entrepreneur and Author

Yassir Raïs
CEO and Founder Syra Coffee

Stay tuned for further speaker announcements, view the event programme.