Tag: Oman Coffee

Six Middle East Coffee Shops Enter The World’s Top 100 List 2026

Posted on by Qahwa World

Singapore – QAHWA WORLD

Six coffee shops from the Middle East have earned positions in the World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops 2026 ranking, announced on 16 February during CoffeeFest Madrid 2026, marking a significant milestone for the region’s speciality coffee sector.

The United Arab Emirates secured two placements in the global Top 100, reinforcing its status as a rapidly expanding hub for speciality coffee. Qatar and Oman achieved their first-ever entries in the ranking, while Turkey returned to the list through Meet Lab Coffee, reflecting the region’s growing influence on the international coffee stage.

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Middle East Coffee Shops in the 2026 Top 100

  • Benchmark Coffee, United Arab Emirates

  • Harvest Coffee, Qatar

  • Meet Lab Coffee, Turkey

  • Azura – The Coffee Company, Oman

  • Cypher Urban Roastery, United Arab Emirates

  • Flat White Specialty Coffee, Qatar

The 2026 ranking highlights the rise of new global capitals of quality coffee while underscoring the consolidation of a diverse and innovative international coffee community. The United States led the list with nine selected coffee shops, alongside strong representation from South America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East.

Evaluation Criteria

The ranking combines assessments from more than 800 professional judges across all continents with public voting that surpassed 350,000 votes in this edition. In total, over 15,000 coffee shops worldwide were analysed.

Positioned as a benchmark for the industry, The World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops is the first global ranking dedicated to recognising excellence in coffee. Beyond product quality, the evaluation considers the overall café experience, innovation, and contribution to coffee culture.

The inclusion of six Middle Eastern coffee shops in the 2026 list reflects the region’s accelerating development in speciality coffee standards, craftsmanship, and hospitality, further strengthening its presence on the global coffee map.

Loay AlHattali Crowned Champion of the 2ed Gulf Coffee Maker competition

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Ras Al Khaimah – Qahwa World

Omani barista Loay AlHattali, representing Historia Roastery from the Sultanate of Oman, was crowned champion of the second edition of the Gulf Coffee Maker Competition 2026, held in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates, amid strong and diverse Gulf participation.

The competition witnessed intense competition among 44 skilled baristas from the UAE, Oman, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, all showcasing exceptional technical expertise, creativity, and a deep understanding of specialty coffee, making the judging process highly competitive.

Emirati competitor Aisha AlSuweidi secured second place, while Omani barista Moayed AlHousni claimed third place, reflecting the strong presence and growing professionalism of Gulf coffee talent.

In the Junior Coffee Makers Category, Emirati participant Mohammed AlShumaili won first place in a category introduced for the first time this year to support young home-based coffee makers aged between 15 and 18.

In an exclusive statement to Qahwa World, champion Loay AlHattali expressed his immense happiness with the win, describing it as a starting point rather than a final destination, and emphasizing that the title motivates him to participate in future regional and international championships to achieve further accolades.

For his part, Saeed AlMannaei, founder of S3 Café and organizer of the championship, congratulated all winners and praised the high level of competition displayed throughout the event. Speaking to Qahwa World World, Al-Mannaei highlighted the significant growth of the championship, noting that the number of participants increased from 27 in the first edition to 44 competitors this year. He also announced that the total prize value was doubled from AED 10,000 last year to AED 20,000 in the current edition.

AlMannaei added that the introduction of the Junior Coffee Makers category reflects the organizers’ commitment to discovering and nurturing young talent, providing dedicated trophies and recognition to encourage the next generation of coffee enthusiasts.

The championship attracted a distinguished audience of Gulf coffee professionals and enthusiasts, who enjoyed an energetic and engaging atmosphere further enhanced by the distribution of 100 prizes to attendees, reinforcing the event’s philosophy that everyone is a winner.

The competition was overseen by a highly experienced judging panel consisting of Fatima AlKetbi and Shamma bint Lahij from the United Arab Emirates, and Ahmed AlHabsi from the Sultanate of Oman, ensuring the highest standards of professionalism and evaluation.

Oman Coffee Community Announces the AeroPress Championship 2025

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Muscat, September 7, 2025 (Qahwa World) – The Oman Coffee Community has officially announced the launch of the Oman AeroPress Championship 2025, set to take place from October 3 to 4 at Rozna Hall in Muscat. The highly anticipated competition promises two days of excitement, creativity, and skill, where coffee enthusiasts and professionals will compete for the national title and the chance to represent Oman at the World AeroPress Championship finals.

The event will span two consecutive days: the qualifiers on October 3 and the final showdown on October 4, where the champion will be crowned.
Competitors will face off in head-to-head elimination rounds, with each participant given just five minutes to grind, brew, and present their coffee using the AeroPress brewer. The submissions will be evaluated through a blind tasting process, ensuring impartiality and fairness.

Rules and Regulations

The competition follows the official World AeroPress Championship guidelines, designed to guarantee transparency and equal opportunities. Key highlights include:

  • Format: Multi-round, elimination-style tournament.

  • Time limit: Five minutes per competitor for the complete process.

  • Brewer specifications:

    • Only AeroPress Original or AeroPress Clear are permitted.

    • Use of the Flow Control Filter Cap is allowed if it is a genuine AeroPress product.

    • Other versions (Go, XL, Premium) are not allowed.

    • Custom-painted or trophy AeroPress brewers are permitted, provided they are original and unaltered.

  • Filters: Any type (paper, metal, cloth, etc.) may be used, as long as it fits inside the cap and does not alter flavor.

  • Ingredients: Only ground coffee and water are permitted. If official coffee or water is provided by the host, competitors must use them exclusively.

  • Dosage: Maximum of 18g of ground coffee, with a minimum output of 150g of brewed coffee.

  • Accessories: Grinders, kettles, scales, stirrers, thermometers, WDT/RDT tools, chillers, and other brewing aids are permitted, provided they do not violate the brewer specifications.

The Judging

Judges will taste each entry blind, with competitor names hidden to ensure neutrality. Each judge makes an independent decision without discussion, pointing simultaneously to their preferred cup on a synchronized count of three. In case of a full tie, the Head Judge makes the final decision after tasting all entries.

Registration

The registration fee is set at 12 OMR + 5% (total 12.6 OMR). Registration is confirmed only after payment and submission of the receipt via the official form. Participants are required to provide their full details, including civil number, email, and contact number. The full competition rules and regulations can be found here.

The winner of the Oman AeroPress Championship will secure the honor of representing the Sultanate at the World Finals. Should the champion be unable to attend, eligibility will pass to the runner-up, then the third-place competitor. This ensures Oman’s representation on the international stage, reinforcing the country’s growing presence in the specialty coffee community.

The World AeroPress Championship was launched in 2008 in Oslo, Norway, with only three competitors. It quickly grew into a global event, now held across dozens of countries and attracting thousands of participants each year. The championship is unique in being open to everyone — both professionals and amateurs — making it one of the most popular and inclusive competitions in the world of specialty coffee.