Coffee Museum Dubai

At Al Fahidi, a heritage hub in Bur Dubai, a coffee museum has set up coping with the international standards of a coffee club but with comfortable interiors. It is a private museum created at a home that takes you for an aromatic roam around history. It is located at a villa, a traditional Emirati home and the moment you step in, you will forget yourself in the floating fresh aroma of brewed coffee. 

Here you would get to taste traditional Turkish and Ethiopian coffee along with a wide knowledge of the origins of original coffee, old grinding methods, pots used to prepare the best coffee, roasters and other important materials used to produce the aromatic, good quality coffee. The staff serving coffee in the traditional costumes would give a pinch of the old days’ good memories as well.

Dubai’s Coffee Museum is a coffee lover’s paradise tucked away in Al Fahidi heritage hub neighborhood in Bur Dubai. The eccentric museum brings coffee lovers and the coffee culture together under a roof for the love of the cup of brewed Joe (Coffee). The robust home of the Coffee Museum showcases the coffee bean journey from around the world, how it was discovered back in time. The visitors are often greeted with a warm cup of Java and popcorn when they enter the museum, as a courtesy to the Arab culture of hospitality.

At the Dubai Coffee Museum, one can absorb some deep-rooted intels on the importance of coffee in different cultures, its preparations like roasting and grinding, the apparatuses used through time and the different kinds of these rusted beans found around the world. It is the first ever coffee museum concept in the Middle East brought by a coffee enthusiast, Mr. Khalid Al Mulla, who is also the owner of the renowned coffee company, “Eastern Men and Company”. The small, quaint museum harboring a coffee museum, a unique gift shop and a cozy café is known by the name of Villa 44, situated in the Bastakiya region of Bur Dubai.

Coffee has always been an important part of Arabic culture and the Coffee Museum in Dubai showcases exactly why. The museum is located in the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, hidden inside the narrow lanes of the old district, among many other treasures.

Stop by to discover the origin of coffee, dating all the way back to the legend of Kaldi, a goat herder who is believed to have found the humble coffee bean – and how it made its way into the region from the Ethiopian highlands.

Coffee Museum Dubai also showcases the celebration of coffee culture across the globe, as well as the Arabic traditions. Coffee grinders used in the First World War, historical data dedicated to coffee and old brewing pots are just a few of the artefacts on display. Entry is free, with the museum shop on the ground floor. 

History 

The embryonic concept of the Dubai Coffee Museum started with a collection of a handful of artifacts to coffee making by Eastern Man and Co. owner Mr. Khalid Al Mulla. Pertaining to the interests cresting by the visitation of coffee lovers to his small abode, Khalid initiated the conversion of the Villa into a Coffee Museum where one could be acknowledged about the origins of coffee from the Ethiopian highlands in the 15th century.

The legends about its discovery and its expansion to Italy, Portugal, Brazil, Netherlands, Russia and the European stretch of the countries who worship coffee as a beverage to stay alert can be strolled through the museum with collections of various coffee grinders and brewers from the First World War  to ancient brewing pots from Egypt, Yemen and Ethiopia.

Exploring the Dubai Coffee Museum 

The Coffee Museum in Dubai connects the dots between the origin of coffee and the present times where coffee isn’t just celebrated as the most common beverage, but an essence to survival in the daily chaotic lifestyle. The museum is divided into two floors.

First Part

The ground floor explores the history and the origin of the coffee beans discovery, the different kinds of brewing and roasting techniques involved in it from different corners of the world, and some international antiques and artefacts collected from across the world that visitors can study about and take home some items of resemblance as a souvenir.

Second Part

The second part of the museum resides on the first floor of Villa 44, where the coffee enthusiasts can dive deep into the roots and origins of coffee through a huge selection of books and manuscripts related to its history. The authorities also run some documentaries and films about the demonstrations of roasting and brewing techniques from the start of the era of Ethiopian legends to today’s procedures, serving over a freshly brewed cup of coffee along with some snacks to munch upon.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE DUBAI COFFEE MUSEUM?

Here are the different attractions at the museum that uncover several secrets behind one of the most popular beverages in the world. Let’s discover what the museum has to offer.

EXPLORE COFFEE CULTURE FROM AROUND THE WORLD

One of the first things to do at the Coffee Museum in Dubai is to learn and explore different varieties of coffee. Visitors can also experience different coffee cultures such as Egyptian, Ethiopian and Arabic. Learn about the entire process, from beans selection through to roasting, as well as the brewing techniques that are unique to each culture.

The museum has information dating back to the legend of Kaldi, a shepherd known for discovering the first ever-coffee bean and instigating coffee’s long journey into the Middle East from the mountains of Ethiopia. Visitors to the museum can also experience fascinating old utensils and cups used for the production, brewing, and drinking of coffee.

DISCOVER THE MAJLIS AND ANTIQUES

The ground floor of the museum houses the Majlis and the Middle Eastern Antique exhibit. The intricately restored Majlis offer a glimpse of the traditional Emirati style of coffee consumption.

The coffee table with antique coffee cups and other utensils take you back in time to witness Emirati culture and hospitality.

The Middle Eastern Antique Exhibit is where you can find more artefacts related to coffee in the UAE. You’ll get to see antique coffee grinders, roasters, pots, kettles, weighing scales, sorting trays and other coffee memorabilia.

THE COFFEE LIBRARY AT DUBAI COFFEE MUSEUM

On the first floor of the museum you’ll find a small but intriguing selection of books about coffee dating back to the 18th century. These books are from the personal collection of the house owner made available for fellow coffee buffs who wish to learn more about the popular brew. There are also some audio-visual guides which are well worth a watch.

KIDS CORNER

The Kids Corner at the Coffee Museum is a fun area where the little ones can discover the origins of coffee along with a whole host of other activities to keep them entertained.

MUSEUM GIFT SHOP

We all love a museum gift shop right? Well, the Dubai Coffee Museum has a great one. It’s here that you can get your hands on those much-needed souvenirs to take back home. Pick up the perfect gifts for your friends and loved ones. The shop has barista equipment, latte art pens, books about roasting techniques with recipes, and you can even treat yourself to some fine coffee beans.

DUBAI COFFEE MUSEUM LOCATION

Learn all about the origins of coffee at the Dubai Coffee Museum, a cosy little spot located in one of Dubai’s heritage hubs – the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood in Bur Dubai. Visit the Dubai Coffee Museum at: Bastakiya, Villa 44, Al Hisn Street, Al Fahidi, Dubai.

DUBAI COFFEE MUSEUM TIMINGS

The museum is open 09:00 am to 05:00 am Saturday through Thursday. The museum is closed on Fridays.

Tips 

• Though the entry is free, do buy the Flat White Coffee at the Brew Bar of Dubai Coffee Museum for AED 10.

• Do not miss the coffee preparation’s live demonstration using a syphon in the custom built Brew Bar of the museum which serves amazing aromatic coffee beverages along with some scrumptious snacks.

• The Museum houses a unique gift shop where various artifacts and souvenirs are for sale that is worth the price to take home.

• Visit the Make Art Café –Villa 13 located near Dubai Coffee Museum to experience an urban-industrial designed café in the courtyard of a charming heritage villa ambiance.