Medd – The Café by The Sea
Recently coffee lovers gathered for an informative event at Medd Cafe on the Northern Corniche to rediscover Arab roots in coffee culture and find out about the specific brewing methods available at Medd.
Medd Cafe is an artisanal, third-wave coffee house and the get-together was organised by Arabian Jewel. Our very own Samreen Ahmed was lucky enough to attend the event and send us this report exclusively for Jeddah Blog.
Medd Cafe and Roastery.
Upon entering the place, the aroma of coffee instantly lifted my spirits. I couldn’t help but notice the lovely desserts and pretzel sandwiches they had on display. I made a mental note to try these after the talk. Immediately, we were given a tour around the café that left everyone completely mesmerised with the ambience. The beautiful paintings by local artists that adorn the walls of Medd Cafe are a visual treat (some of them are for sale) and we were told that the coffee tables there were actually stained with coffee.
Medd’s in-house roaster.
Our host for the day, the co-owner of Medd Cafe, Salem guided us to the in-house roastery. During the presentation we were told how the raw organic green coffee beans imported from Kenya and Indonesia are roasted for an hour in the roastery and then stored for three days for the gases to cool down before it can be brewed and served to the customers. They only serve classic coffee flavours like Espresso, Americana, Macchiato and Cappucino because syrups and other flavourings overwhelm the actual taste of coffee.
Medd’s Matcha Tea
After the presentation we all sat down to try the coffee Salem had to offer us. The first variety which was Kenyan had a rich authentic coffee flavour to it. Next we tried the Ethiopian Stone blend which was a milder version of Kenyan. It is said to be brewed at 76 degrees for the right flavours to emerge. Next up we tried the Yemeni blend which we all loved because of its citrusy and berry-like taste. If you’re not a big coffee person, definitely go for the Yemeni blend. Some of us tried the Cold Brew coffee whilst others went for the Matcha Tea. Matcha is basically fine powder of green tea that is the healthiest version of tea or coffee. It is full of antioxidants and contains high amounts of calcium and magnesium. It was an interesting flavour, with mild grassy undertones.
Cold brewing.
While we sipped on our coffee, Salem gave us an insight on the arab roots into coffee culture. It was quite interesting to know that coffee was initially used by the sufis to stay awake all night for dhikr. Other conversations also kicked in and the guests bonded over some good coffee.
The relaxed and artistic ambience at Medd Cafe, with the coffee-stained tables in full view.
Medd Cafe is a cozy place for genuine coffee and was quite full of students and working men and women throughout the day. It opens at 7:30 am and closes at 10 pm for a very healthy reason. With a smile, Salem declared that he was trying to promote healthy habits and does not want people to drink coffee beyond 10 pm.
Coffee paraphernalia on sale and artfully decorated coffee cups by customers on display.
They also sell coffee mugs and if you’re in an artistic mood, decorate a coffee cup and they’ll display it in-store!
If you are looking for great coffee with a sea view and a traditional Hijazi feel then Medd Cafe is your next place to check out. We’d love to hear what you think about the café so be sure to leave a comment and let us know!
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