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!

Your Guide to Third Wave Coffee and Where to Find it in Jeddah

The Third Wave Coffee phenomenon, also known as the specialty coffee movement, is a trend that has been taking off lately amongst coffee lovers. But what exactly is Third Wave Coffee or artisanal food? Guest writer and coffee connoisseur Abdullah Yahya explains the basics to us in this fascinating blog post, shedding some light on this latest trend, and taking us on a journey through Jeddah reviewing the city’s cosy third wave cafés.

We love hearing your opinions, so please leave a comment at the end of this blogpost. Have you visited any of these places? What did you think of them? Which is your favourite? Hoping to get lots of feedback so that I can persuade Abdullah to write another blogpost for us very soon.

Also, stay tuned for a detailed review of our recent visit to Medd Café coming up very soon. Please do take a minute to subscribe in the right-hand menu to ensure you don’t miss any future posts.

The philosophy behind Third Wave Coffee is that people should be treating coffee less like an everyday commodity and more like artisanal foodstuff. For this reason, much attention is focused on:

• The type of coffee beans used and the quality, so they focus on using a single-origin high quality bean, as opposed to blends. They tend to have a direct relationship with growers, and only buy fair-trade beans.

• In house roasting of the coffee beans daily to ensure the quality of the coffee used.

The preparation methods are carefully observed, including how much of the ingredients are added and how they are added. They treat coffee making as an art, but they use scientific precision as well. That means measuring the amount of coffee carefully, and the water, as well as the temperature of water and milk used.

New coffee brewing methods are used, as opposed to using the usual coffee filter machine, like Chemex, Hario V60, and AeroPress®.  They are in general slower and more elaborate, but the result is a superior coffee.

In the last couple of years, more and more third wave cafés have opened up in Jeddah and they are becoming increasingly popular. Some of the trendiest are highlighted below.

Caffeine Lab

This place sells coffee beans and all relevant supplies directly to the customers and trains them in how to prepare the coffee. You can also go there just to enjoy a cup of coffee. It doesn’t however, sell any food, cake, or snacks, so in a sense it is more of a retail shop that sells coffee.

Location: King Fahad Street, Al-Faisaliyah Dist, to the north from Al-Serafi Megamall. Tel: 059 911 0092

Medd Café and Roastery

Coffee Art at Medd Café

One of the trendiest coffee shops in the city with friendly service and excellent coffee. It gets very busy on weekends so expect to wait for a table, and it takes a long time for your coffee to be ready, so don’t go there if you are pressed for time. I love the vibes in that place; the look, the aroma from the beans, and especially the coffee. For me, the best Chemex coffee I have had was there.

They get extra points for offering a delicious array of homemade cakes and snacks. They also have a retail section where they sell coffee-making equipment and very cool mugs.

Location: Beach Tower Northern Corniche، Jeddah 21452, Saudi Arabia. Tel: +966 12 613 2122

Brew92^o

Brew 92°

The friendliest of services coupled with excellent choices of coffee and coffee beans. Very good Chemex, and their Flat White is especially great. They also serve all-day breakfast, so do try their omelettes and waffles. They offer salads and a few other dishes too. The place gets busy on weekends. Prices are moderate for the quality you get, and because it is closer to the center, it is the place I actually visit the most.

Location: Prince Saud Al-Faisal Street, Al-Khalidiyah Dist., opposite Saudia City, Tel: +966-564699118.

Cup & Couch

Cup & Couch

One of the more recently opened coffee spots. Very intimate and run by friendly young Saudis. The coffee is very good and the atmosphere is very casual. I tried their barista recommended Kalita coffee, and it did not disappoint at all. I also had coffee latte with coconut milk which was nice too. They also offer homemade cakes, but I was not wowed by them, and to me this is my one point that I think they should improve.

As for the ambience, I enjoyed being there very much, and so did my friends, including young children. You feel you are in a party in someone’s home with all the chatter of the customers hanging around. Upstairs in the family section they have a bench and a few tables, with board and card games and that only amplify the homeliness of the place.

Location: Al Yamamah St, Al-Salamah Dist, near Ice Land. Tel: +966 59 727 3474

Cold brewing at Medd Café

Warm & Frosty Café

Warm and Frosty

The smallest one I have visited so far. Their family section is not ready yet, so as of now they only have the single section or the coffee to go, which is what I had. The Chemex coffee was very good and strong. They are also a retailer for coffee tools and equipment. I would say given their location, they are more suited to serve the area around them, but I did not find them special enough for me to go back, not unless I am in the area.

Location: Hilmi Kutbi St, Al-Zahra’a Dist. Unit No. 16 Jeddah 23521 6172, Tel:  00966-12 616 4890