Five coffee roasters you must visit in Dubai

Dubai’s coffee scene has changed a lot. There was a time when finding the best coffee roasters in Dubai took effort. You had to know someone. Or follow the right people. Or end up in Al Quoz by accident and realise half the serious coffee in the city seemed to be happening behind warehouse doors.

Now the problem is different. There are enough roasters in Dubai that choosing where to go feels harder than finding one. There’s a lot to choose from.

But I’d start with these.

Julith Coffee

Okay, I know what you’re thinking. Yes, this is the place with the world’s most expensive coffee. Yes, people have paid eye-watering amounts for a cup. But if you’re asking me where I’d actually send someone who genuinely cares about coffee, it would be Julith.

I’d send them because of Serkan Sağsöz who leads the coffee programme. He’s a three-time Turkish Barista Champion and former Turkish Coffee Roasting Champion who curated a menu for Julith that’s much broader than people expect.

You can go down the rabbit hole with rare coffees if that’s your thing. Or you can order a genuinely excellent flat white, eat lunch, buy beans, look at brewing gear, and spend far longer there than you planned.

Actually, get the flat white. The rotovapor milk sounds like the sort of thing someone invented to impress coffee nerds, but annoyingly, it works.

The Espresso Lab

The Espresso Lab belongs in any serious conversation about specialty coffee in Dubai. Founded by Emirati entrepreneur Ibrahim Al Mallouhi, it has been one of the names most closely tied to the city’s shift toward more serious coffee.

There is a fantastic shop in the more accessible Dubai Design District. But I recommend a visit to the roastery in then less accessible Al Quoz. It’s where you’ll get a complete picture of who The Espresso Lab is. The sourcing, the roasting, the brewing, the training, the whole system behind the cup.

RAW Coffee Company

Founded in 2007, RAW was roasting specialty coffee here before most people in the city were talking about origin, processing and brew ratios. The roastery and café in Al Quoz is still a great space to visit.

There are newer places with more drama. RAW has something else. History.

Cypher Urban Roastery

Cypher’s roastery in Al Quoz is not cute. It’s not aesthetic. It’s not going to make you go viral on Instagram. Because Cypher is a proper coffee facility. That happens to let people in.

Temperature-controlled storage for about 30 tons. A lab. Cupping area. Green coffee space. Roasting equipment. Training rooms. They source, grade and roast coffee, train baristas, run cuppings and workshops, teach people how to taste, brew and understand coffee properly.

And have been doing it all since 2016.

Grandmother Coffee Roastery

Three, maybe four, years ago I made a new friend. An Italian living in Germany. He was here for the World of Coffee. One of the first things he asked me is where to go for the best coffee. I didn’t hestitate to recommened Grandmother.

He’s been back to Dubai every year since then, for the World of Coffee, and he visits Grandmother on every visit. Because the coffee is exceptional, yes, but more so, because the place feels unusually human.

Why these are the best coffee roasters in Dubai

Of course, there are many more excellent roasters in Dubai. This is only where I recommend your exploration should start.

Julith is building one of Dubai’s most ambitious new coffee destinations. The Espresso Lab will show you how local talent defines specialty coffee. RAW is the OG. Cypher will show you what roasting at scale looks like. Grandmother will show you how craft and warmth can co-exist.

The best specialty coffee shops in Dubai

FAQ

What are the best coffee roasters in Dubai?

If you genuinely care about specialty coffee, these are some of the best coffee roasters in Dubai to start with: Julith Coffee, The Espresso Lab, RAW Coffee Company, Cypher Urban Roastery, and Grandmother Coffee Roastery. Each offers something different. Julith is ambitious and experience-led. The Espresso Lab shaped much of Dubai’s specialty coffee culture. RAW is one of the originals. Cypher shows you coffee at scale. Grandmother feels unusually personal.

Which coffee roastery in Dubai is best for specialty coffee?

That depends what you are looking for. If you want rare coffees and a broader coffee experience, Julith is hard to ignore. If you want to understand the foundations of specialty coffee in Dubai, RAW deserves your time. For roasting, education and coffee infrastructure, Cypher stands out. Grandmother is one of the better places to understand coffee without feeling intimidated.

Is Julith Coffee worth visiting?

Yes, but probably not for the reason you think. Most people go because they have heard about the world’s most expensive coffee. The more interesting story is the broader coffee programme. Julith roasts in-house, offers rare coffees, good everyday drinks, proper food, brewing gear, and one of the more interesting coffee experiences in Al Quoz.

Where can I buy freshly roasted coffee beans in Dubai?

You can buy freshly roasted specialty coffee beans directly from roasteries such as Julith Coffee, RAW Coffee Company, Cypher Urban Roastery, Grandmother Coffee Roastery, and The Espresso Lab. Most roast on-site and will usually help you choose beans based on how you brew at home.

What is the oldest specialty coffee roastery in Dubai?

RAW Coffee Company is widely considered one of the earliest specialty coffee roasteries in Dubai, having opened in 2007. Long before specialty coffee became mainstream in the city, RAW was roasting coffee, training baristas, and helping shape café culture in the UAE.

Which area in Dubai has the best coffee roasteries?

Al Quoz is still probably the strongest area for specialty coffee roasteries in Dubai. Julith Coffee, RAW Coffee Company, Cypher Urban Roastery, Grandmother Coffee Roastery, and The Espresso Lab roastery are all based there, which makes it one of the better places to spend a morning if coffee is your thing.

Which Dubai coffee roastery should I visit first?

If you only have time for one, I would probably ask what kind of coffee person you are.Curious about rare coffees and where Dubai coffee feels like it is heading? Go to Julith. Want to understand the roots of specialty coffee in the city? RAW. Interested in how roasting works at scale? Cypher. Want something that feels personal and welcoming? Grandmother. Want to see one of the businesses that helped shape modern Dubai coffee? The Espresso Lab.