What’s On has details of Raw Coffee Company’s latest venture, a new cafe in Jumeirah. Plus, news on a new Raw Coffee truck coming soon.


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One of Dubai’s hidden gems is about to come out of the shadows and announce itself to the city.

The Raw Coffee Company roastery in a dusty alley of Al Quoz has been quietly roasting beans and dishing out premium coffee to an in-the-know group of bean fiends for the last three years. Raw also supplies its coffee to many venues in Dubai, such as Tom & Serg and Ultra Brasserie, earning a loyal band of followers who refuse to drink any other brand. But this month, Raw is opening a fully-fledged café of their own in Jumeirah and What’s On got the first look.

Raw Coffee

Set to open the first week of May, the café is inside The Emirates Academy Of Hospitality Management, opposite Wild Wadi Water Park. Whereas the Al Quoz roastery serves a few slices of cake from another supplier, this new venture will offer light bites and breakfast made on the premises. Raw’s co-owner Kim Thompson says the food will be simple, honest and seasonal. Brekkie will offer dishes such as frittatas, pancakes, muesli, fruit and granola. A “killer brownie” is being worked on, smiles Kim’s business partner and fellow New Zealander Matt Toogood, plus his own homemade ginger crunch.

The café seats around 30 inside, with a rooftop opening in October for another 60, and there will be parking.

Raw Coffee

Also coming soon is a Raw coffee truck, aka The Bean Machine. It’s a 1986 Chevrolet van that has been shipped from Los Angeles. It’s ten metres long and has an eight-litre V8 engine. The truck is being repurposed to allow space for ten baristas and two coffee machines inside and is expected to hit the road at the end of the summer.

Emirates Academy Of Hospitality Management, Al Sheraa Street, Umm Suqeim 3, Dubai, Sun to Thur 8am to 4pm. Tel: (04) 3395474 . Taxi: Opposite Wild Wadi Water Park. rawcoffeecompany.com

Elsewhere in cafe news, a new sandwich delivery service has launched, based on the Brits’ insatiable love of sandwiches. We tried a bap with roast chicken and stuffing (Dhs22), and the roast beef with coleslaw (Dhs24).

Sarnie Station
The baps were so huge they required two large hands to grapple it. Each was packed with either good quality chunks of chargrilled chicken, or lots of tender beef. You can choose a sauce such as Branston Pickle, picalilli, horseradish, or mustard. Delivery took about 35 minutes and each bap arrived perfectly intact, neatly wrapped in a brown paper bag with natty London Underground-themed packaging. They also do bags of crisps and soft drinks. Last orders are taken at 1pm.

sarniestation@outlook.com. Tel: (050) 4827756. facebook.com/sarniestation