Specialty Coffee in Bahrain: Local Roasters Worth the Trip

Specialty coffee is about where the beans come from and how carefully they are handled at every step: farming, roasting and brewing. Third-wave cafes usually tell you the origin of each coffee, roast lighter to show its natural flavours, and offer filter methods such as V60 or batch brew alongside espresso.

Bahrain has a growing number of cafes that roast their own beans. Buying from a local roaster means fresher coffee and staff who can explain exactly what is in your cup.

Black 22 Coffee Bar & Roastery is the best-known name, with branches in Seef and Riffa and long hours. Crust & Crema roasts for its cafes in Adliya, Juffair and Galleria Mall and adds a strong food menu. Grind Micro Roastery in Saar is the small-batch, artisanal option, with a loyal following among coffee nerds.

Hub Specialty Coffee Bar & Roastery in Tubli and New York Coffee Roastery in Adliya, one of the longest-established roasters on the island, round out the list.

There° Coffee Roasters at Harbour Row combines a third-wave menu with a waterfront view. Typica Cafe in Seef focuses on single-origin coffee, and Brew Coffee, also in Seef, is the place to learn about brewing methods. In Janabiya, ARENA Specialty Coffee is one of the highest-rated cafes on our site.

For an international name, % Arabica at The Avenues and Kaldi 850, with its Ethiopian roots, offer a different style. Tomoca Coffee in Tubli brings traditional Ethiopian coffee.

Ask what is on filter today, and which origin the barista is most excited about. If you usually drink milk-based coffee, try a flat white or cortado to taste the espresso more clearly. Most roasters sell bags of beans; ask them to grind for your method at home.