Where to find Specialty Coffee in Dubai: a personal guide and a new name — Cantata

April 10, 2025

If you, like me, drink coffee not just to wake up, but to feel the terroir of Ethiopia or the acidity of SL-28 from an altitude of 2000 meters above sea level, then this is the place for you. Dubai has long been not just a point on the coffee map, but a full-fledged territory of taste. And you know what's interesting? A brand has appeared here that is worthy of attention even among the spoiled public. We are talking about Cantata — a new coffee platform where you can buy specialty-level beans right in Dubai.

What is specialty coffee (and why do we need it at all)?

If you are not a newbie, scroll down. And if you are reading about it for the first time, let's figure it out briefly. Specialty is coffee that has received at least 80 points on the SCA (Specialty Coffee Association) scale. This is not just delicious coffee - it is the result of precision work:

• farmers who monitor the harvest as if it were grapes in Bordeaux,
• roasters who can "pull" lavender, apricot or sugar cane from the beans,
• baristas who do not just pour coffee, but control the extraction with millisecond precision.

This is a craft. And once you try a geisha brewed correctly, there is no turning back.

Why are specialty coffee shops so important for the city?

Dubai is not just a beautiful city. It learns quickly. Here, people can tell washed from honey, know where in Panuk they make the best anaerobic lots, and confidently ask: "What is the total dissolved solids here?" And that is why the specialty coffee market here is not just alive - it is bubbling. Coffee shops that started with batch brew and V60 now sell tasting sets with rare lots and hold cuppings like parties.

Coffee shops that are really worth your time

Walking around at random is a pleasure, but time is expensive in Dubai. Here are five places that I personally tested:

• RAW Coffee Company — school, roasting, ideology. They take directly from farms.
• Seven Fortunes — a beautiful cupping room where you can say "grapefruit" and no one will roll their eyes.
• Nightjar Coffee — filter, nitro and baristas who teach you more than courses.
• Encounter Coffee — minimalist style and geisha in handmade ceramics.
• The Espresso Lab — if coffee has haute couture, then this is it.

And here comes Cantata

I came across Cantata by accident. First — online. Then — in an offline store. And you know what? This is not just another supplier. This is a curated experience. The line includes single-origin varieties brought from Ethiopian and Colombian farms, where everything — from processing to fermentation — is thought out.

Pros:

• The beans are freshly roasted, there are dates on the packaging.
• The flavor profile is not out of thin air: it really opens up with the right extraction.
• Delivery throughout the UAE is an important point if you do not live near the coffee cluster in Al Quoz.
• And, yes, there is not only coffee — Cantata also works with flavored varieties, but it is the specialty coffee section that stands out, and rightly so.

How to choose beans in Cantata?

I would recommend starting with:

	Ethiopia Shakiso Bio Coffee Loral notes, bright acidity, and a soft body. A great match for pour-over methods like V60 or Chemex.
	Colombia Santander La Pradera Bio Coffee Complex and juicy with citrus tones and a rich aftertaste. Best for espresso lovers or moka pot users.
	Guatemala Huehuetenango Bio Coffee A well-balanced cup with sweet, chocolate notes. A perfect daily brew, great in a French press or drip filter.

Prefer something rare and bold? Try:

• Panama Cerro Punta Geisha — delicate, tea-like, with jasmine and tropical fruit tones. Reserved for special moments. Best in filter brews.
• Jamaica Blue Mountain — smooth, mild, and luxurious. Excellent for espresso or siphon brews if you want clarity and finesse.

The Cantata website is convenient: there are filters by region, processing, intensity. The recommended brewing temperature, grinding degree and methods are indicated for each grain — cool.

Fermentation, filters and geek zone

If you want to go further into the world of specialty, note that Dubai has introduced:

• anaerobic and carbonic fermentations,
• new varieties (Wush Wush, Java, Sidra),
• roasting for filter and espresso separately,
• brewing systems like Modbar, Decent Espresso and even robotic stations.

Cantata is keeping up with the trend: they are already testing anaerobic natural in trial batches. And if all goes well, this will be the first local brand in the UAE with an emphasis on terroir and fermentation at the same time.

Culture of consumption

What's important here is that people don't just drink coffee — they delve into it. I have dozens of Dubai baristas in my feed who write about their cupping sessions, compare water profiles, and talk about grind fragmentation. Specialty is a community. Here you can discuss the caffeine concentration in Geisha and simultaneously taste a new variety from Taraz.

Cantata fits into this ecosystem organically — as a brand that doesn't chase the mass market, but says: "Drink consciously. Brew it right. Try different things."

What's next?

I see a trend:

• more direct trade,
• more local roasteries (yes, Cantata is also considering launching a roastery),
• more events: cuppings, SCA courses, barista competitions,
• and, of course, more attention to taste, not to foam or syrups.

If you want to step into specialty from the right side, start with the beans. Ideally, freshly roasted. Right now, in Dubai, you can do that without compromise. Cantata is a great entry point, especially if you value precision, transparency, and taste as an art.