What are things that comes into mind when somebody said “COFFEE”. Come on! Don’t think too much, be snappy. At least that’s what you get after a cup of brew.

Here in Riyadh, coffee is more accessible than a comfort room. Everywhere there is a coffee shop. Famous brands, not so famous brands and even local brands. They’re like converse, “they’re everywhere”.(well at least you got some clue how old I am)And you don’t have to worry about the prices, there is always a cup that can fit in your pocket. Different sizes, different brews, flavors, and aroma (waiter included).

So what what does a cup of “Juan” mean. When somebody offer me an invitation for a cup, it means a lot.


Obviously where we're at

It’s like a new-age hand shake - At the movies, they always say “let’s have a drink”. In corporate terms it means “let’s seal the deal”. Or “it’s done, we can relax now”. I know they mean booze, but more executives prefer a cup of Juan Valdez to Johnny’s these days. (it’s just me). Coffee shops more and more is becoming a business place. People do meetings here, make proposals and if it’s with the boss, it might be a promotion coming. Why not, it’s the best place to be.


A friendly conversation

Let’s have a conversation- Remember the commercial “let’s sit and talk a while in one world of Nescafe”. Wednesday in Saudi is like Friday somewhere else. During the end of the week my friends and I meet either on our homes or at -where else- coffee shops. It feels that we owe it to ourselves after a grueling week. Conversation is the keyword. Business is not a conversation, it’s a meeting. Problems is talked not conversed. Conversation is a chat, happy times, laughter, anything but pain on the neck.



Internet surfing

Free broadband - For some, it’s internet surfing in style. I observed, the boom of the coffee industry coincided with the boom of the internet, especially wireless. (it’s just me again) I believe this makes coffee cool for the young. Coffee shops are the places to flaunt new high-tech laptops. Sipping a hot latte while surfing for porn information with a raspberry cheese cake. (good for the young only, just imagine the calories) Just don’t spill the coffee on your gizmos, thet’s uncool.


Me with my friend Yon

An excuse to take photos - I love taking pictures inside a coffee shop. I love the light, the conversation, the items in the table and I love the coolness of coffee. For me a coffee shop must not only have good coffee, cheap cakes but most importantly filled with interesting decorations. I found a Dr. Cafe branch near my home. they have an incredible design, It was so cool. But after a few frames the security came and warned us not to take photographs. “UNCOOL”. Hope they will allow photography so I can give a good review in this blog.

Coffee brought a new culture in the millennium. Together with the i-phones, i-pods and all the other i’s, coffee created the i-cup “i” want a cup of coffee.

That what coffee is to me. How about you?