🌅 Notes From a Coffee Migrant: Finding Home in Riyadh, One Cup at a Time
🌄 The Beginning of a Coffee Migrant’s Journey
I didn’t realize a cup of coffee could travel with you — not in your suitcase, but in your memory.
I grew up in Kerala, where the mornings smelled of roasted beans, boiling milk, and the soft hiss of decoction dripping through our metal filter. The ritual of Kerala filter coffee was my comfort, my familiar presence before sunrise. I loved it then, and I still love it now.
(Where it all started – the morning ritual in Kerala)
But life has a way of guiding us far from our childhood kitchens. I became an engineer — numbers, logic, systems. When a job opportunity in Riyadh arrived, I packed everything.
I reached Saudi Arabia expecting new landscapes and new responsibilities. What shocked me the most wasn’t the language or the weather — it was the coffee.
A New Identity in a Cup: Introduction to Saudi Coffee Culture
In Kerala, coffee was comfort. Here, the emerging Saudi Coffee Culture was identity.
My first week, someone handed me a tiny cup of golden Gahwa — scented with cardamom, served with dates, unlike anything I had ever tasted.
( My introduction to Saudi hospitality—golden Gahwa and dates)
That sip didn’t just introduce me to Saudi coffee. It opened a new chapter of my life.
Because I’m an engineer, I didn’t just enjoy coffee — I wanted to understand it, experiment with it, recreate it, and eventually master it.
This pillar post is the story of that journey, which led to Saudi Coffee Crafters.
Make yourself a cup. Let’s begin.
☕ 1. Flat White — “The Day Riyadh Felt a Little Like Home”
The first time I walked into a specialty café in Riyadh, I felt like a school kid on the first day of class. Everyone seemed to know what they were doing. People were ordering in quick Arabic, laughing with the barista, loyal to “their usual.”
I just wanted something that tasted like home.
The barista, a friendly young Saudi guy, asked, “First time here?” I nodded. “Yes… Just give me something smooth. Not too strong. Not too sweet. Something comforting.”
He smiled. “Try the Flat White.”
One sip. It wasn’t filter coffee. It wasn’t bitter. It wasn’t sweet. It was balanced — like a gentle hug wrapped in steamed milk. For the first time since I arrived in Saudi Arabia, I didn’t feel like a stranger.
Want to recreate that comfort? 👉 [Read the Full Guide: How to Make a Perfect Flat White]
☕ 2. Espresso — “The Heartbeat of Every Cup”
A few days later, curiosity dragged me back. This time, I didn’t want comfort. I wanted answers. I noticed every drink — Cappuccino, Latte, Mocha — started with a tiny stream of dark liquid.
“Is that espresso?” I asked. The barista smiled. “Yes. Without this, nothing exists.”
Up close, the machine looked like a spaceship. But the barista used it with the calm confidence of a surgeon. “Watch carefully,” he said. The first drops fell thick and dark… then a golden-brown stream like warm honey.
My first attempt? Sour. My second? Bitter. But failing is the first step to understanding. One day, a shot came out perfect — balanced, rich, smooth. In that moment, I knew: If you can make good espresso, you can make anything.
Master the foundation of coffee: 👉 [Read the Full Guide: How to Make Espresso at Home]
☕ 3. Latte — “The Gentle Blanket in a Mug”
Some evenings feel heavy without explanation. Distance from home sits on your shoulders like a quiet weight. On one such evening, I reached for my coffee tools. My mother used to say, “Warm stomach, warm heart.”
I pulled a shot of espresso. Steamed milk until it whispered like monsoon rain on metal roofs. When I poured the milk slowly into the cup, the colors swirled. I attempted latte art… The heart came out crooked. Not pretty, but honest.
It didn’t shout. It didn’t surprise. It comforted. Sometimes, that’s all you need.
Learn the art of steaming milk: 👉 [Read the Full Guide: How to Make a Latte]
☕ 4. Mocha — “When Coffee Met Chocolate”
One night, exhausted from work and Riyadh traffic, I found myself standing in the kitchen holding a bar of dark chocolate in one hand… and a cup of espresso in the other. I laughed. Why not both?
Years ago in India, I had tasted coffee-flavored cake. At first, I hated the idea — but when I tried it, the bitterness and sweetness danced beautifully. That’s exactly what a Mocha does.
At home, I melted chocolate into fresh espresso. Stirred it slow. Added steamed milk. The first sip tasted like childhood holding hands with adulthood.
For the sweet tooth: 👉 [Read the Full Guide: How to Make a Mocha]
☕ 5. Macchiato — “The Tiny Cup That Refused to Be Ignored”
The first time I ordered a Macchiato, I expected a large drink. Instead, the barista placed a tiny cup in front of me. “That’s it?” He laughed. “Small but strong.”
Inside was a shot of espresso — bold, direct — “marked” with just a dot of milk foam. The first sip surprised me. It was strong, but honest. Sharp, then soft. No sugar. No tricks. Just a confident cup that said: Take me or leave me.
Simple and powerful: 👉 [Read the Full Guide: How to Make a Macchiato]
☕ 6. Spanish Latte — “The Sweet Secret of Saudi Summers”
The first Riyadh summer hit me like a furnace. One boiling afternoon, I stumbled into a café, almost melting. The barista asked, “Spanish Latte?”
He poured espresso over cold milk mixed with condensed milk. The colors blended like a caramel sunset. I took one sip. Cold. Sweet. Comforting. Everything the heat outside was not.
I soon realized: The Spanish Latte is Saudi Arabia’s favorite survival drink.
Beat the heat: 👉 [Read the Full Guide: How to Make a Spanish Latte]
☕ 7. Cold Brew — “The Coffee That Sleeps While You Do”
Cold Brew arrived in my life on a day full of noise, notifications, and mental clutter. I wanted a drink that demanded nothing. At a Jeddah café, a tall glass of Cold Brew caught my eye — dark, calm, peaceful.
At home, I made my own. Coffee + cold water. Stir once. Let it sit overnight. In the morning, it tasted like patience.
The easiest method: 👉 [Read the Full Guide: How to Make Cold Brew]
☕ 8. Cappuccino — “The Old-School Gentleman”
Not every drink needs to be trendy. Some deserve respect. I discovered a perfect Cappuccino in a quiet Riyadh café run by an older barista.
One-third espresso. One-third milk. One-third foam. Simple. Balanced. Timeless. That cup taught me a gentle lesson: Not everything needs reinvention.
A timeless classic: 👉 [Read the Full Guide: How to Make a Cappuccino]
☕ 9. Americano — “The Quiet Companion”
Some days are for focus. On those days, I reach for an Americano — simple, clean, honest. Espresso + hot water. Nothing else.
It keeps me company during long work sessions, without demanding attention. It’s the engineer’s choice for a long night of logic and systems.
Stay focused: 👉 [Read the Full Guide: How to Make an Americano]
☕ 10. Affogato — “When Coffee Dressed Up as Dessert”
Some evenings deserve a celebration — even a small one. That’s when I discovered Affogato. Vanilla ice cream + hot espresso. That’s it.
When I poured the espresso slowly over the ice cream, the two melted into beautiful swirls — hot meeting cold, bitter meeting sweet. It became my Friday night ritual.
The perfect treat: 👉 [Read the Full Guide: How to Make an Affogato]
🌟 Conclusion: Belonging, One Cup at a Time
From Kerala to Riyadh. From filter coffee to specialty cafés. From engineer to storyteller.
This journey wasn’t just about learning recipes. It was about learning to belong. Every cup here has a memory behind it. Every method has a story. And together, they built Saudi Coffee Crafters.
Whenever you need comfort, clarity, sweetness, nostalgia, or celebration—know that every single cup contains a little piece of home, no matter where in the world you drink it.
There is always a cup waiting for you.
Leave a Comment