The Dubai Coffee Museum is located in the alleys of the Al Fahidi Historical District in the historic Al Bastakiya district. The Al Bastakiya district is also known as Dubai’s open-air museum and, with its characteristic wind towers and traditional houses made of mud and coral lime, provides a fitting atmosphere for the Coffee Museum.
The museum, which is free to visit, opened its doors at the end of 2014 and, despite its small size, is an enrichment to the already varied range of sights in Dubai. Anyone who enters the museum is immediately welcomed by the intense smell and characteristic aromas of coffee. As a visitor to the museum you will gain insight into the complete story of the coffee bean: from tracing the right coffee beans to the complicated process of roasting and grinding the beans until they are actually coffee.
Discover the origin of coffee
The two-story museum is designed as a interactive museum and features several authentic coffee grinders and coffee machines. The museum also has 300-year-old clay coffee pots from Yemen, 400-year-old objects from the Ottoman Empire. It takes you back in time. They have various other utensils related to coffee from Arab, European and Western countries.
The centrepiece of the museum is a beautiful silver Egyptian burner on the ground floor which was specially custom made for the Museum. This Ibrik, a metal pot with a long wooden handle, is placed directly on a bed of sand and fired over charcoal, which ensures an even heat, resulting in a perfect brew.
On the top floor there is a library full of rare books about coffee. There are also various rooms where you can watch documentaries about coffee. Various coffee beans and coffee accessories are offered for sale in the shop.
Sample fresh brews
In the courtyard of the museum you can enjoy fresh Arabic, Ethiopian or Egyptian coffee, prepared on site in a traditional way by the local barista. According to Arabic tradition, the coffee is served with a bowl of dates. Those who prefer to drink more common coffee can go to the coffee bar on the first floor. Cafe late macchiatos, espressos and cappuccinos are served here.
Where can you find the Dubai Coffee Museum?
The Dubai Coffee Museum is open from Saturday to Thursday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM and is free to visis. The museum is located in the Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood in the Al Bastakiya district in villa 44.
If you want to travel to the Dubai Coffee Museum by metro, you can get off at Al Fahidi Metro Station. Then follow the signs to the Dubai Museum until you reach the Al Fahidi roundabout. Here you can find the entrance to the museum. Those who come by water taxi must get off at the Deira Old Souq (20) or Al Shabkha Station (21). The nearest stop with the water bus is the Dubai Old Souq stop.
For more information about the coffee museum, visit the official website.
