Nescafe has done an excellent marketing job in the Kingdom and certainly has achieved market penetration. The majority of times when one is out and requests “American” coffee one will receive instant Nescafe! Few places will routinely serve freshly brewed perked coffee. How I recall with longing now when I was in the States and the local grocery stores such as Wegmans, Safeway or Giant would have a dedicated row for perked coffee.
One could choose whether to fill a bag with beans and grind the beans while in the store or as desired in the home. If one did not want to purchase coffee beans there would be choices upon choices of cans in all sizes of ground coffee.
So what does one do in the Kingdom for freshly perked ground American style coffee? On the positive side, coffee cafes are quite popular and in abundance so it is relatively easy to go and purchase freshly brewed coffee by the cupful.
In regards to purchasing a sizeable amount of coffee to perk at home there are fewer options. The local grocery stores will have a few selections of ground coffee in cans but I’ve yet to find a store where one can fill a bag with their own beans.
For myself, I usually send my husband to the nearest Dunkin’ Donuts or Dr. Kaffe (another Kingdom wide coffee café) where one can purchase ground coffee from these establishments. Starbucks will also sell ground coffee but personally I have found the Starbucks coffee to have a slight bitter or burnt taste.
So in closing, if you are coming to the Kingdom and enjoy your perked American style coffee and have a favorite brand, stock up and bring some with you!
Filed under: America, culture, Saudi Arabia, Saudi culture, Saudi customs, travel, Uncategorized
Try a Barnie’s if you have one in Riyadh. I know there are a couple in Jeddah. They will sell you beans or ground. It’s SR 60 for a kilo and they will add hazelnut, vanilla or whatever you want as well.
I remember Barnie’s from the States but do not believe they have them in Riyadh…or at least not near me. They are wonderful!
i love starbucks coffee!
i’m a biut surprised actually, i thought saudi would have its own array of coffee beans to choose from.
Hi Hema, if Saudi has shops where one can select and get their beans ground, I have not found it yet! But I’m hoping…
I remember when i first arrived in Riyadh from the States and i asked for a cup of coffee at a kiosk at the airport. The guy behind the counter handed me a cup of Nescafe!!! And if remember correctly i think i shed a tear. I asked him if he had any real coffee and he just stared at me blankly. That was when i realized that things in Saudi Arabia would be just a tad bit different from the States.
That was four years ago. Now they have at least three different places at the airport where you can get an “acceptable” cup of coffee.
The problem is, most of the coffee shops here will have good espressos, cappuccinos and all those other kind of Italian coffee drinks. But unless you go to Starbucks, Seattle’s Best or Dr.Cafe you’re not going to get a good cup of American brewed coffee. Thats because most of the smaller brand coffee shops will just use espresso beans (which is a darker roast than the usual American roast) to brew American coffee. This usually makes the coffee really strong and bitter. (I just add extra cream to solve this problem)
I normally make coffee every morning at home with a coffee press i bought from IKEA (35 riyals). I buy my coffee from Tammimi (which is Safeway). I usually get Douwe Egbert coffee (I dont know where its imported from because the i can’t understand the writing on the package. I think Germany or the Netherlands). But if you’re really want a good roast try Dr. Coffee. (a knock-off of Dr. Cafe) They sell bags of Green Mountain Coffee (90 riyals a bag). Green Mountain is usually only served at hotels in the States. Its the best coffee i’ve tried so far here in Riyadh.
Here’s another thing that should be pointed out. If you ask for a cup of American coffee at some coffee shops here, they might serve it to you without cream. And if you ask for cream you might just get refused, as i did. I went to a Seattle’s Best and i asked the guy for a cup of coffee with cream and no sugar to go. He refused to put cream in my coffee saying that American coffee is not supposed to be served with cream. With a bit of arguing i finally just grabbed the cream from behind the counter and poured some in my cup.The guy still wasn’t convinced some Americans drink their coffee with cream.
I remember when i first arrived in Riyadh from the States and i asked for a cup of coffee at a kiosk at the airport. The guy behind the counter handed me a cup of Nescafe!!! And if remember correctly i think i shed a tear. I asked him if he had any real coffee and he just stared at me blankly. That was when i realized that things in Saudi Arabia would be just a tad bit different from the States.
That was four years ago. Now they have at least three different places at the airport where you can get an “acceptable” cup of coffee.
The problem is, most of the coffee shops here will have good espressos, cappuccinos and all those other kind of Italian coffee drinks. But unless you go to Starbucks, Seattle’s Best or Dr.Cafe you’re not going to get a good cup of American brewed coffee. Thats because most of the smaller brand coffee shops will just use espresso beans (which is a darker roast than the usual American roast) to brew American coffee. This usually makes the coffee really strong and bitter. (I just add extra cream to solve this problem)
I normally make coffee every morning at home with a coffee press i bought from IKEA (35 riyals). I buy my coffee from Tammimi (which is Safeway). I usually get Douwe Egbert coffee (I dont know where its imported from because the i can’t understand the writing on the package. I think Germany or the Netherlands). But if you’re really want a good roast try Dr. Coffee. (a knock-off of Dr. Cafe) They sell bags of Green Mountain Coffee (90 riyals a bag). Green Mountain is usually only served at hotels in the States. Its the best coffee i’ve tried so far here in Riyadh.
Here’s another thing that should be pointed out. If you ask for a cup of American coffee at some coffee shops here, they might serve it to you without cream. And if you ask for cream you might just get refused, as i did. I went to a Seattle’s Best and i asked the guy for a cup of coffee with cream and no sugar to go. He refused to put cream in my coffee saying that American coffee is not supposed to be served with cream. With a bit of arguing i finally just grabbed the cream from behind the counter and poured some in my cup.The guy still wasn’t convinced some Americans drink their coffee with cream.
Arabicarabic,
Thanks for sharing your experiences! Interestingly I have found that when I’ve been served ‘brewed’ coffee I have had the opposite experience in watching closely that my coffee does not get cream! I still prefer the black coffee with no cream and sugar yet most everyone in my experience thinks that is not right!
There are not as many selections as in the States but thankfully with Dr. Kaffe, Dunkin Donuts, SBC, Starbucks, etc., there are some options!
And I wish to add that at least for me, I like the American coffee in the morning and during the day but at other times, the traditional arabic kawa hits the spot!
There *is* a Barnie’s in Riyadh. At least it was still there the last time I was in Riyadh a year or so ago. I think the street was called “Salah al Deen”
http://www.barnies.com.sa/
Arabicarabic: Douwe Egberts is dutch! I’ve got it in my cupboard right now! Although I don’t like coffee at all, I have to make real coffee for my guests. Serving Nescafé would show me off as a really incredably bad hostess!
Dutch people who go to America tell me American coffee is like dishwater!
The dutch like their coffee really black and bitter. (brrrr)
I always associated Arabia with coffee. Strange that you can’t get lots of different fresh coffee’s over there!
I’m also amazed by all the American franchises you all mention. Is Riyad full of American franchises? Are there other countries’ franchises? (Safeways is english? Used to do my shopping at Safeways in London!) All this sounds really weird to me!
You’re right Aafke, in general I found brewed coffee in Europe to be much stronger than typical American brews. It was quite yummy!
Yes; the Kingdom is chock full of American franchises! In regards to other countries franchises I’m not an expert in regards to the food franchises but I know in regards to clothing shops and other types of shops there are many countries in representation with lovely products.
Is Safeway’s English (as in UK) or American? It is a very popular American food chain as well. Here in the Kingdom while the store will have the Safeway emblem prominently displayed, it is technically called “Tamimi.”
You just need to come visit when it is easier to get a tourist visa and those of us here will arrange to show you the best of the Kingdom!
”Come and visit…”
Woehaha! After reading your blog???
”when it’s easier to get a tourist visa…” I can already see the brochure:
Sun,
Sand,
& Suffering,
in the most evil, oppressive, female unfriendly, country on the planet!
Enjoy the pitturesque Muttawa complaining about the way you eat icecream. Get the chance to finally bring those years of martial-arts lessons into practice as you are being harassed by saudi men, high on testosterone!
Actually: Love to vist, especially as I know now it can get really cold too. And if you promise a long visit to the equestrian centre! And to keep me safe from those giant desert-spiders!
Feel free to delete if I’ve been too wicked about the tourism. I know you like it decent and diplomatic. I just couldn’t resist. }:)
Oh my gosh….i wish you would have posted this on the 6th before I moved here! While the majority of things in Jeddah are easy to get used to, the coffee I am sure will kill me. With my husband being Persian/Italian, I have developed a preference for very strong brewed coffee. I ignorantly thought that I was moving to the land of “fantastic Arabian Coffee”…. Oh my gosh was I wrong! I have only had one good cup of coffee since I arrived, and it was Turkish! I think I will need to begin to eat the coffee grounds undiluted to get the strengh I need!
This posting was just what I needed to feel not so alone in my longing for my espresso blend from home…
Does my blog tend to post a negative unwelcoming picture? I try to post candidly as I see it. It’s true; life here is not for everyone but at the same time, in spite of the differences, one can also have a quality life here.
No; I will not delete your comments because I want to know what people think and what kind of view/impression they are receving.
I’m also happy to say that yes, a long lovely visit to the equestrian centre can be easily arranged!
dear American bedu, your blog is very positive, but even in an objective light many of the things you and others write about I find pretty scary. Perheaps I’m easily scared! And I really got a vision of the brochure, and thought it was funny. In a black humour sort of way. And I’m depressed at the moment, everything’s going wrong, so my current outlook is very black.
On the whole; a lot of things I’ve learned trough your blog did give me a positive impression, especially as I did have some misconceptions, and other stuff I didn’t know before, gave me the willies.
All together: I still would love to visit, so the scales defenitely move to the positive, and that’s because of your writing.
But then, fat chanche, as a single woman I won’t be allowed to.
Thanks for the feedback Aafke. I understand how for some, including yourself, the lifestyle and customs here can seem daunting or overwhelming as they are so very different from the West. But with the right attitude and otulook one can indeed have a fulfilling and high quality life here.
I also must admit that your verbal description of a brochure is humorous and I could envision it clearly as well!
And it was really lovely of you to say: ”Come and visit” !
I haven’t given you proper credit for that.
I’m just so mega-undiplomatic
And when one can experience a new place onder the auspicies of a person who is at home there, then one gets a real and true experience of that place.
I loved living in London, I became good friends with all my several landladies, and they all showed me ”their London” from the inside. And I have a dear indian friend who showed me ”Indian” London. And when my mom came over I showed her my London.
When I was in Spain to learn spanish I became aquainted almost immediately with several people and they showed me some very ”spanish” places.
I much prefer to ”be” in a new place than just be a ”tourist”. And it is the only way to really understand other countries and people.
Sorry rambling on. Stopping now.
One aspect of the diplomatic life which I thoroughly enjoyed was how one had friends from all over the world. I enjoy visiting these friends when possible and ideally in their countries for as you said, Aafke, then you get the “insiders view” that a mere tourist would never experience.
I always remember fondly when one of my dear friends from Sweden came to visit my spouse and I in the USA. You’ll like this – the first night of her arrival we took her to a polo match so she could see my husband play. And we also made every effort to show her the “hidden treasures of Washington DC.”
Elizabeth,
For some reason your comment went to spam so I apologize that it was not viewable sooner. You might find the starbucks coffee to be more to your liking in regards to coffee you can brew from home. But no…you are not alone!
Saudi Jawa,
Yours was another comment which went to spam…don’t know why! I’ll have to investigate more to find out if there is a Barney’s in Riyadh. At least there are also SBC (Seattle’s Best Coffee) at various locations and SBC sells (in my view) stronger flavored coffee.
There used to be a Barney’s in Riyadh. It was in the Salam district by the propane station. I dont know what happed to it. Last i checked it got converted to some small brand coffee shop.
American-Bedu: Your husband playes polo? Wauw! Cool!!!
We had a really interesting documentary on ”Kalaam Nawaem” on dutch tv. Do you watch the show? Looked very interesting to me! They followed the four hostesses. Muna, from KSA had a birthday-party for one of her daughters. I thought birthday-parties weren’t allowed? She doesn’t wear the niqab either, and I saw other women in a mall without niqab. I thought you’d have to wear one?
I’ve never heard of the show! It sounds interesting. Birthday parties do not seem to be routinely celebrated here in KSA but again, it also does happen.
I guess I’ll have to publish my post about the niqqab and veil soon! Covering the face is not required but more of a cultural mandate based on interpretation of religion. So to answer your question, a woman does not have to wear a niqqab if she does not choose to do so.
The show is from mba, (aparently éverybody watches it (except you
) It touches on very controversial subjects website: http://www2.jumptv.com/seo/kalam_nawaem/kalam_nawaem.htm
One of the questions the dutch female producer was asked: Why do you wear such a conservative hijab? (She chose it because it said ‘saudi model’) Her documentaries try to show arab women as they are, not as victims or nobodies in black cloaks.
Assalaamu alaikum…. Cafe Wien is Grenada Mall is good too. Most reasonable prices are in Dr. Cafe IMHO.
Umm Ibrahim, Thanks for reminding me about Cafe Wien in Grenada Mall. Yes, it is good!
Aafke,
Thanks for the link. Yes; I am sooooo behind on shows and films!