I am truly moved by so many of you asking about my next newsletter. Knowing that you are reading it makes my heart happy, and I am grateful for that. I have been experiencing illness for the past month. Thankfully, it’s nothing serious, but it has served as a crucial reminder that our bodies can only endure so much before they need a break.
I have gained a valuable lesson from this experience, which is to place health above almost everything else. Taking care of ourselves is essential, yes, but it also gives us an opportunity to think of those who are less fortunate who do not have access to basic amenities like food, clothing and shelter, let alone healthcare.
The Attractions of Sabaku I adore Japan. I love the desert. Sabaku is a harmonious blend made by combining the two. The Japanese word translates to “desert”, symbolizing a serene oasis that offers a fusion of Japanese flavors and specialty coffee.
The interiors of the cafe draws heavily from wabi-sabi aesthetics, a Japanese concept that embraces transience and imperfection. Inspired by the vastness of the desert, you’ll find natural wood grain patterns on the furniture adding warmth and simplicity; muted marble countertops seamlessly integrating into the space; oriental rugs add touches of color, culture, and richness; various ferns and shrubs elevating the tranquility of the café.
The overall space is clean, uncluttered, with muted color palettes and simple lines that create a serene, calming atmosphere.
I opted for the espresso flight on the menu, featuring a Colombian espresso and a piccolo perfectly blended with distilled milk, tasting almost like melted ice cream. My coffee, expertly prepared by Kohei Miyagawa, was flawless.
The Omurice, which is Japanese fried rice with a tornado egg on top, is one of my personal favorites. something that should be tried before you leave. August, the Aeropress month
As the UAE AeroPress Championship approached, I had to connect with Alex Bernardo, the 2023 UAE Aeropress Champion who also placed top 4 in the World, to understand what’s at stake. This year’s event was the biggest in the world with over 400 competitors making it a world record.
I met with him at Toga Coffee, not to brew coffee with an Aeropress, but to sit down and enjoy a good conversation. Alas, a good cup of coffee was needed to share the excitement. He prepared a washed Colombian from Bob Coffee Lab, part of their exclusive series with primary notes of berries and orange candy in this beautiful coffee.
Alex spoke about the Aeropress competition and reminded me that no matter what the recipe was going to be, practicing the technique incessantly and being composed during the competition is what will separate you from the rest. Words of wisdom right there.
Before the UAE Aeropress Championship kicked off, a warm-up session was organized at ROR Coffee Solution. Estella Zuleta Carmona, Mohamed Alameeri and Dragoslav Džudović delivered an impressive presentation on how to elevate your Aeropress skills. A small competition was then held replicating the rules of the Aeropress Championship which gave attendees a glimpse of the experience they were about to encounter on the big day. Nour AlBaash, Mbonye Brigth Richardz and Pradeep secured 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in the warmup competition.
And then came the actual championship — 403 competitors battled it out over 3 days with Sonam Dorje Sherpa emerging as the 2024 UAE Aeropress Champion. Congratulations to the runners up — Patrick and Alfred Samson for placing 2nd and 3rd respectively.
