Best Specialty Coffee Roasters in Riyadh for Serious Coffee Drinkers

Riyadh's coffee scene has changed more in the last five years than in the previous fifty. What was once a city of instant coffee and cardamom-heavy Turkish brews has become one of the most exciting destinations in the Gulf for specialty coffee roasters in Riyadh. I have spent the better part of three years visiting nearly every roastery in this sprawling capital, and what follows is the guide I wish someone had handed me when I first started taking coffee seriously here.

The Roots of Riyadh's Third Wave Coffee Movement

The story of Riyadh third wave coffee begins not in a café but in the homes of a handful of Saudi roasters who traveled to Ethiopia, Colombia, and Japan in the early 2010s and came back convinced that Saudi Arabia could produce world-class roasted coffee. That conviction has paid off. Today, Riyadh hosts a growing network of artisan roasters who source single origin beans from Yemeni highlands, Brazilian cerrado farms, and Ethiopian Yirgacheffe cooperatives, all roasted on-site in small batches and served by baristas who can tell you the altitude and processing method of every pour-over on the menu.

Most of these roasters cluster in the northern corridor of the city, along Tahlia Street and the surrounding neighborhoods of Al Olaya, Al Sulaimaniyah, and Hittin. But the scene has spread south into Al Malaz and east toward the ring road, following the young professionals and university students who made Riyadh's café culture what it is. If you are a serious coffee drinker, you will find that the best single origin coffee Riyadh offers rivals anything in Dubai or Amman, and at a fraction of the price.

One thing most visitors do not realize is that the Saudi government's Vision 2030 initiative has poured enormous investment into the food and beverage sector, and specialty coffee has been a direct beneficiary. Roasters here benefit from subsidized commercial rents in certain districts, and the Saudi Coffee Company (a state-backed entity) has helped fund training programs that send young Saudis to origin countries to learn cupping and roasting. That means the barista pulling your V60 at a roastery on Tahlia likely has a diploma from Addis Ababa or Bogotá, and the beans in your cup were roasted within the week.

Barn Coffee Roasters

Barn Coffee Roasters sits on the corner of a quiet side street off Tahlia Street, a short walk from the main strip. The roastery has become one of the most recognized names among Riyadh's specialty coffee scene, and it is easy to see why. The interior is minimalist, almost industrial, with exposed concrete and a long marble bar where you can watch the roaster at work. They roast their own beans on-site, and the smell alone is worth the visit.

What makes Barn worth going is the single origin menu, which rotates seasonally and features beans from Yemeni highlands, Brazilian cerrado, and Ethiopian Yirgacheffe. The baristas here are trained in both espresso and manual brew methods, and they will walk you through the cupping notes of each origin if you ask. A single cup of their pour-over costs around 25 to 35 riyals, and the space fills up quickly on weekday mornings.

The best time to visit is mid-morning on a weekday, before the lunch rush, when the crowd thins out and you can actually talk to the roaster. Most tourists would not know that Barn also runs a small training lab in the back where they host cupping sessions for aspiring roasters, and if you ask nicely, they might let you sit in.

Local tip: the roastery sources some of its beans from a cooperative in the Haraz region of Yemen, and those lots sell out within days. Parking outside is a nightmare on weekends, so arrive early or use ride-share.

Dose Coffee Roasters

Dose Coffee Roasters is tucked into a side street in the Hittin neighborhood, and it has become a gathering spot for Riyadh's creative class, designers, and anyone who cares about the best single origin coffee Riyadesh has to offer. The space is warm, with low lighting and a curated playlist that leans toward lo-fi and ambient, and the bar is always busy from the moment the doors open at 7 a.m.

What makes Dose worth going is the single origin menu, which features a rotating selection of beans from Yemen, Colombia, and Ethiopia, all roasted in small batches. The baristas here are genuinely knowledgeable about processing methods, and they will explain the difference between natural, washed, and honey-processed beans without making you feel rushed. A cup of pour-over runs about 20 to 30 riyals, and the outdoor seating is perfect for people-watching.

The best time to visit is mid-afternoon, when the morning crowd has thinned and the light through the front windows hits the counter just right. Most tourists would not know that Dose also runs a small retail shelf with bags of their house blend, and if you mention you are visiting from abroad, they will often throw in a sample of their limited Yemeni lot.

Local tip: the Wi-Fi drops out near the back tables, so if you need to work, grab a seat at the bar. The roasting schedule is posted on their Instagram story each Monday.

Elixir Coffee Roasters

Elixir is one of the older names in Riyadh's specialty coffee scene, and it shows in the confidence of the menu. Located in the Al Olaya district, a short drive from the Kingdom Centre, Elixir has been roasting its own beans since before the current wave of cafés hit the city. The space is sleek, with dark wood and brass fixtures, and the espresso machine is a La Marzocca Linea that the head barista maintains with almost religious devotion.

What makes Elixir worth going is the depth of their single origin offerings. They source directly from farms in Sidamo, Huila, and the Haraz mountains, and the roast profiles are dialed in for both espresso and filter. A double shot of their Ethiopian natural process runs about 22 riyals, and it is one of the best espresso drinks in the city. The food menu is small but well-executed, with pastries baked in-house each morning.

The best time to visit is early morning, before 9 a.m., when the pastries are fresh and the barista has time to talk you through the day's offerings. Most tourists would not know that Elixir's head roaster trained in Melbourne and still consults for several Australian cafés, which explains the precision of the extraction.

Local tip: the outdoor seating gets uncomfortably warm in peak summer, so from June through September, sit inside near the back where the AC is strongest. Parking in Al Olaya is notoriously difficult after 10 a.m., so consider using the metro station a few blocks away.

Kaf Coffee Roasters

Kaf Coffee Roasters sits on a quiet stretch of Al Thumamah Road, north of the city center, and it feels like a place that exists slightly outside of time. The roastery is attached to a small café with floor-to-ceiling windows that look out onto a gravel garden. The owner, a Saudi who spent years in Portland, Oregon, before returning home, roasts on a small Probat machine and sources beans from a rotating list of origins that has included Panama Geisha, Kenyan AA, and Yemeni Mocha.

What makes Kaf worth going is the attention to detail. Every cup is weighed, timed, and logged. The baristas here treat brewing as a craft, not a transaction, and they will adjust grind size and water temperature based on the humidity of the day, which in Riyadh can swing dramatically between seasons. A cup of their Panama Geisha pour-over runs about 45 riyals, and it is worth every halala.

The best time to visit is late afternoon, when the light comes through the windows at an angle that makes the whole space glow. Most tourists would not know that Kaf also sells green (unroasted) beans to home roasters, and they offer a monthly workshop on home roasting techniques.

Local tip: the café closes for a few hours during Dhuhr prayer time, so plan your visit around the prayer schedule, which is posted on their door. The gravel garden out back is a surprisingly peaceful spot to sit if you arrive right at opening.

Mocha Coffee Roasters

Mocha Coffee Roasters is located in the Al Malaz neighborhood, east of the city center, and it represents a slightly different strand of Riyadh's coffee culture. While many roasters in the city focus on light roasts and fruity profiles, Mocha leans into medium-dark roasts with chocolate and nut notes, a style that appeals to Saudi drinkers who grew up on traditional qahwa but want something more refined.

What makes Mocha worth going is the Yemeni single origin menu. They source directly from farms in the Bani Matar and Hayma regions of Yemen, and the beans are roasted to highlight the deep, wine-like fruitiness that Yemeni coffee is known for. A cup of their Yemeni pour-over costs about 28 riyals, and it is served in a small ceramic cup that keeps the coffee warm longer than glass.

The best time to visit is on a Thursday evening, when the café stays open later and the crowd is a mix of university students and older regulars. Most tourists would not know that Mocha's owner is part of a Saudi-Yemeni trade cooperative that reinvests a portion of profits into farming communities in the Haraz mountains.

Local tip: the café is on the second floor of a commercial building, and the entrance is easy to miss. Look for the small sign next to the pharmacy on the ground floor. The stairs are narrow, so if you are carrying a large bag, leave it at the bottom.

Over Coffee Roasters

Over Coffee Roasters is a relative newcomer, having opened its doors in the Hittin district in 2022, but it has already built a loyal following among Riyadh's serious coffee drinkers. The space is small, with seating for maybe twenty people, and the roasting operation is visible through a glass partition behind the bar. They roast on a Loring S15 Falcon, one of the cleanest-burning roasters on the market, and the result is a cup with remarkable clarity.

What makes Over worth going is the single origin filter menu, which changes every two weeks and features lots from Colombia, Ethiopia, and occasionally Indonesia. The baristas here are meticulous about water chemistry, using a custom mineral blend for each origin. A cup of their Colombian Gesha runs about 38 riyals, and the floral notes are stunning.

The best time to visit is on a Saturday morning, right after opening, when the first roast of the day is still cooling and the barista has time to chat. Most tourists would not know that Over also supplies beans to several high-end restaurants in the city, including a well-known Japanese spot on Tahlia Street.

Local tip: the café does not have its own parking lot, and the street parking in Hittin fills up fast on weekends. Use the underground garage of the nearby shopping center, which is free for the first two hours.

Shoresh Coffee Roasters

Shoresh Coffee Roasters sits on a side street in the Al Wurud neighborhood, south of the city center, and it is one of the few roasters in Riyadh that focuses almost exclusively on Ethiopian beans. The owner, an Ethiopian-Saudi who grew up in Addis Ababa before moving to Riyadh as a teenager, sources directly from cooperatives in Yirgacheffe, Guji, and Sidama, and the roast profiles are designed to preserve the delicate floral and citrus notes that make Ethiopian coffee so distinctive.

What makes Shoresh worth going is the authenticity of the experience. The café serves traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremonies on request, with green beans roasted on a small pan over charcoal, ground by hand, and brewed in a jebena clay pot. A full ceremony, which takes about 45 minutes and includes three rounds of coffee, costs about 60 riyals per person, and it is one of the most memorable coffee experiences in the city.

The best time to visit is on a weekday afternoon, when the café is quiet and the owner is often behind the bar. Most tourists would not know that Shoresh also imports small batches of Ethiopian spices and incense, which are available for purchase at the counter.

Local tip: the café is in a residential area, and the signage is minimal. Use Google Maps and look for the blue door next to a small grocery store. The neighborhood is safe and walkable, but it is not well-served by taxis, so plan your ride home in advance.

The Roasting House

The Roasting House is located in the Al Sulaimaniyah district, near the intersection of King Fahd Road and Olaya Street, and it is one of the most polished specialty coffee experiences in Riyadh. The space is large, with high ceilings, a mezzanine level, and a glass-walled roasting room where you can watch the team work on their Giesen W6A. They roast over twenty origins at any given time, and the menu is organized by region and processing method.

What makes The Roasting House worth going is the sheer range of their single origin offerings. On any given day, you might find a natural-processed Brazilian, a washed Kenyan, a honey-processed Costa Rican, and a traditional Yemeni, all roasted within the past week. The baristas are trained to guide you through the menu based on your preferences, and they will brew a sample of any origin as a small pour-over for a few riyals so you can taste before committing.

The best time to visit is on a Sunday or Monday morning, when the weekend crowd has cleared and the roasting team is often doing small-batch experiments that end up as limited offerings. Most tourists would not know that The Roasting House also operates a wholesale program that supplies beans to hotels and offices across the city, and they offer a subscription service with free delivery.

Local tip: the mezzanine level has the best seats in the house, but they fill up fast. Arrive before 8 a.m. on weekends to claim a spot. The café can get noisy during the lunch rush, so if you want a quiet conversation, come before 11 a.m. or after 2 p.m.

When to Go and What to Know

Riyadh's specialty coffee scene operates on a rhythm that is shaped by the city's climate, prayer schedule, and social culture. Most roasteries open between 6 and 7 a.m. and close around 11 p.m. or midnight, but they will close for 20 to 30 minutes during each of the five daily prayer times. The busiest periods are from 7 to 9 a.m. and from 8 to 10 p.m., so if you want a quiet experience, aim for mid-morning or mid-afternoon.

The best single origin coffee Riyadh has to offer is generally available year-round, but certain lots, especially Yemeni and Ethiopian, are seasonal and sell out quickly. Follow your favorite roasters on Instagram, as most announce new arrivals and limited releases there first. Prices for a single cup of pour-over range from 20 to 50 riyals, and most places accept card, though a few smaller spots are cash-only.

If you are visiting from abroad, keep in mind that Riyadh is a car-centric city, and many roasters are in neighborhoods that are not well-served by public transit. Ride-hailing apps like Uber and Careem are reliable and affordable. Dress codes are relaxed in most specialty coffee shops, but modest clothing is appreciated, especially in more traditional neighborhoods like Al Malaz.

Finally, do not be afraid to ask questions. The baristas and roasters in Riyadh are proud of what they are building, and most are happy to talk about their craft. That conversation, more than any single cup, is what makes exploring the artisan roasters Riyadh has to offer such a rewarding experience.