Cafe Rider Roastery 2.0
Introducing our brand-spanking-new Roastery space!
Cafe Rider opened its doors in 2013 with an espresso bar and a motorcycle workshop. The space was mostly empty, representing vast potential for growth. We've already been over how the space has transformed into the one you visit today, but the Roastery deserves more prominence within this timeline.
Established in 2015, the Cafe Rider Roastery was born in one corner of the cafe space in response to a lack of quality and consistency within coffee suppliers at the time. Dubai's roasting community was still in its infancy, with quality standards being a hit-or-miss affair for the most part. In order to rectify this issue while upholding the Cafe Rider quality standard, we decided to bring coffee roasting in-house. Initially, the idea was that the coffee would be roasted for the espresso bar, while also being sold for retail.
Those were early days and through a measure of trial and experimentation, the roasters have perfected their roasting methods, while also cementing the Roastery's profile within the coffee community at large. We've always believed that a collaborative approach is more rewarding, especially in the long term and head roaster Gideon has embodied this ethos from day one. From organizing and hosting events like the Brewer's Cup last year, to working with coffee suppliers throughout the region, he and his team (Roasters Maurice and Prince) have taken the Roastery to new heights.
Additionally, the Roastery has also been nimble. Sourcing beans at short notice for a special edition coffee for our Anniversary last year, or putting together a Festive Blend for the holiday season may seem like a tall task for other roasters, but not for our team.
With the growth of the coffee community globally, crucial information has become much easier to access as roasters from different regions can communicate effectively. The fact that we now source from global coffee producers like Indonesia, India, Brazil, Kenya, Ethiopia and Congo is something we wouldn't have dreamt of a few years ago and yet they're already on our shelves as part of our Anniversary coffee line.
While the Roastery's footprint within the community grew, we began roasting for wholesale clients. Hotels, cafes, hospitals and corporate establishments all came knocking and it quickly became clear that our only limit was a physical one - the size of our current Roastery space and of our current Giesen roasting machine.
Slowly but steadily, our new Roastery space was built out. We take pride in the fact that the Cafe Rider Roastery is no longer a corner space within the Cafe, but a purpose-built production facility, which still retains its connections to the Cafe, physical and otherwise.
A major step up then, but it isn't an isolated move. Over the last eighteen months, Ruthie, our Wholesale Accounts Manager, has been instrumental in setting up the Roastery's sales infrastructure and client network, which now includes the latest addition to the team, Sales Professional Tony Sebastian.
A few words from the team:
"The new space is a milestone in Cafe Rider history! We were roasting only for our own consumption, for our espresso bar a couple of years ago and now we are supplying to cafes, hotels, and offices. We are very proud of this organic growth and the expansion of the Roastery means that this is just the beginning. The new space symbolizes a commitment to innovation and elevation of coffee experience for our clients and consumers, and setting the stage for the next era of Cafe Rider."
- Head Roaster Gideon Canido
"Finally, the big reveal is here. After trudging through paperwork and construction dust, it's time to unveil the sparkle of a fully operational coffee roastery at Cafe Rider Custom in Dubai. The wheels and gears have engaged, and now, let's keep them moving! This space, where craftsmanship, quality, and community converge, is not just a roastery; it's the heart of our B2B strategy, fostering relationships with suppliers and clients alike. It's a platform to showcase our commitment to exceptional coffee experiences tailored to each partnership, empowering us to deliver excellence every step of the way. The new space will allow us to expand our B2B partnerships, not only by acquiring new clients but also by nurturing our cherished current clients, strengthening bonds and creating enduring connections within the industry."
- Wholesale Account Manager Ruthie Knudsen
We've always been serious about our coffee, but actions speak much louder than words. With 2024 just around the corner, we're confident in saying that the year will be a good one. Watch out Dubai!