The year that was - 2022

It seems like the year was just getting started properly... and in the blink of an eye we've already reached the last few days of December! 

“Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
                                                                                                  ― Ferris Bueller

Fortunately, there were multiple opportunities to stop and look around throughout the year, in the form of the numerous community events we hosted. 

Our event calendar kicked off in late January with the "Aircooled Assembly," a very well-attended gathering of aircooled Porsches, VWs and a very conspicuous Morgan 3-Wheeler. The weather played ball and the street echoed to the sound of numerous aircooled engines breathing in the crisp morning air. 

Barely a few weeks later, we found ourselves on the road to Jebel Jais with 40 bikers in tow as part of the season's biggest Caffeine Cruise. It's always surreal to ride with a large pack especially with the sun rising in front of us. An easy cruise culminated at the summit of Jais mountain for a scenic Cafe Rider breakfast. 

We'd been mulling the idea of an educational day out for bikers and were very pleased to partner up with the ADV Moto Skillz team to do just that! Just outside Al Qudra, we created the perfect environment for both novices and intermediate riders to learn the basics of handling a bike in the sand. Much was learnt by all that day and we look forward to hosting similar events in the future. 

Everyone loves a good birthday party, right?  So do we! For the Cafe's 8th birthday we went all out and took over the alley with bikes, BBQ and very good vibes for a celebratory evening with our friends, fans and well-wishers. 

As the mercury began to rise, outdoor events reduced but we didn't slow down. For the first time in Cafe Rider history, we hosted the Brewer's Cup, a concept that was planned and executed by our Roastery team. The competition was fierce, the judges remained impartial and in the end, there could only be one winner. The event was very well-received by the coffee community and we plan on making it a regular fixture on our event calendar. 

In an effort to bolster the level of conversation within the community, we hosted a panel discussion at the Cafe. Titled "Trade Routes: Finding Parallels Between Coffee & Cacao," it quickly morphed into a high-level discussion highlighting the oft-overlooked similarities between the respective worlds of specialty coffee and premium chocolate. Our panelists provided us with ample material to think about, while being emcee'd by our very own Ruthie Knudsen. 

In a complete change of direction, we then hosted "Bricks and Brews," a morning celebrating LEGO. Little did we know, the enthusiasm for the colorful bricks runs deep! We were pleasantly surprised by the turnout, with both children and adults admiring the various LEGO creations on display, and eventually turning the event into a runaway success. 

With colder weather on the horizon, the calls for a Caffeine Cruise began coming in thick and fast. Coffee was brewed, tanks were brimmed, briefings were completed and we hit the road early one morning, 60 strong, heading for Hatta Dam. A great mix of regulars and first-timers joined us for this one, giving us a proper opportunity to catch up with our riding community after a long and hot summer. 

That brought us squarely into the holiday season, where the Roastery stepped up again, this time with the "Festive Blend." A combination of Rwandan and Colombian beans, this new addition is not destined to stay on our shelves for long so snap it up while you can! 

As we take Mr. Bueller's advice and reflect on the year gone by, we can't help but feel proud, while looking optimistically to 2023. We've got a few things in store for you and when the time is right (soon!) you'll be invited for a party. That said, everyone is invited to all our parties, so stay tuned! 

May your coffee cup runneth over 

May your tank never run dry 

Be Original.

Be Free.