
Coffee is one of the most popular drinks worldwide, but it has a special status in Saudi Arabia.
The aromatic drink has become a symbol of Saudi culture and identity and a source of inspiration for Saudi literature, poetry and songs for generations.
In 2022, the Saudi Ministry of Culture officially changed the name of Arabic coffee into Saudi coffee, to highlight coffee’s role in shaping the Kingdom’s identity, and distinguish Saudi coffee from other regional coffee.
Recognizing this, Engineer Abdullah Al-Higres, a researcher in the history of coffee, established the first coffee museum in Saudi Arabia, in Al-Shuqaiq village, Al-Ahsa, in 2016.
Al-Ahsa Coffee Museum
Al-Ahsa Coffee Museum is designed to showcase the heritage and culture of coffee in Saudi Arabia and highlight its status as a sign of Saudi hospitality and generosity.
Moreover, the museum displays the history of coffee, its origins, and methods of harvest, roasting, grinding and preparation. It also includes a laboratory to conduct scientific research on coffee beans.
The Museum features a section for serving various coffee samples to visitors for a rich and enjoyable experience.
Coffee Tools
Al-Ahsa Coffee Museum consists of several sections that exhibit more than 717 antiquities, including ancient tools used to harvest and make coffee throughout the ages. Among the heritage tools is the famous Al-Raslan Dallah, one of the best coffee pots in Al-Ahsa.
Furthermore, the museum displays the finest coffee beans in 12 countries. It also tells the history of coffee and how it reached Makkah, in addition to displaying information about the development of coffee making and craftsmanship throughout the history.
Coffee in Al-Ahsa
Al-Ahsa Coffee Museum exhibits historical documents that reveal the role of Al-Aqir historical port in importing, storing and exporting coffee to other Gulf countries.
One of the displayed documents is related to the imposition of Zakat on coffee in Al-Ahsa before the unification of the Kingdom.