ISLAMABAD: The aroma of freshly roasted coffee welcomes you as you enter Shagf in the heart of the capital of Pakistan.
Customers sip Arabic kahwa or coffee from date-side porcelain shot glasses as waiters buzz from trays of tall spouted, curved metal utensils.

Behind the counter, espresso machines dispense thick, concentrated coffee, while raucous baristas stir the mix in cocktail shakers.

Customers can order coffee grown in the UAE at Shaghaf, which means passion, a cafe chain that originated in the UAE and opened a branch in Islamabad last month, and spiced with cardamom and ginger Mixtures can be enjoyed in a carefully designed venue that presents a bold, modern take on a long-loved Arabic drink.

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"People in Pakistan really like Arabic brands because of their ties to the UAE and Saudi Arabia," Rana Tausif, owner of Shagaf's Islamabad franchise, told Arab News at the 150th cafe in the Middle East.

"As you know, there are many different brands in the Pakistani market, but I believe this is the first time a fully Arabic brand under the name of Shaf has been brought to Pakistan."

“We serve Arabic Coffee and Kahwa, Turkish Coffee and Arabic Frapps which are not available anywhere else in Pakistan,” explained Tauseef.

Customers can also order a date latte, peach flavored tea, pomegranate and rose hibiscus and pearl milk tea. Brownies and cakes, including saffron tres leches, are available from a long list of desserts for those with a sweet tooth.

"It's a very nice, very friendly atmosphere – a really nice cozy place to sit if you're interested in coffee or desserts," customer Osama Ehsan said via a slice of chocolate cake. "It's a great place in the heart of Islamabad."

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Dr. Mohamed Abdul Momin, a Yemeni citizen living in Islamabad, praised the cafe's atmosphere, saying it reminded him of his homeland.

Coffee is believed to have been invented in Yemen, one of the poorest countries in the Middle East.

"Because we (the people of the Middle East) are used to it, we can appreciate the taste," Momin explained. "I would say this is one of the really good Arabic kahwahs that you can only find in a few places in Pakistan."

"Whenever I need a break, I come to Shagf because it was very difficult to find a place like this before," he said.
Hamna Ateeq, a young customer working on her laptop at a corner table, said she "really liked" the idea of ​​introducing Arabic cuisine to Islamabad.

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"Shagaff's atmosphere is very casual, and I enjoy their desserts," she explained. "So far, their (shagaf's) taste is amazing ... Based on what I've tried, I'd say Arabic cuisine must be fantastic."