Karachi: The aroma of freshly roasted coffee and the sounds of Arabic music can be heard even from the street outside Kim's, a Saudi coffee chain that has recently opened in the centre of Islamabad, Pakistan.

Shiny traditional Middle Eastern pots are on display on a busy coffee station inside the humming cafe, next to an espresso machine dripping a thick, dark brew.

The mural on the wall to the left of the roomy coffee shop depicts famous buildings from the various nations where Kim's has locations, including Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, the UK, Egypt, and now Pakistan. Islamabad has seen a recent influx of Middle Eastern restaurants and cafes.

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Islamabad recently welcomed a new Shaghf cafe location. Since 2021, a little coffee shop called KAF has been serving Arabic qahwa. It was started by three Pakistani friends who were born and raised in the Gulf.

One of the most well-known restaurants in the capital is Arz Lebanon in Islamabad's upscale Jinnah Super Market, and Serai Bistro has been serving Lebanese, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern cuisine for many years in the city's diplomatic district. Of course, the Iranian eatery Omar Khayyam is regarded as a landmark in Islamabad.

With 33 locations already established in Saudi Arabia, Kim's is now expanding into Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, with the opening of a cafe in November 2022.

Arabic coffee, also known as qahwa locally, is a staple beverage in Middle Eastern culture. It is traditionally prepared with a combination of herbs like cardamom, cloves, and saffron and served in a traditional coffee pot called a dallah with a side of dates. Kim's has a similar specialty to Shaghf and KAF.

Our coffee beans are made, prepared, and roast in Saudi Arabia before being shipped here. Zaid Iqbal, general manager of Kim's coffee in Islamabad, told Arab News at the cafe, which has a contemporary feel and walls covered in large neon signs, that the roasting process brings out the flavour in the coffee.

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Despite the meticulous design of Kim's interior, many patrons claimed that the aroma and flavour of the coffee were what initially drew them in.
Amna, a mother of four, said, "Honestly, when we went upstairs, we realised that the aroma here was quite nice and we thought we might as well try this place." We were unaware that this was a Turkish or Arabic coffee shop.

Twenty-something coffee connoisseur Muhammad Saifullah, who had come to Kim's to sample genuine Middle Eastern blends, praised the qahwa's distinct flavour and mentioned that he particularly liked the saffron's hint.

Since there are "very few places in Pakistan serving authentic Arabic coffee," Saifullah said he was happy to have discovered the cafe. "This Arabian qahwa has different spices like saffron and cardamom added to it, and it's served with a side of dates which makes it different from the European style of coffees that we are used to drinking here in Pakistan."

A young barista at Kim's named Rumman Khan claimed that Kim's staff, who had immigrated from Saudi Arabia to Pakistan, had taught him how to make Arabic qahwa. He described how the qahwa preparation was much more time-consuming than brewing espresso-style coffee.

Khan pointed to the machine behind him and explained that the coffee beans used for cappuccinos, lattes, and other Western coffee beverages were ground there.

But in this pot, Arabic coffee is made by boiling it in water. This (Western) coffee is completely different from that one (qahwah).

Kim's menu also features western blends, lattes, cappuccinos, mochaccinos, and flavoured teas from around the world in addition to its signature Arabic coffee. Beverage prices range from 300 Pakistani rupees ($1.1) to 600.
Sandwiches, burgers, and steaks are just a few of the available food options.

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Young businessman Al-Hassan claimed that Kim's food was "healthy, organic, and very light on the stomach," adding that he enjoyed going there after work.
The dates help with the taste even though the qahwa is a little stronger than the coffee I'm used to.