#coffee beans Archives

My overriding review of Kaldi Africa is that everyone needs to visit. As Lagos in recent years adopted restaurant and dining out culture, cafés exploded in every corner though coffee roasteries have remained few. There are currently only two coffee roasteries in Lagos. Mai Shayi Coffee is one and Kaldi Africa is the other. Check out my previous post about Mai Shayi Coffee.

Kaldi Africa is located inside Nigerian Foundries in Ilupeju. My first thought when I walked into the café was wow! what a cute place with African inspired decor. I very much loved the decor of the café.

I did some background research before visiting and was very excited to try their specialty coffees. Unfortunately, the server that attended to me at first told me all coffee brews were unavailable which then encouraged me to settle for a dirty chai latte.

While enjoying my latte, I struck a conversation with one of the coffee machine engineers and asked him for reasons why the coffee brews were unavailable. He then apologised on behalf of the server and told me that the specialty brew machines were sent off for repairs but I could have a Buna coffee (Ethiopian traditional coffee) which didn’t require any special machines to be prepared.

In comparison to the dirty chai latte, the texture of the Buna was very smooth, it felt more like high quality tea than coffee.

I also ordered for Grilled Chicken with Chips (very reasonably priced) and enjoyed every single bite.

I observed that the menu I was given had greatly changed from the one I previously saw online. This new menu was very trimmed and featured regular grub compared to Ethiopian-centric dishes of the old menu

Here’s me enjoying my Buna complete with sweet smelling incense 👇🏾

Kaldi Africa also offers tours of the Coffee Roastery, complete with lunch and a coffee tasting session. The full package tour is ₦25,000, this also includes a Glass Blowing session at Kaldi’s sister company called Igo Glass. Igo glass makes use of recycled glass to create different types of glass products. Click here for my post about my visit to their glass souvenir shop.

I briefly met Dr Nasra Ali, she’s one of the co-founders of Kaldi Africa, a medical doctor formerly with W.H.O (World Health Organisation) and is now a full blown entrepreneur. Kaldi coffee is available in big chain supermarkets across the country as well as in duty free shops at the airpots. You can also buy their products in the café or order online

Kaldi Africa is not just a coffee shop/roastery. They also provide barista training and sell/repair coffee machines. I’m excited for the future of this African company and cannot wait to hear about their increasing successes in future.

Until next time from your top guide in fine living.

Love,

Nwaanyi Ije

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Sapetro Towers | Instagram

I believe coffee is one of the most sophisticated flavours on earth. It is popular knowledge that coffee is good for health but asides from medical benefits, I just love the taste of coffee.

I visited Mai Shayi Coffee (@maishayicoffee) this past weekend. It is located at Sapetro Towers at the beginning of Adeola Odeku Street in Victoria Island, Lagos.

This was my second visit and I was a little disappointed that they had moved to smaller quarters in the same building. The attendants said they moved so they could have space for their roastery as well as the kitchen. However, their seating area felt cramped especially as Sunday had many visitors.

There’s a nice guide at the roastery to talk to you about the origins of coffee as well as the many blends and origins of their coffee beans.

I had a soy vanilla latte and my drinking partner had a flat white martini.

Flat White Martini (left) & Soy Vanilla Latte (right)

I took a sip of the martini and my mind was blown by the perfect blend of flavours. Who knew that expresso, irish cream, coffee liquour, vodka and sugar syrup could taste so divine?

The food menu had also been expanded from my last visit and now they offer a good selection of breakfast and brunch items. If you want a chill place for conversation, coffee, good food and drinks, then Mai Shayi Coffee is the place to go.

N/B: Laptops are not allowed. This is not your regular street side coffee shop where you’d expect to get some work done, as the primary objective for Mai Shayi Coffee is dining and conversation.

Until next time, from your top guide in fine living.

Love,

Nwaanyi Ije