In Salmiya there is a coffee roastery listed on Google Maps as open 24 hours. “48 East” on Salem Al-Mubarak Street runs day and night, while its other branch in Shuwaikh shuts at 11. The two carry the same name but do not do the same job.
Two branches, two different jobs
- Salmiya — 123 Salem Al-Mubarak Street. Open 24 hours. Listed as a coffee roastery, rated 4.7 on Google Maps from 342 reviews.
- Shuwaikh — Street 77 / 68, Shuwaikh Industrial. From 7 in the morning to 11 at night. Its listed name adds the word bakery, and the menu shown carries tiramisu and focaccia alongside the coffee. Rated 4.3 from 195 reviews, with a stated average spend of 1 to 5 dinars a head.
One number covers both: 2228 4848. Hours can shift over Eid and public holidays, so a call before a late visit is the safer bet.
The card behind every bag
This is the detail that sets their shop apart in practice: each coffee’s page carries a full card in Arabic and English — varietal, origin, altitude, processing method and tasting notes, then three point scores for sweetness, body and acidity.
A real example from the reserve list: “Laurina” from Brazil — varietal Laurina, altitude 1,200 metres, natural process, notes of sugar cane, green apple and pear.
The reserve list runs to eight coffees, including a Geisha from Peru and a Geisha from Honduras, a Sidra from Cusco, and a Yirgacheffe from Ethiopia. They come in 100-gram bags and are priced above the everyday coffee in the same shop.
Eight grind settings, not one
At purchase you choose the grind from eight options: whole bean, Turkish, espresso, moka pot, V60, coarse pour-over, cold brew, French press. Which means the coffee reaches you set to the device you actually use at home, rather than to a general guess that suits everything and nothing.
Not only a cafe
Alongside retail, the roastery runs three other lines: sales of espresso machines, roasters and brewing equipment; a service request form for machines; and four training courses — espresso, filter coffee, latte art, and a free course on making cold brew at home. It also has a wholesale arm for cafes and restaurants.
Prices and availability change, and are published on its online shop 48e.co.
The photo is illustrative of roasted coffee beans and is not from either branch — by Popo le Chien, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Kuwait One, once a week.
The most useful stories we published this week, in your inbox.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
