Dubai Coffee Culture and the Dubai Chocolate Trend
Share
Dubai chocolate coffee is a drink inspired by the viral Dubai chocolate bar: milk chocolate filled with pistachio cream and crunchy shredded pastry, turned into a latte with espresso, chocolate, pistachio and a toasted, crispy topping. The trend sits on top of a much older coffee culture in Dubai, where cardamom-scented Arabic coffee has long been a symbol of hospitality. Here is how the two fit together, plus a recipe you can make at home.
Arabic Coffee: The Heart of Dubai Coffee Culture
Long before lattes and viral desserts, coffee in the Emirates meant gahwa, Arabic coffee. It is very different from the dark, bitter brew many Americans picture. Beans are typically roasted light, brewed with cardamom and sometimes saffron or other spices, and poured in small amounts into little handleless cups from a traditional pot called a dallah. Dates are the classic companion.
Serving gahwa is about welcome as much as flavor. A host pours, the guest drinks, and the cup is refilled until the guest signals they have had enough, commonly with a gentle shake of the cup. In 2015, UNESCO added Arabic coffee to its list of intangible cultural heritage, describing it as a symbol of generosity, in a joint nomination by the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar.
We cover the ritual, ingredients and an at-home method in our full guide to Arabic coffee (gahwa).
Gahwa at a glance
- Roast: usually light, giving a golden to tan brew.
- Flavor: herbal and aromatic from cardamom, with low bitterness.
- Serving: small cups, a few sips at a time, often refilled.
- Pairing: dates or other sweets, since the coffee itself is usually unsweetened.
Dubai’s Modern Coffee Scene
Dubai is an international city, and its coffee scene reflects it. Alongside traditional gahwa, you will find espresso bars, specialty cafés focused on single origins and pour-overs, and global chains. Iced drinks are especially popular given the hot climate, and sweet, creamy creations are everywhere.
That mix of tradition, international influences and a love of indulgent desserts made Dubai the perfect launchpad for a sweet that would go global.
The Dubai Chocolate Trend, Explained
The viral Dubai chocolate bar was created by Fix Dessert Chocolatier, a Dubai brand founded by British Egyptian entrepreneur Sarah Hamouda. Its best-known bar has a playful name, “Can’t Get Knafeh of It,” and pairs chocolate with a pistachio filling and crispy shredded pastry, nodding to knafeh, a beloved Middle Eastern dessert.
The bar exploded online in December 2023, when food creator Maria Vehera opened one on TikTok; that video went on to rack up well over 100 million views. In the months that followed, “Dubai chocolate” became a flavor category of its own. Delivery platform Deliveroo named it its top trending item globally in 2024, and major chocolate makers, including Lindt, released their own versions.
Cafés quickly translated it into drinks: lattes, iced coffees and shakes with pistachio, chocolate and a crunchy pastry topping.
Why the flavor works with coffee
Chocolate and coffee share many roasty, cocoa-like notes, and pistachio adds a nutty, slightly savory richness that softens bitterness. The crispy pastry brings texture, something coffee drinks rarely have. For more combinations, see our coffee and chocolate pairing guide.
Recipe: Dubai Chocolate Coffee Latte (Inspired Version)
This is an original, home-style recipe inspired by the trend, not a recreation of any brand’s product. Makes one 12 oz (350 ml) drink.
Ingredients
- 2 oz (60 ml) espresso or 4 oz (120 ml) strong brewed coffee
- 1 tbsp (about 15 g) pistachio cream or smooth pistachio butter
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) chocolate sauce, plus extra for drizzling
- 8 oz (240 ml) milk of your choice
- 2 tbsp (about 10 g) kataifi (shredded phyllo) or crushed phyllo
- 1 tsp (5 g) butter
- Optional: 1 tsp chopped pistachios, sugar to taste
Steps
- Toast the pastry: melt the butter in a small pan, add the kataifi and stir over medium heat for 2–3 minutes until golden and crisp. Set aside to cool.
- Stir the pistachio cream and chocolate sauce into the hot espresso until smooth.
- Steam or froth the milk to about 140–150°F (60–65°C). No steam wand? Our guide on how to froth milk at home has easy options.
- Drizzle chocolate sauce inside your glass or mug, pour in the espresso mixture, then the milk.
- Top with a spoonful of toasted pastry, chopped pistachios and a final chocolate drizzle. Serve right away so the topping stays crunchy.
Variations and tips
- Iced: Mix the espresso with pistachio and chocolate while hot, pour over ice, add cold milk and top with the pastry.
- Shortcut: Brew a Dubai Chocolate flavored coffee and add only pistachio cream and the topping.
- Less sweet: Use dark chocolate sauce and unsweetened pistachio butter.
- Classic mocha base: If you love the chocolate side most, start from our café mocha recipe and add pistachio.
| Arabic coffee (gahwa) | Dubai chocolate coffee | |
|---|---|---|
| Roots | Centuries-old hospitality tradition | Social media trend from 2023 onward |
| Main flavors | Light roast coffee, cardamom | Espresso, chocolate, pistachio |
| Sweetness | Usually unsweetened, served with dates | Sweet and dessert-like |
| Serving | Small cups, refilled | Tall latte or iced glass |
Dubai Chocolate Coffee FAQ
What is Dubai chocolate?
It is a chocolate bar filled with pistachio cream and crispy shredded pastry, inspired by knafeh. It was made famous by Fix Dessert Chocolatier in Dubai and went viral on TikTok in December 2023.
What does Dubai chocolate coffee taste like?
Expect a rich mocha with nutty pistachio and a crunchy, buttery topping. It is sweet and dessert-like, closer to a treat than an everyday black coffee.
What is traditional coffee in Dubai?
Traditional coffee is Arabic coffee, or gahwa: lightly roasted, brewed with cardamom and served in small cups with dates. It is a core part of Emirati hospitality.
Can I make Dubai chocolate coffee without kataifi?
Yes. Crushed phyllo, toasted shredded wheat cereal or crushed wafer cookies give a similar crunch. You can also skip the topping and enjoy a pistachio mocha.
Conclusion
Dubai coffee culture spans cardamom-scented gahwa poured for guests and a sweet, crunchy viral sensation that traveled the world. To bring the trend home without the fuss, try our Dubai Chocolate flavored coffee, or build your own version on our Mocha flavored coffee. Browse more ideas in our flavored coffee collection, all roasted 1–5 days before delivery. Feel Espresso is not affiliated with Fix Dessert Chocolatier or any chocolate brand mentioned here.