the accidental coffee crawl in Jeddah that almost broke me
okay so i'm standing in the middle of Jeddah, sweating my ass off and trying to remember why i thought a midday stroll was a good idea. the weather app says 21.56°C but it feels like 20.74°C and honestly? i'd argue it's lying. the humidity's at 37% but the sun's hitting like a spotlight on a bad stand-up set. still, i'm here for the coffee and i'm not backing down.
first stop: *Brew92 on Tahlia Street. i heard from a barista at the last place i was in Riyadh that this spot does a mean cardamom latte. i walked in, got hit with the smell of freshly ground beans and immediately felt like i'd walked into someone's chic living room. the latte? legit. strong, spiced just right, and served in a mug that made me feel fancy for 15 minutes.
but here's the thing-Jeddah doesn't do quick coffee runs. everyone's in no rush. i sat there for an hour, watching locals chat, laptops open, phones ignored. someone told me that Medd down the road is even better, so obviously i had to check it out. it's smaller, moodier, and the espresso there? like a punch in the best way.
between stops, i wandered through Al-Balad, the old town. crumbling coral houses, narrow alleys, and the kind of history that makes you stop mid-step. i didn't plan to go there, but a guy at Brew92 said it was "worth the walk" and he wasn't wrong. the architecture's wild-like stepping into a different century. if you're into that kind of thing, TripAdvisor has a solid walking tour guide.
by the third coffee (yes, i went to Toqa Coffee because i heard their spanish latte was life-changing), i was buzzing. the caffeine hit was real. i also learned that Jeddah's coffee scene is no joke-it's not just about the drink, it's about the ritual. slow sips, long chats, zero urgency.
if you get bored, Mecca and Medina* are just a short drive away, but honestly? i was too caffeinated to leave. i did check the weather again before heading out for dinner-still hovering around 21.56°C, so at least the night wouldn't be brutal.
random tip: don't wear flip-flops if you're walking around Al-Balad. the streets are uneven and you will regret it. also, bring cash-some of the smaller coffee spots don't take cards.
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