Founder of Ministry of Coffee, Tariq Mahmoud
Having been born into an industry
that thrives on ensuring their customers
are served the highest quality goods, it
was inevitable Tariq would find his way to
his roots, but with a modern twist. After
returning from university with a degree in
Business and International Studies, Tariq
joined the family business, Tariq Pastries.
Known for their delicious traditional
baklavas, baked goods, and freshly
brewed Arabic coffe, Tariq Pastries is a
confectionary that needs no introduction, as
it is a name synonymous with the Bahraini
tradition of enjoying sweets on every
joyous occasion. The confectioners, which
are based on a take-and-go concept have
multiple branches across The Kingdom and
have a very strong customer base, which,
Tariq says, was somewhat the inspiration
behind setting up a place where customers
can have an inviting place to sit and enjoy
their coffee and sweets. Tariq says though
he had not planned on opening a café,
the opportunity arose and realised it was
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a good time to make a presence in the up
and coming area of Sanad.
Taking two years to set up and launch,
Tariq added hints of his own simplistic
demeanour as well as elements from his
upbringing into the design of Ministry of
Coffee. Named after his favourite band,
Ministry of Sound, the café has an urban
décor style with an overall cement-finish
for floors and wall, wooden tables,
simple black seating, and a muted colour
palette throughout. The glass front of the
two-storey café allows in ample sunlight
and lets the customers get a view of
the bustling Sanad outside, perfectly
juxtaposed with the tranquillity indoors. The
walls have framed coffee-isms hand-picked
by Tariq, adding his personal minimalist
touches to the coffee shop, giving it a
cosier feel. Breaking up the rigid interior
is the spectacular live-wall inside the café
that often finds itself in many customers’
images, as it is a beautiful backdrop and
gives the impression of being outdoors.
Ministry of Coffee also boasts a spacious
upstairs area for customers to enjoy their
time at the café in a slightly more private
settin g, yet still being a part of the Ministry
of Coffee experience.
The coffee, Tariq explains, is sourced
from Italy from a family owned group, who
go to great lengths to source the best
coffee beans. The in-house master blender
creates the different unique blends, one of
which caught Tariq’s interest and decided
to bring it to Bahrain to be served at the
café. Adding that though currently they do
not roast their own coffees, it is something
they will be looking into in the future as
working with Tariq Pastries, where they
freshly roast Arabic coffee, has provided
them with the roasting experience. Using
the special Italian blend, Ministry of Coffee
boasts a small but rich coffee menu that
includes the delicious selection of flavoured
lattes both hot and iced, a special iced
coffee drink the Cold Coffee Crusher,
café mocha, cappuccino, mocha latte,