About us

"Crafting the stories behind every cup."

Born in Abu Dhabi and rooted in Arabia’s rich coffee heritage, Blacksmith is a coffee company built on passion. We partner directly with independent farms to source our curated selections, honoring the craftsmanship that bridges the gap from farm to cup.

OUR STORY

Grounded in Community, Moving the Culture

BLACKSMITH Coffee Company started the way most great things do: with a small team, a single roaster, and an unshakeable belief that specialty coffee deserved a better stage in the UAE.

Our journey began at NYU Abu Dhabi, not in a boardroom, but in a vibrant space where students, thinkers, and coffee lovers converged. To root our vision, we established our original roastery at Mina Zayed. It became our laboratory and classroom, a dedicated space where we could craft both exceptional coffee and lasting community.

Over time, that vision grew. Today, BLACKSMITH operates across Abu Dhabi and Dubai. We partner directly with farms, train the next generation of baristas, supply passionate businesses, and proudly pour cups for guests who simply want something exceptional.

Guarantee Specialty Grade

Guarantee Consistency

Direct Trade With Farmers

OUR PHILOSOPHY

Coffee Is Both An Art And A Science

The name BLACKSMITH is intentional. A BLACKSMITH does not rush. They apply the right heat, the right pressure, at the right moment and something raw becomes something remarkable. We treat every roast & cup same way.

Every batch is roasted in-house with precision, consistency, and respect for the origin. Our roasting approach highlights purity, clarity, and balance, allowing each coffee to express its natural character while keeping the quality standards that make BLACKSMITH stand out.

“We believe coffee is both an art and a science and we’re passionate about bringing together the local Arabian roots of coffee with the unique traditions of the world’s great coffee cultures.”

A Full Coffee Ecosystem, Under One Roof

BLACKSMITH isn’t just a café or a roastery. We’ve built an end-to-end coffee company designed to serve every kind of coffee lover, from the curious home brewer to the ambitious café owner.

In-House Roasting
Beans, drip bags, brew bags & Nespresso-compatible capsules.
Cafés & Gathering Grounds
Expertly brewed coffee in spaces designed for connection.
B2B & Wholesale
Tailored Supply For Cafés, Restaurants, Offices & Corporate Clients.
Education & Training
Certified SCA courses and in-house workshops for all levels.

What Drives Us

Three Pillars Behind Every Cup

Quality Without Compromise

We select only specialty-grade beans and roast each batch with meticulous precision to unlock its full potential.

Relationships first

From the farmers we source from to the customers we serve, meaningful relationships are at the core of everything we do.

Education & transparency

We share what we know openly. We want every customer and partner to understand the craft behind their cup.

BLACKSMITH Coffee Company is more than a brand, it is a trusted partner for anyone who takes coffee seriously. Whether you’re stepping into one of our cafés for the first time, looking to source exceptional beans for your business, or training to become a better barista, we’re here with the expertise, the product, and the warm community to make it worthwhile.

Discover Our Products

Get In Touch

Meet The Team

Camilo Cortes
Managing Director

Q Grader, SCA Professional, ZHAW Advanced Coffee Science, and EMBA Candidate at Arden University.

Coffee industry leader with 13 years of experience in specialty coffee, sourcing, roasting, quality control, and business development.

Successfully managed coffee operations serving 350+ petrol stations across the UAE and 11 hotels.
Tessa Andaya
Training Lead

Authorized Barista Trainer with strong experience in specialty coffee education and team development.

Trained over 1,000 baristas across the UAE in technical coffee skills, beverage quality, and customer service.

Leads training programs that support consistency, quality, and professional growth across coffee teams.
Cris John Benavente
Head of QC & Green Coffee Buyer

Certified SCA Q Arabica Grader and CVA Cupper.

Specializes in green coffee sourcing, quality control, sensory evaluation, coffee quality assessment, and profile development.

International Jury Member for Colombia Land of Diversity Coffee Competition, Bogotá. 2017 & 2018 UAE National Latte Art Champion. 2017 & 2018 UAE National Cup Tasters Championship, Rank 3.
Ryan Neil Rosary
Head Roaster

SCA Brewing, Barista, and Roasting certified, with SCI Roasting Level 1 & 2, TCRC Roast Master 1, and CVA Licensed Cupper.

Coffee roaster with over 7 years of experience in specialty coffee.

Specializes in roast profiling, quality control, green coffee evaluation, and production roasting with a strong focus on consistency and quality.
Alfonso Moreno
Head of Operations

Food and beverage professional with over 20 years of industry experience.

Currently serving as Head of Operations at Blacksmith Coffee Company in Dubai.

Experienced across floor-level operations, multi-unit management, supply chain, and team leadership, with strong ground-level operational instinct.
Gypsy Queen Ale
Senior Roaster

SCA Professional
CVA Licensed Cupper

Coffee Roaster and Sensory Evaluator dedicated to maintaining quality consistency and continuous improvement across the coffee value chain.

2026 UAE National Brewers Championship - 2nd place