Set beside the Sheraton Hotel the flagship branch of Coffee Republic in Jeddah has everything you would expect from today’s modern coffee shops. Free WiFi, an extensive coffee menu, and a token selection of sandwiches, cakes and oversized croissants. However, they also go above and beyond the usual offerings of Jeddah’s cafes, with a decent selection of the latest newspapers, and WiFi that actually works.
However, what sets Coffee Republic apart from its neighbors and local competition in town is its huge menu of chocolate candy based drinks. There is certainly no shortage of “Shake Republics” (milkshakes) or the varieties of hot chocolate one can sample here.
The shakes include ingredients such as Oreo Cookies, Rolos, Cadbury crème eggs, Mint Aeros, Kinder Bueno, Nuttela, Ferrero Rocher and even Bounty Chocolate bars. An extensive list of hot chocolates also caught my eye, the “Thorntons hot chocolate” sounded too good to be true, and sadly it was during my visit, “unfortunately unavailable.” I was told the shipment is still waiting to be dispatched from London since the opening earlier this month.
Instead I opted for a Kinder Bueno Republic Shake, which was interesting to say the least. A Lone Kinder Bueno stick protruded out of the shake emulating a 99 Flake (an ice cream cone with a Cadbury Flake chocolate bar inserted in it).
Looking more like soggy cereal, the shakes taste wasn’t far off either (albeit much sweeter). It brought back memories of Cocoa Puffs — the puffed grain cereal I longed for as a child but rarely ate. The taste shouldn’t really have surprised me considering the main ingredients are milk and crushed Kinder Bueno (which is basically a glorified chocolate wafer biscuit).
In the summer I can see these shakes becoming increasingly popular in Jeddah. However, in this cool February evening I chose to stick to the Latte, which was good enough. Noticing an extensive list of teas on the menu I decided to ask about the Cranberry, Raspberry and Elderflower Tea. Alas, of all the teas on the menu, once again my choice was the only one unavailable. Disappointed, I moved on to cakes, and decided to try the chocolate cake (as I could see this). Fortunately, this was pretty good — rich, and moist with a creamy center that left me seeking more.
Prices are on a par with most of the competitors. The Kinder Bueno Shake came for SR18, Caffe Latte (Tall) for SR13 and the Chocolate Cake for SR15.
As for the decor, Coffee Republic has painted the town red, the interior color theme matches the logo, deep reds and blacks are splashed on everything from the ruby leather seats to the tiles that line the coffee bar.
Two areas are made available with the single section downstairs and (what I assume is) a similar sized family section upstairs. The outdoor seating is a nice experience, although common with most of the competition that line the Atallah Commercial Center.
Its proximity to the sea and forthcoming development of the Corniche make the location a real hot spot. At a stone’s throw from the Sheraton, the Costa, Starbucks and Teayana, Coffee Republic has managed to squeeze itself into an already “competitively packed” area. If you are in your early teens, or have an incredibly sweet tooth, Coffee Republic will almost certainly strike a chord with you. If you have kids, you can be sure they too will appreciate the sugar rush the drinks deliver.
Judging by the crowds inside and out of the cafe, Coffee Republic may already be onto a winning formula. While leaving the commercial center I looked across to Starbucks and noticed their veranda was just as busy, (although customers there were significantly older). By targeting a younger audience Coffee Republic may have just the right formula to slip under the radar and capture market share of one of the fastest growing sectors in town.
www.coffeerepublic.co.uk/
Address: Atallah Commercial Center, Corniche Road, near the Sheraton Hotel
(Rashed Islam is a food critic who hosts Jeddahfood.com)