New Barista Training Center Launched in Dubai
Dubai – Qahwa World
Raw Coffee Company, in collaboration with Milk Lab, inaugurated a new Barista Training Center on Thursday at Raw Coffee’s headquarters in Dubai’s Al Quoz Creative District. This step marks the beginning of a new chapter in barista education, where specialty coffee meets expertly crafted milk.
The opening ceremony, attended by officials, industry leaders, hospitality professionals, and specialized media, featured Kim Thompson, co-founder of Raw Coffee Company, who outlined the background of the initiative, saying: “We place great importance on collaboration between brands that share the same values. Recently, we began working with Sage, a manufacturer of excellent coffee machines. However, we noticed complaints from customers because the coffee being used was not always suitable. This highlights the importance of partnerships and the need for alignment between machines, coffee, and training. We also discovered Milk Lab, and it was not only about improving taste but also about their commitment to sustainability. Mr. Murad Jankat, Head of JAR Foods Middle East, proposed the idea of dedicating a training center to plant-based milks, and we welcomed this step. We believe that success lies in the person standing between the machine and the customer, who manages all the variables.”
For his part, Peter Brown, International Business Development Director at Milk Lab, emphasized that the brand, which will celebrate its 10th anniversary this October, was founded to solve a genuine problem: “When almond milk was introduced in Australian supermarkets in 2013, it became popular among health-conscious consumers. But it didn’t work well in coffee — it would curdle due to acidity. That’s why Milk Lab invested 12 to 18 months in research and development, involving experts from across the coffee sector — baristas, roasters, café owners, and Q-Graders — to create a product designed specifically for coffee.”
He added: “Since then, we have expanded to offer a variety of options including almond, soy, dairy, lactose-free, and others, while always keeping coffee as the hero. Our motto is Made for Baristas, and today we are present in more than 30 markets. In the Middle East, almond milk accounts for about 55% of the market. Our strategic partner JAR has played an important role in raising awareness of the brand across the GCC and Jordan. We are not trying to be everything to everyone; our focus is to be the leader in milk designed for specialty coffee, while continuing to invest in the professional community that supports this industry.”
From her side, Purity from Raw Coffee Company said: “Training has always been at the heart of our business. Excellent equipment and great products mean nothing without well-trained people. Traditionally, training programs focused on dairy milk, as it is stable, easy to use, and does not overpower coffee flavors. Plant-based milks, however, often produced inconsistent results — almond could be overpowering, soy could curdle, and coconut could be watery. Our partnership with Milk Lab changed that. We began pairing specific coffees with specific milks: coconut with fruity Ethiopian coffees, oat with our house blend for its sweetness and creaminess, and almond as a balanced option. This led us to launch a dedicated training program — starting with our B2B partners and later opened to a wider audience — to share this knowledge and raise coffee quality standards.”
Meanwhile, Matt Toogood, CEO of Raw Coffee Company, stressed the complexity of the market, saying: “The coffee market in Dubai and the Middle East is crowded and complex, and consumers are often confused about what specialty coffee truly means. This is why the idea of a School of Milk was created — to raise standards, provide clarity, and strengthen the sector as a whole. This collaboration is not only about combining coffee with milk; it is a practical step to advance the industry, making it clearer, more sustainable, and higher in quality for everyone.”
For his part, Murad Jankat, Head of JAR Foods Middle East, noted that Milk Lab adapts its products to the preferences of different regions — including Levantine consumers frequenting Dubai cafés — to ensure the best alignment between milk styles and local coffee offerings. Raw Coffee Company, led by Purity and her team, will manage the training programs and oversee the new center in line with the needs of the regional market.
