Busy weeks have us crawling to our favourite cafés for a cup of hot or cold sustenance, and FACT’s Craig Ferriman is no exception, as he makes his way to a local caffeine hub — enter Flat White.

Flat White has earned itself quite the name since launching in 2016 and has burgeoned into something of an institution with five branches open now. That’s quite a feat, especially in Doha, where boutique coffee shops are opening their doors in literally every corner of the city.

The most recent addition to this local franchise sits at the Iconic 2022 Building. We all know Flat White for its exceptional coffee, cafés at beautiful and scenic, locations, which have made this café a local hub for caffeine enthusiasts in Doha. However, now we’re heading back to take a peek at its menu. Yes, they also serve savoury meals to go with your cup of energy.

But before we turn that page on the menu, let’s take a sip of its history, shall we? Flat White is more than just a coffee shop, it’s a proud Qatari brand, set up in Doha by Nasser Al-Naemi and Maryam Al-Bader. These two combined their love of coffee and established a brand with a loyal and keen following. A following that has ‘the usual’, is on a first-name basis with the baristas and has a ‘spot’ in the café.

And while coffee is king in this establishment, the menu is equally outstanding for its variety, fusion of flavours, and quality. And now having tried a series of exceptional dishes, we view Flat White through a new lens and realise that it’s a superb place to grab breakfast any time of the day. All-day breakfast? Say no more. Along with being an assortment of tempting goods, the menu is focused on worldly cuisines. We start our global journey with the most popular dish, as pointed out by our waiter, the London Mornings. This plate arrives with a rainbow of elements, including scrambled eggs, parmesan mushrooms, red cabbage kraut, and in-house baked beans, all served on freshly-baked sourdough bread. The bread is the star of the dish, and let’s face it, we’ve all tried to master the art of making the perfect sourdough in lockdown without success. So, ditch the oven, and make your way over for a crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, aroma of heaven.

The global theme continues as we bite into the Mexicaninspired Rancheros Mariachi — poached eggs in salsa roja that sit atop fresh avocado and sesame labneh, a combination that livens up our palate with a refreshing kick. We then move to Slow and Steady, a dish that more than nods to the Mediterranean. A leaning tower of sweet potato with poached eggs is served with zesty yoghurt, halloumi cheese, tabbouleh, and pickles. It’s particularly popular, and for good reason.

The Mo Rock on Roll is more than just a play on words. It will from now on be our go-to, must-have at Flat White. Served on a loaf of beautiful brioche bread, with a sizeable amount of harissa potatoes, fried chicken breast, za’atar mushrooms, and eggs that sit atop. Another winner in our books is the Champions Toast. Mushroom lovers will be thrilled by the generous helping of Portobello mushrooms, pine nuts, and oats on sourdough bread and fried eggs. It’s a piece of art just waiting to be devoured. Our dishes are accompanied by a tantalising blueberry lemonade, but you can’t go to Flat White and not drink coffee, therefore we ended our gourmet journey with the V60 brew. A beautiful blend of Rwandan beans with notes of molasses, dried apricots, and raisins for a pleasantly fruity finish.

There is more to coffee than you think, as Flat White will teach you. But as we have now learned, there is more to Flat White than just coffee. ✤

GO: CALL 5594 4332 FOR RESERVATIONS AND MORE INFORMATION.