As Harvest Coffee celebrates its two-year anniversary, they’ve launched a new brunch menu while brewing your perfect cup of speciality coffee.

How long has it been now since you saw a barista? A day? An hour? Or just a few minutes, maybe? The days of handing over your keep-cup for an expertly-made oat milk flat white certainly are back, and everyone is just delighted at the fact that Covid has finally taken a back seat, well sort of, as we all dine out and embrace the new normal.

The simple morning or afternoon ritual of coffee is something we never take for granted. And you shouldn’t either. It drives your energy for the rest of the day!

Let’s be honest, coffee drinkers and those who are looking for an uber-chic place to dine out or just grab some snacks and get comfortable, are spoilt for choice in Doha. While some offer loud music and a space too hip — others are more minimalistic in nature with a vibe that makes you feel at home. For us it’s the latter that wins. Harvest’s rugged concrete, gender neutral aesthetics and minimalistic décor are perfect for someone who’s in search for the best Instagrammable spot. The refined concrete barista bar and clean white walls are made warmer by a mix of wood textures. It’s the perfect space for a mobile office, hours of chainsipping (excellent) espressos or a quick coffee and banana bread on the go. In the plethora of what’s available in town, Harvest Coffee really marks its space and is comfortably busy at almost every time of the day. Breakfast, brunch, coffee or snacks, the place offers an ultimate experience. This is the kind of place you want to hang out with friends or simply just sit solo and power up your laptop to get through all that pending work.

THE CONCEPT:

Overlooking the sea at The Pearl-Qatar, the coffee shop has indoor and outdoor space — it is capacious and minimalistic.

Both the menu and environment here are winners. The moment you enter you smell a strong aroma of coffee beans, hear the sound of coffee machine whirling and the cash counter opening and closing in a matter of minutes. Great speciality coffee has complex and delicate flavours when brewed properly and that’s the concept that has earned Harvest its place on the speciality coffee scene in Doha. Speaking about what inspired Harvest to open its doors in Qatar, the owner said: “The concept was to bring an authentic coffee and brunch culture that brings people together for meaningful conversations. Harvest is a place of expression and a multi-cultural place to feel at home at.”

Harvest also has social convictions and takes conversations of importance seriously. The café actively took part in the #FreePalestine movement creating awareness about one of world’s most controversial conflicts. It’s a communal space that brings people of many different cultures, nationalities and values together. “For Palestine we had full week of screenings. Sometimes we also support artists. People often get surprised that we do, as non-profit. We do not charge the artists to showcase their work, neither do we ask for any sort of commissions if they sell anything. So, for us, Harvest is not just a place where you come and have coffee or brunch — it’s more than that. It’s a space for emerging artists and young talent. A place for growth. We intend to be a community space,” he added.

THE PERSONALITY:

Why, every day, do you pay for a watery latte that was lovelessly made on a push-button machine? Something that could easily and safely be operated by a child. Move on, shape up and ship out. Perhaps, it’s time to return craft and artistry to the beverage. All blended in-house, Harvest Coffee’s offering is so rich and flavourful that it’ll remind you why you originally fell in love with the stuff. This place possesses a distinct personality, much in the way that dwelling spaces adhere to the character of their inhabitants and take on the dash of visitors here and there.

“Everything at Harvest is homemade — something you can make at home. It tastes like home, but of course we add on our very own twist to the dishes. It’s not something you can get bored of or feels tacky. And the most important thing is that everything on the menu, in terms of food, goes with the coffee. We do not want to forget how important speciality coffee is,” added the man behind Harvest. “We just launched our new brunch menu featuring healthy options and options that fill you up. Dishes that you can customise, four are savoury and one sweet, and they are something that you can eat throughout the day irrespective of the time.”

As Harvest marked its second anniversary, the owner shared about the overwhelming response the coffee shop has been getting by food connoisseurs and coffee lovers alike. “It has been an amazing journey because we never expected that it would be packed indoor and outdoor — all seasons. We’re growing and that’s credited to the fact that we involve customers as well, in terms of feedback. We try to give back to the community and people serving community.”

Soon after Harvest opened its doors, Covid-19 struck pushing coffee shops and restaurants to close down and allowing only food deliveries or take-away, but it was the perfect brews of Harvest that kept it going, not affecting the sales, with people coming in for to-go coffee whilst walking their way around The Pearl. All you need to know is that Harvest brews one of the most effortless cups of coffee that tastes marvellous!

THE BRUNCH:

As part of its anniversary, Harvest released its new brunch menu and I was all up for trying their Green Scrambled (homemade brioche scrambled eggs, spinach puree, feta yogurt cream, feta crumbs and olive oil with crushed black pepper), Benedict (house-made brioche bun served with smashed avocado, smoked turkey breast, baby rocket and smoked paprika) and classic pancakes (pancakes with toasted walnuts and dulce de leche sauce).

The Benedict was wholesome. It was spicy with just the right hint of crunchiness to it — a balanced recipe and a balanced egg on the top, neither overly nor under cooked. I’ve had scrambled eggs before but here at Harvest they were fluffy and green. The feta yogurt cream added a texture and savoury taste to an otherwise mild and metallic spinach taste. It was quite a perfect twist of flavours to an old-fashioned dish that we all have been getting a little tired of by now.

For pancakes, the fluffier the better right? But, what was even better was the perfect balance of crispiness on the outside but softness on the inside, loaded to the brim with dulce de leche without being too thick or greasy. They were perfectly sugary, but not too much for the palate. I can still feel the joy of cutting through that buttery pile of pancakes and relishing it to the core.

I paired my brunch with a classic flat white. And, if I must, you should too. As you sip your coffee with warm sunlight coming from the large windows — you’ll understand what all the hype is about Harvest. They harvest love, food and everything that makes your day positive, happy and delightful! ✤

GO: FOLLOW @HARVEST.QA