Guatemala - Allan Melgar

Taking its name from the Arabic word for "delicious," Zab Cafe was founded in 2015 on Avenue de Gaspe in Montreal's Mile End, bringing a Middle Eastern perspective to specialty coffee roasting. The operation sources from Ethiopia, Yemen, Colombia, Guatemala, and Brazil, with medium roast profiles that carry a distinct Middle Eastern sensibility. Specialty drinks like cardamom lattes and rose lattes sit alongside traditional Arabic coffee preparations, creating a cultural bridge between third wave methods and centuries old coffee traditions. The roastery serves as a genuine multicultural gathering space, with bilingual service in French, English, and Arabic. Community events and cultural gatherings are regular features, and the wholesale program supplies cafes in the surrounding area with this unique blend of specialty quality and Middle Eastern hospitality.