Shakari - Zambia

Mohamad Merhi, a former finance professional turned certified Q Grader, founded Cypher Urban Roastery in Dubai's Al Quoz Industrial Area in 2016. The facility runs Probat roasters fitted with a custom cooling system designed in house, alongside a cupping lab equipped with Marco water systems and Mahlkonig EK43 grinders. Cypher operates as both a green coffee trader and a roaster, managing over 30 tons of coffee annually and holding Rainforest Alliance, UTZ, and USDA Organic certifications across parts of its sourcing. A notable focus on rare Yemeni lots led to securing the seventh ranked coffee at the 2021 Best of Yemen auction, scoring 88.9. The company also runs the Cypher School of Coffee, offering SCA and CQI certified training, and its Nabtih sustainability initiative repurposes jute transport bags into planters for edible herbs grown alongside the roastery.