Looking for a Buzz? This New Cairo Café Got You Covered

During her five years studying computer science at university, coffee shops became a second home for Brew Buzz co-founder Farah Hassan—a place to study, socialize, or sometimes do both at once. Brew Buzz was born from this idea of a café as a welcoming, social space—one that feels like a second home for students, workers, and coffee lovers alike. After a conversation about this vision with baking-obsessed co-founder Mai Abbas, the idea for their café quickly began brewing. Investing in an industry they were both passionate about—and huge consumers of—felt like a natural step. That feeling was only reinforced when they stumbled upon an old entry in Abbas’ teenage memory book that read: open a coffee shop/bakery.

The name Brew Buzz embodies everything the café stands for—celebrating both the ritual of crafting coffee and the warmth and energy that come with it. The branding prominently features bees, a nod to the caffeine buzz from its artisanal coffee and matcha selection, as well as the lively, bustling atmosphere it aims to cultivate. That buzz—by name and by nature—also reflects the excitement surrounding the venture, which Hassan and Abbas have been documenting on TikTok and Instagram.

As coffee lovers and frequent café-goers themselves, the duo had firsthand insight into Cairo’s coffee scene—both its strengths and its shortcomings. They recognized the demand for coffee shops as study spaces, yet also how many cafés unintentionally make this difficult with limited seating, scarce plug sockets, and unreliable internet. With this in mind, they designed Brew Buzz to be equally suited for productivity and socializing. Ample plug sockets, strong WiFi, and a mellow jazz-infused soundscape (played at a reasonable volume) create an ideal study environment. Thanks to long opening hours, it caters to both early risers and late-night crammers alike.

Another way Brew Buzz is setting itself apart is through offering genuinely high-quality matcha. “An understanding of what good matcha is really lacking in Cairo,” Hassan tells SceneEats. Overpriced, weak, pale-colored matcha—often too bitter or too sweet—has wrongly convinced many that matcha tastes like grass. Determined to change this, she and Abbas conducted extensive research to source the highest-quality matcha powders, ensuring a selection that balances taste, richness, and authenticity. “Our matcha has already converted so many former haters,” she adds, “so watch this space…”

Alongside its matcha, Brew Buzz offers expertly crafted artisanal coffee and a specialty drinks menu inspired by what the local market currently lacks. Both founders take their craft seriously, having trained as baristas at Cairo Collective Coffee, one of the city’s most reputable coffee suppliers. Armed with this expertise, they ensure that every drink is made with precision, perfection, and a touch of creativity—with no artificial syrups or flavors in sight. Hassan points to their caramel cheesecake, mango and passionfruit, and tiramisu lattes (!!!) as menu highlights. Brew Buzz is also one of the first and only New Cairo cafés to serve a Dirty Chai Latte—great news for those who can never quite decide between chai or coffee in winter.

Beyond drinks, the café’s baked goods and artisanal sandwiches are just as tempting. Abbas, a passionate baker, ran a successful bakery business during the pandemic and now makes much of Brew Buzz’s offerings herself. While Hassan may not share her co-founder’s baking expertise, she proudly claims the title of highly skilled sampler. “Mai’s cookies and cinnamon rolls are out of this world,” she tells SceneEats. Eventually, they plan to stop outsourcing baked goods altogether and make everything in-house under Abbas’ lead.

Staying true to its vision of fostering a coffee community buzzing with energy, Brew Buzz also hopes to serve as a hub for community-driven events and workshops. “We want to create a space that’s more than just a café,” Hassan tells SceneEats. The café’s grand opening last weekend brought this vision to life, with New Cairo’s coffee lovers gathering to enjoy a DJ set by Omar Mokadem, sample menu items, and contribute to a wall of feedback. Now open to the public, Brew Buzz invites everyone to stop by and experience the buzz for themselves.