Put that latte order on hold, coffee lover, for there’s a new brew in town. As of February, a coffee that goes by the name of Magic is available at Marks & Spencer Cafes across the Middle East.
While M&S might not be the most obvious port of call for a caffeine refuel — and it's by no means the only place that serves the brew — there’s plenty to suggest that Magic Coffee has what it takes to become this year’s trendiest cup of joe, with the British retailer describing it in their marketing spiel as “the hottest new style of coffee since the flat white”.
An Australian original
The Magic, as it’s known in Australia, originated in Melbourne, a city known for its artisan roasts, bespoke blends and tech-savvy coffee preparation. The Magic has a reputation for being an off-menu, underground option — a barista’s choice, if you will.
Now, it's expected to go international, from insider secret to well-known go-to, since M&S trademarked the drink and launched it in 330 cafes across the UK last month.
The arrival on Middle Eastern shores followed this week, with the brand giving away free samples in select cafes, although the previously lesser-known brew has also been available in select UAE cafes for some time.
Getting technical
But what exactly makes Magic Coffee so special? A taste test proves that it’s all about hitting the sweet spot with a milk-to-coffee ratio that produces a drink with a distinct lack of bitterness and a smooth, well-rounded flavour.
While similar to the flat white, a cup of Magic is made with a double (1oz; 29ml) ristretto base rather than a double (2oz; 59ml) espresso one. It is finished with 5oz (147ml) of steamed milk (a flat white uses 6oz; 177ml).
For context, while the 6oz (177ml) cup size is the same as the Magic, the cortado is made with a double espresso topped with 4oz (118ml) steamed milk, while a latte tends to be composed of 10oz (295ml) milk and 2oz (59ml) espresso, served in a 12oz (354ml) cup.
Without getting too technical, it’s the ristretto that makes all the difference here. As the coffee nerds in class will know, a ristretto (“restricted” or smaller espresso shot) has the same amount of coffee as an espresso, but less water is used to brew it. Alongside, the extraction time (time taken for the water to pass through the coffee grounds into the cup) is shorter. The result is a sweeter, brighter yet more concentrated flavour than an espresso, with minimal bitterness at the end.
Taste test
After sampling the Magic, The National can report back that there’s no messing about with this coffee. Thanks to the shortness of the drink and the intensity of the double ristretto shot, the Magic delivers a bold, coffee-heavy flavour punch.
There’s also evidence of that much-talked-about ratio alchemy at work. While the coffee flavour is potent, it’s not at all dry or acidic-tasting, with the ristretto lending a rich note and the steamed milk a velvety sweetness. We can see why those coffee-loving Melbournites have been sagely sipping away on this one and largely keeping it to themselves.
Where to try it
Magic Coffee is available at M&S Cafes across the Middle East (with the exception of Saudi Arabia). In the UAE, it is also available at Costa Coffee, Common Grounds, The Sum of Us and Harvest & Co.
Health Valley
Founded in 2002 and set up as a foundation in 2006, Health Valley has been an innovation in healthcare for more than 10 years in Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
It serves as a place where companies, businesses, universities, healthcare providers and government agencies can collaborate, offering a platform where they can connect and work together on healthcare innovation.
Its partners work on technological innovation, new forms of diagnostics and other methods to make a difference in healthcare.
Its agency consists of eight people, four innovation managers and office managers, two communication advisers and one director. It gives innovation support to businesses and other parties in its network like a broker, connecting people with the right organisation to help them further
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
The Bio
Name: Lynn Davison
Profession: History teacher at Al Yasmina Academy, Abu Dhabi
Children: She has one son, Casey, 28
Hometown: Pontefract, West Yorkshire in the UK
Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite Author: CJ Sansom
Favourite holiday destination: Bali
Favourite food: A Sunday roast
MATCH INFO
Cricket World Cup League Two
Oman, UAE, Namibia
Al Amerat, Muscat
Results
Oman beat UAE by five wickets
UAE beat Namibia by eight runs
Namibia beat Oman by 52 runs
UAE beat Namibia by eight wickets
UAE v Oman - abandoned
Oman v Namibia - abandoned
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails
Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford
The biog
Alwyn Stephen says much of his success is a result of taking an educated chance on business decisions.
His advice to anyone starting out in business is to have no fear as life is about taking on challenges.
“If you have the ambition and dream of something, follow that dream, be positive, determined and set goals.
"Nothing and no-one can stop you from succeeding with the right work application, and a little bit of luck along the way.”
Mr Stephen sells his luxury fragrances at selected perfumeries around the UAE, including the House of Niche Boutique in Al Seef.
He relaxes by spending time with his family at home, and enjoying his wife’s India cooking.
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
If you go
The flights Etihad (www.etihad.com) and Spice Jet (www.spicejet.com) fly direct from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Pune respectively from Dh1,000 return including taxes. Pune airport is 90 minutes away by road.
The hotels A stay at Atmantan Wellness Resort (www.atmantan.com) costs from Rs24,000 (Dh1,235) per night, including taxes, consultations, meals and a treatment package.
Retail gloom
Online grocer Ocado revealed retail sales fell 5.7 per cen in its first quarter as customers switched back to pre-pandemic shopping patterns.
It was a tough comparison from a year earlier, when the UK was in lockdown, but on a two-year basis its retail division, a joint venture with Marks&Spencer, rose 31.7 per cent over the quarter.
The group added that a 15 per cent drop in customer basket size offset an 11.6. per cent rise in the number of customer transactions.
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Second Test
In Dubai
Pakistan 418-5 (declared)
New Zealand 90 and 131-2 (follow on)
Day 3: New Zealand trail by 197 runs with 8 wickets remaining
