Hello Hello, beautiful people!
Mai shayi Coffee Roasters is a cafe restaurant that I’ve had a huge crush on for quite some time now, and it eventually made it to the top of my list in November. I visited the cafe with Rukky (@rukkyambursa) on a hot and sunny day, I might add. You know how long John Wick took to find Halle Berry in John Wick 3? Multiply that by three, and that’s how long we had to look for this place. Google Maps made us drive around in circles looking for the cafe. Eventually, we found the hidden treasure.
Mai Shayi Coffee is located at 84 Kwame Nkrumah Crescent, Asokoro. There was no signage anywhere to show that this was where we were going, and that just made no sense at all, I guess it’s one of those if you know, you know kind of place. The merry-go-round was pretty upsetting if I’m being honest, and I was already in that “this place had better be worth it” phase. But as soon as we entered the cafe, all memories of the merry-go-round faded away as enjoyment took over.
I’ll try to espresso myself as best as I can (*inserts laughter*) 😌. Enough about me, let’s get into it.
FOOD & COFFEE AT MAI SHAYI COFFEE ROASTERS
FRESH ORANGE JUICE – 1000
Mai Shayi coffee began to impress with this cup of fresh orange juice because it was freshly squeezed and not the regular processed stuff we get served at most restaurants. A huge plus for them here.
AFFOGATO – 3500
Affogato is an Italian coffee-based dessert that consists of vanilla gelato/ice cream and a shot of espresso. The first time I saw this, it was on the Food Network, and when I saw it on the menu at Maishayi Coffee, I just had to have it. I tasted it and was like, “What sorcery is this?” The coffee was bitter and hot, while the ice cream was so sweet and cold. There was such a clear contrast between both elements, but the flavors paired really well together. The ice cream was topped with caramel and chocolate sauce, and all the flavors blended well together. Everything belonged!
I think what makes this such a great dessert is the simplicity of the dish. Strongly flavoured coffee and plain yet amazing vanilla ice cream. I need to stress how great the ice cream was, it was quality!!!!!! If I could have that ice cream every day, you best believe I would. I had to ask whether it was homemade or store-bought. And to my surprise, it wasn’t homemade. I’m just so impressed that they did their research and got really good quality ice cream. I will definitely be going back for this.
HAZELNUT LATTE – 2800
See ehn, I don’t even know where to start. This was one great cup of coffee. It had a burst of flavour. You could actually taste the hazelnut in this. The nutty flavour shined through and was on the same level as the coffee. This cup of coffee was delicious! Sweet rich and decadent but most of all it was creamy as hell! Would I get this again if one any other menu? Yes! Yes, I would, but just to compare, hehe 🤭
POTATO WEDGES, CHICKEN BREAST AND SAUTEED VEGETABLES – 8500
Let me just be honest now, long throat made me order this. I saw someone order something similar, and I was like, “I want that!” And let me just tell you, my long throat paid off. Wow! The potato wedges were salty, but I think it was intentional, and I loved it. The saltiness was the welcome kind. They left the skin on, and I love potato skins, so once again, wow! The wedges were crispy, crunchy, and delicious.
This chicken breast, Ogbonge! It was a little spicy, and you know I love pepper, so that was a plus. It was very savory and had such depth of flavor. Chicken breast is generally not as juicy as other parts of the chicken, but they were able to make this kind of juicy, and I really think it was money well spent. It was really good, and it paired well with my potato wedges. Before I forget, the portion was surprisingly great. I mean, for that price, you don’t expect to get a lot, seeing as it’s a side. I really enjoyed every bite of this, abeg they try. Flavour ✔ portion ✔️.
For the sautéed vegetables, I was expecting at least 3–4 vegetables, but it was just carrots and cucumbers. That being said, the seasoning on this was perfect, Omo! It was good. There really is beauty in simplicity, because this was simple yet had this lowkey sophistication, both in appearance and taste.
MASA BURGER – 8000
Before going to Mai Shayi, I was told not to try the masa burger because it wasn’t all that. So when Rukky said she would order this, I tried to discourage her against it, but her strong head won over my bad belle. She just had to have it and I’m so glad she insisted because, in all honesty, a masa burger is not typical, in fact, I feel like it’s the first of its kind (i stand to be corrected o) so kudos to Maishayi Coffee for being innovative with this!
The masa itself was extra fluffy, I don’t know how they incorporated so much air into it to make it extra light, it was soft and pillowy. And most importantly, It tasted quite good too. The masa was not too sweet, which was good, and the texture was great. There were sunny-side-up eggs and a beef patty in the burger. And, to be honest, they paired quite well together. The beef patty, on the other hand, tasted rather gamey and had such an intense flavor that it kind of overpowered the rest of the elements in the dish and set the masa burger some steps back for me. The sauce that was served with the burger was soooooo good, it was like sweet chili mayo but better, and it complimented the burger as a whole.
AMBIANCE AT MAI SHAYI COFFEE
So Mai Shayi Coffee is located inside an office complex, I think. Not sure what it was; it’s not easy to spot even while in the complex. It doesn’t look like much from the outside, but once you step in, you’re transformed into something beautiful. It’s not easy to explain. You have to see it to understand. Again, simplicity comes into play. The decor is so simple that it is effortlessly elegant, and they killed it with the lighting, opoooorrr. But I think the sophistication comes from the minimalistic aura it has, which is elevated by some fabulously colorful paintings that remind you of the vibrant African culture. I was very impressed when we were told that there were real coffee beans incorporated into the table furniture. It’s the details for me, really.
MAI SHAYI COFFEE MENU
The menu at Mai Shayi Coffee is somewhat pricey. To be honest, their pricing makes the options limiting, and as the dollar is fluctuating like Nepa light, it’s only going to get more expensive 🤷♀️. Plus, they had a lot more savoury options than sweet/dessert options. I’m not complaining though, just saying. The pastry section was particularly a letdown; all they had were cookies and kuli kuli. Also, their mains don’t come with complimentary sides of choice; if you choose a side, then you’re paying for it, separately 😪. The coffee section is where they shine through, with lots of coffee drinks to choose from. They also sell their own house blend coffee and tea. I like the menu, I just think it could be better (and cheaper, 🌚).
THE SERVICE AT MAI SHAYI COFFEE
The service was exceptional. This, I would say, is their selling point. The service was what made the entire experience so great. The barista who attended to us was named Kenneth, and he took such good care of us that I started comparing the experience at Maishayi Coffee with other restaurants that I’ve been to. He taught us so much about coffee, and the best part was that the knowledge was free. We were taught about different brewing techniques, and we got to taste medium- and dark-roasted cold-brew coffee. The staff, in general, were very polite and warm. They kept asking if we needed anything or if we were enjoying our time there, etc., to make sure our experience was going great. The service is number one for me until I go somewhere else that beats it. 🤷♀️
General thoughts
The dining experience at Mai Shayi Coffee is by no means ordinary when you visit for the first time; rather, it’s the memorable kind. I mean, I left there a coffee enthusiast, and now I find myself reading about coffee. I would say they take care of you and woo you just so you can come back again and again. But I think the most important thing here is that they are true masters of coffee. I thought I had tasted good coffee until I had it at Mai Shayi Coffee Roasters.
The words that keep coming to mind when I think of Maishayi coffee are quality, memorable, and innovative. If you ever need a coffee fix, this would be the place to get it (if you can find the place 🙄). Though the menu is on the pricey side, the quality of the food you get makes you forget about the price. I have my eye on their barbecue ribs, as I’ve heard it’s their best seller. So I’ll be going back for that. I would say the experience was well worth my time and money.
Have you visited Mai Shayi Coffee Roasters? please share your experience with me in the comments.
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I’ll try to expresso myself….lol