Basra café founded by two friends opens third branch in expansion beyond college

BASRA — A café brand launched by two friends in Basra has expanded beyond the University of Maqal, opening a third branch in the al-Junainah neighborhood after growing demand.

The project, branded “M90,” first opened inside the university’s medical college before expanding to the engineering college. Strong customer demand then prompted the founders to open a third location outside the university entirely.

For customers, the draw is a vibrant alternative that respects privacy, with meeting rooms kept separate from smoking areas.

The brand’s name traces back to a friendship. According to founder Khalid Jasim, the letter M stands for his friend’s initial and 90 marks his own birth year.

“The idea started between me and my friend,” Jasim said. “The project’s name is inspired by the letter M, which is my friend’s initial, and the number 90, which is my birth year.”

The first branch opened in the medical college at the University of Maqal, followed by a second in the engineering college. Then came the pull outside campus.

“The demand became very large, which prompted customers to ask us to open a branch outside the university,” Jasim said.

Beyond location, the founders lean on internationally sourced equipment and what Jasim describes as precision throughout the operation, down to baked goods made from their own recipe.

The menu is where barista Sajjad Hassan takes over, pointing to V60 coffee and fruit-processed fusion coffee as the standouts.

“One crop gives notes of peach, pear and passion fruit, while the second crop gives notes of grapes, cherries and strawberries,” Hassan said. “These flavor notes are very pronounced compared with classic coffee.”

The café also serves specialty classic coffees in Yemeni, Saudi, Ethiopian and Brazilian varieties, alongside espresso made with Salvadoran, Brazilian and Ethiopian beans, each processed, in Hassan’s account, to bring out its own flavor profile.