Iqra is Arabic for "Read". We have named our coffee blend "Iqra" in reference to both the art of reading and the shared traditions of reading coffee grounds. In the spirit of this intention, our Grand Coffee X Maktaba Bookshop collaboration connects two spaces in unison: the bookshop and the coffee shop. We pay homage to the interconnectedness of coffee and books, Palestine and Iraq, Montreal and San Francisco. Our Iqra blend is based on Sundus and Yassin's favorite coffee profile, with Grand Coffee's master roasting. Community is Queen, across homelands, spaces and diasporas.
Equal parts a product of love and good timing, Grand Coffee was founded by Nabeel Silmi in the post-recession days of 2010. In the decade since, Grand has become a gathering place for all in the community: immigrants, artists, abuelas, tech workers, service workers, queer folx, people who just moved to San Francisco, people who have spent their whole lives in San Francisco, and so many more.
Their range of single-origin coffees and blends highlights up-and-coming producers and origins with a watchful eye on ethical production and quality.
