At a time when most big cities are almost colonized with a Starbucks on every street corner, Egyptian coffee shops continue to try fending off competition from international coffee chains. The Costas and the Cilantros are a mere sprinkling in the coffee culture in Egypt compared to overwhelming mass of independent cafés. Which is why Second Cup's eerie similarity to Starbucks is its most disappointing feature. The service is excellent, the coffee is revitalizing, but being Egypt's equivalent of the worldwide chain impedes its novelty.Yet in a city where people love cafés for the sake of coffee, Second Cup fares very well with its customers. Situated on the bustling corner of Soliman Abaza and Gameat El Dowal Street in Mohandiseen, the café is a welcome sanctuary from the honking cars and demanding cab drivers. Its decoration takes a minimalist theme with earthy tones and a spacey interior. As soothing as it is, the minimalist atmosphere also blasts with pop music from the likes of James Blunt, Mariah Carey and Missy Elliot. Neither quaint nor cozy, Second Cup is fiercely modern but surprisingly relaxing given the location and the songs.A friend of mine, a coffee aficionado and fussy music lover, assures me that evening visits to the café are more enjoyable for the demanding customer. Jazz is played and the lights are dimmed, providing a completely different ambiance to that of its mornings and afternoons. Their mocha is also very good, any time of day.If there's one thing to be applauded about Second Cup is its fair pricing in relation to its massive quantities. A medium cappuccino - sized at most other cafés' large - will cost you LE 13, a large LE 15 and a small LE 11. Bearing in mind that if you order a large, it will take you not less than an hour to drink it at average pace, the prices are superb. Flavored teas and coffees are slightly pricier, but nothing exceeds LE 19, for a difficult-to-finish large, heavily flavored latte.If you want to have a quick bite along with your drink, the desserts are delicious and come in potions as generous as those of the coffee. A blueberry cheesecake is the most expensive, priced at LE 19, while the enormous muffin, the cheapest item on the menu, is at LE 12. The chocolate fudge cake is recommended, costing LE 15. I would also recommend the green tea latte, which is peculiar, but different.Overall, Second Cup is one of those coffee shops that stands out in Egypt, yet has the potential of being much more extraordinary than a regular café. Coffee-sipping, after all, is not just about a good dose of caffeine, but requires a particular environment to perfectly complement its mood. It must be said though: despite the music, I did stay for a second cup.
