About Us

COFFEE THAT TAKES YOU PLACES

ZAMAN COFFEE is owned and operated by husband-and-wife-duo Ashraf Azar and Zainab Alsmadi in Montreal, Quebec. The idea for Zaman Coffee took root while Ashraf & Zainab were pursuing their graduate studies. Being students and parents to young children, coffee became an integral part of their day. Their passion for great specialty coffee arose from necessity and has grown into an everyday pleasure!

Ashraf Azar brings over 50 years of family tradition in coffee roasting. He is a scientist by vocation and education, having studied Biomedical Science and Biochemistry, detection of bioactive molecules in biological samples has been his specialty. He applies this scientific approach to coffee roasting and testing to reach the ever-illusive perfect cup. Beginning with every home roasting method available, including modified popcorn makers and cast iron pan roasting, he quickly moved on to commercial roasters, experimenting with how changes to the multiple variables involved in coffee roasting (including but not limited to heat, time and air flow) could alter and produce variant coffees and accentuate flavors produced by the numerous compounds in each coffee bean. Drawing inspiration from his Egyptian roots, he tried longer and slower roasts, before finally creating established methods that he believes brings about the ideal aroma and tasting notes. That formula became the basis for ZAMAN COFFEE.

Co-founder Zainab Alsmadi completed her MA in Education & Society – her research focused on identity construction, second language acquisition and the Muslim Diaspora. She brings her research and writing experience to ZAMAN, maintaining the administrative side of the business, and actively creating new and fresh ideas in product design and marketing.

Community Involvement and Activism

What makes Ashraf & Zainab stand apart is their full commitment to supporting their community. Their youngest of four children has severe medical, cognitive, and physical challenges. Having a child with special needs has been life changing for them as a couple and as a family and has rerouted their life goals and put them on the path to reach out to other families with special needs children and to their community at large. 

They regularly donate coffee to local charitable organizations such as women's shelters, food banks, educational institutions and organizations aimed at assisting the homeless find housing.

Future Initiatives

In honor of their son they hope to one day start a foundation that aims to provide financial assistance to families raising children with special needs, helping them pay for therapies and equipment. A portion of all sales from ZAMAN would go directly to this foundation.