[ THE story BEHIND occa ]

MEET ZIAD

Based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Ziad is the creator of Our Coffee Cup Adventures. Combining his love for coffee, travel and photography, he explores independent cafés, captures their unique atmosphere and shares his experiences through visual storytelling.

Based in Tokyo and working worldwide, Aoki Watanabe is a visual storyteller offering intentional photography for couples, families, and creatives across the globe. His imagery is known for its softness, sincerity, and subtle cinematic tone — made to last far beyond the moment.

[ MY PHILOSOPHY ]

EVERY CUP HAS A STORY

Photography has taught me to slow down and notice the little details: the care behind a cup, the light across a table and the atmosphere that makes a café special. Sometimes, it's the simplest moments that are worth remembering.

[ WHERE IT ALL BEGAN ]

HOW IT ALL STARTED

My love for coffee has always been closely tied to the places and people behind each cup.

It began in South Africa, where I discovered so many local cafés worth sharing. Some had little presence online, yet offered wonderful coffee, welcoming spaces and experiences that stayed with me. I wanted to help more people find them.

What started as word-of-mouth recommendations became a reason to explore further. As I travelled, I made it my mission to seek out and support local cafés wherever I went, sharing the places I loved along the way.

As my social media platform grew, so did my interest in photography. I began taking photographs to share my discoveries, but soon found myself enjoying the process just as much as the coffee.

Photography encouraged me to slow down and notice the details: the care behind a cup, the light across a table and the atmosphere that makes a café feel special.

Our Coffee Cup Adventures brings those passions together. It's a space to celebrate local cafés, share the stories and moments I encounter, and hopefully inspire you to discover a few hidden gems of your own.

Along the way, coffee gave me a reason to explore, and photography taught me that some moments are worth remembering.

Photography started as curiosity — a quiet urge to freeze time, to make fleeting things last a little longer. I didn’t know much about light, angles, or storytelling back then. I just knew how it felt to notice something beautiful — and want to keep it.

Over time, that quiet curiosity became a deeper passion. The camera turned into a companion — through early morning walks, family moments, city nights. I began to see how photographs could do more than document — they could connect, comfort, and remind.

Now, every photo I take still carries a bit of that first wonder — a beginner’s honesty. And in every story I document, I try to hold on to that same intention: to see fully, feel deeply, and remember quietly.