Many of these coffeeshops share similar DNA: Large, beautifully decorated facilities, and comfortable seating, while imported Yemeni coffee beans are roasted in-house and served in glass or ceramic cups, often accompanied by sweet, creamy honeycomb breads and an array of other traditional pastries. On the menu, drinks can include Jubani, a drink made with coffee and the husk of coffee cherries, served with cardamom, ginger, cinnamon; and Mofawar, coffee served with cardamom and cream. Qishr, a specialty of steeped coffee cherry husks with ginger and cinnamon, and Adeni chai (Yemeni black tea, cardamom, nutmeg, milk) are also common.
Yemeni coffeehouses put an emphasis on the aesthetics of the space. From the earthy tones and mosaic walls to the decorative tableware and plush seating, Yemen is present in not just the coffees but also the shops themselves. “[Our coffeehouses] are not like typical coffee shops—they're extremely extravagant, extremely aesthetic, because we wanted to bring the culture, [while offering] a family-friendly, non-alcoholic environment late into the night,” Almatrahi said. In Texas—and more recently, Illinois—Arwa emulates the aesthetic with its specific designs like the geometric inlays crafted into the gold arch designs inspired by one the oldest mosques in Yemen, Queen Arwa Mosque.
“I grew up in Yemen—and for anyone that grows up there, coffee and tea are part of our daily lives,” Almatrahi said. “It's a very unique tribal mindset, where everybody is extremely communal.” Folks participate in social activities as a family unit with extended families and communities gathering for three meals, he explained. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are enjoyed together, including tea and coffee always served at these social gatherings.
Qahwah House founder, Ibrahim Alhasbani immigrated from Yemen to New York in 2011 and opened the first-of-its-kind Yemeni coffee shop in Dearborn, a well-established hub for Arab and Muslim Americans, in 2017. “I'm the eighth generation of a coffee farming family,” Alhasbani said. “The idea [for Qahwah House] came from [an early age], when my mom and my father put two things in my heart and my mind: Yemen is the best place for coffee and Yemeni coffee is the best coffee in the world.”
But “the sad side of the story” was that “no one” knew the history of Yemeni coffee—they didn’t even know where Yemen was, he said.
While Ethiopia is often referred to as the birthplace of coffee, historical records show Yemen was where it was first cultivated, according to World Coffee Research. (For example, the word mocha originates from the coffee shipped from Mokha port located in Mocha, Yemen.)
“I wanted to bring it back to the forefront [of the industry],” Alhasbani said.
Today, he operates 26 locations nationwide with plans for 100 US coffeehouses by 2027.
For Alhasbani, coffee giants like Starbucks and Tim Hortons aren’t competition because they are the antithesis of Yemeni’s coffee culture—corporations that reverse open-door policies and prioritize grab-and-go, commercial coffee. What makes Yemeni coffee special is its naturally sweet taste and chocolate flavor, as well as its low acidity, Alhasbani explained.
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