Yemeni cafes from Metro Detroit surge nationwide
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Dubai chocolate cup and Adeni chai from Haraz. Photo: Monica Eng/Axios
Yemeni coffee cafes have expanded beyond Metro Detroit as favorites among coffee shop enthusiasts everywhere.
The buzz: Yemeni cafe brands like Qahwah House, Shibam Coffee Co., Qamaria and Haraz Coffee House started in and around Dearborn and have grown to dozens of locations nationwide.
- The number of Yemeni shops increased by 50% last year, making them the fastest-growing coffee sector in the nation, according to Technomic, which listed three Yemeni chains in a recent "Future 50 Growth List."
Case in point: Qamaria, founded in 2019 in Dearborn, started franchising in 2021 and was up to 44 U.S. locations as of 2025, per Technomic data published by Axios.
Flashback: Qahwah House's owner is said to have started the movement back in 2017, according to the Detroit News, which chronicled the trend several years ago.
- It's ballooned even more massively since then.
Zoom in: Dozens of chain and independent Yemeni coffee shops dot our region, from Dearborn, the first Arab-majority city in the U.S., eastward to Grosse Pointe and north to Oakland County's Commerce Township.
- Axios Detroit has featured Qahwati in Ferndale, Haraz (now in Corktown), Awafi Cafe in Hamtramck and others.
Why Yemen? The Middle Eastern country is considered the birthplace of coffee and still supports small growers, many of whom export coffee to relatives who run U.S. cafes.
Big draws: Pastries (including enticing flavor combinations like Dubai chocolate and Biscoff), delicious and varied drink types, elegant interiors, and a vibe that invites lingering and late hours.
Go deeper: Read the full story, including what to order, from Axios Chicago