According to a recent permit filing, Qahwah House will be opening this fall at 189 E. Main St. in downtown Columbus. Qahwah House is a coffee house franchise that started in Michigan and is known for serving organic coffee that has been grown in Yemen.
Qahwah House marketing manager Mohamed Ahmed shared with What Now Columbus that the coffee shop will be on the ground floor of a mixed-use building, in the heart of downtown.
Qahwah is Arabic for coffee and the franchise’s concept pays homage to coffee’s Middle-Eastern origins not just with the business name, but with menu items as well. The coffee house serves traditional Middle Eastern drinks that feature the warm spices and flavors the region is known for. Coffee drinks include coffee blended with things like ginger, cinnamon, cardamom and nutmeg.
Additionally, coffee drinkers can expect a variety of coffee styles available including lattes, pour overs, cold brew and Turkish coffee, and they carry bagged whole bean coffee. In addition to coffee, Qahwah also serves Yemeni pastries including sabaya, a flaky, layered bread cake and khaliat al nahl, a pull-apart roll filled with cheese and drizzled with honey. Tea drinkers can also expect to find high-quality organic teas like chai and matcha.
Qahwah has locations in various cities throughout the Midwest and East Coast and is on track to expand to 20 locations by the end of 2023. When Qahwah Coffee opens in Columbus, it will be the first of the franchise to open in Ohio, but there are plans to eventually expand to other parts of the state.
Ahmed shared that he sees the coffee chain’s style and taste adding to the city’s diverse food and beverage scene.“Columbus is a growing market and we’re excited to start off in this city. We’re bringing high-quality, organic coffee with a unique flavor profile that many people have never tasted before.”
