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Yemeni coffee franchises continue to proliferate along the Peninsula. The latest? Michigan-born Haraz Coffee House.
Founded by Hamzah Nasser in 2021, Haraz Coffee House has more than 50 locations nationwide and 243 in development, including those coming to Mountain View and Santa Clara. The Yemeni coffee franchise joins others also rapidly expanding in Silicon Valley, such as Arwa Yemeni Coffee in Sunnyvale and Sana’a Cafe in Mountain View, Redwood City and, soon, Sunnyvale.
The rapid growth of Yemeni coffeehouses in the United States is likely due to three reasons, The Associated Press reports. They stay open late, facilitate socialization for the growing number of Americans who don’t drink alcohol, and cater toward a growing Arab American population while being approachable for a wide demographic of consumers.
For Haraz franchise owner Savi Singh, an unexpected connection to Yemeni coffee’s long history and cultural significance led him to bring the concept to Mountain View. The Fremont resident left his corporate job in early 2024, searching for a new career path with a deeper meaning. It was after his brother-in-law introduced him to Haraz Coffee House that “something clicked,” he said.
“Just the overall concept of bringing everyone together and coffee being the main anchor,” Singh said. “It felt like I’m somehow getting connected to deep history and the deep culture where the coffee originated from.”
Yemen was the first global hub of the coffee trade and was where coffee as a beverage originated, Singh explained. Yemeni coffee beans are organic and sun-dried for one to three weeks, resulting in a robust flavor with notes of dried fruit, chocolate and spices. While not attached to Yemen culturally, Singh noted that he grew up with coffee and tea as a symbolic form of connection.
“If I knew my mom was mad at me, instead of saying, ‘I’m sorry,’ I’d wake up early and make tea for her,” he recalled.
Singh and his wife Heavenz Kaur plan to open Haraz Coffee House in June at the Landsby Apartments, with hours from early morning to late night. In addition to traditional Yemeni coffee and tea, Haraz will offer espresso-based beverages (decaf options are available), matcha and refreshers.
Singh’s favorite beverages are mufawar (a creamy Yemeni coffee made by simmering coffee with milk and cardamom), Jubani (a soothing drink of coffee beans, dried coffee cherry husks, ginger and cardamom) and Turkish coffee (a thick, highly caffeinated coffee served in a copper cup). More modern beverage options include Haraz’s Cloud series, featuring a variety of beverages topped with cold foam, including iced espresso topped with banana foam, matcha topped with peach foam or pistachio milk topped with matcha foam.
For food, expect sandwiches, pastries and desserts, including honeybee bites (honey cheesecake).
The ambiance at Haraz Coffee House Mountain View aims to be calm, with earthy tones and wood textures. The cafe seats 96, with about half indoor and half outdoors. Seating is a mixture of long community tables, smaller dining tables and bench seating along the wall.
“Everything over here you see will calm you down, will keep you grounded,” Singh said.
Complimentary Wi-Fi and board games will also be available, as well as a nook with a divider that will be used to record Singh’s “All One” podcast.
“The most exciting part is that I’m selling a product which is grown in a different part of our world, going to Michigan, getting roasted there, coming here, managed by someone who was born in a different part of the world and selling (that) coffee to people who will be from all over the world,” Singh said. “That can only happen in this country.”
Haraz Coffee House, 2580 California St., Suite H, Mountain View; Instagram: @hrzcoffee.mv.
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