Story
efore Qishr was a coffee house, it was a kitchen — three friends, one dallah, and the suspicion that the world's best cup was being poured by the wrong people.
We opened the doors so the right people could pour it.
The Qishr Story
Before coffee was a global commodity, it was a quiet ritual. In the mist-shrouded mountains of 15th-century Yemen, the dark, roasted brew we know today was first poured by a Sufi mufti of Aden named al-Dhabhani. His followers called it qahwa — the awakener.
What began in Yemen could not stay in Yemen. Pilgrims and merchants carried the dark brew out of the highlands, along the trade roads north — to Mecca, to Cairo, to Damascus, and on to Istanbul. There, in 1554, two Syrian merchants opened Kiva Han: the world's first coffeehouse, built around a Yemeni cup.
From ancient highland terraces, these precious beans traveled to the Port of Mocha. For two centuries, this single Yemeni port supplied the globe. Wooden ships carried an aromatic treasure to Venice in 1645, London in 1652, and Vienna in 1683 — coffeehouses that woke continents and sparked revolutions. Yemen gifted the brew to the world.
At Qishr Coffee House, we are stewards of this unbroken lineage. We pour the exact sun-dried aromas that sparked a global phenomenon. With every sip, you aren't just tasting a beverage—you are experiencing the unchanged heritage of the world's original harvest.
What We Stand For
Vision
We see a future where coffee's first home is also its proudest one — where the quiet ritual that began in the highlands is treasured in living rooms, cafes, and kitchens around the world.
Mission
We source from Yemeni highland farmers, roast in small batches, and serve the cup the way it's been poured for six centuries. No shortcuts. No re-inventions. Just the original brew, done well.
Our Values
01
Every bean is Yemeni-grown and traceable. We don't blend the lineage out of the cup.
02
We brew the long way — small batch, careful heat, unhurried hands. The cup tastes like the time we gave it.
03
Coffee in our highlands is shared, not sold. We pour the same way wherever Qishr opens — generously, on purpose.
DISCOVER THE TASTE OF YEMEN
At Qishr Coffee House, coffee is more than a drink—it’s culture.
For generations, Yemen has cultivated some of the world’s most distinctive coffee, grown on mountain terraces and prepared with traditions passed down through families. We honour that heritage while creating an inviting space where people can gather, connect, work, and experience something truly unique.
From our signature Yemeni Latte and traditional Arabic coffee to our refreshing iced beverages and handcrafted desserts, every item is designed to showcase the flavours and warmth of Yemen.
A QUIET HANDOFF INTO THE MARK
A LETTER FROM THE TEAM
Welcome to Qishr Coffee House, Toronto's destination for authentic Yemeni coffee, traditional hospitality, and one of the world's oldest coffee cultures.
Located in the heart of downtown Toronto at Sankofa Square (formerly Yonge-Dundas Square), Qishr Coffee House brings centuries of Yemeni coffee tradition into a modern café experience. Every cup tells the story of Yemen—the birthplace of coffee's global journey.
Our menu celebrates traditional and contemporary Yemeni beverages, from rich specialty coffee and handcrafted espresso drinks to the iconic Qishr, Yemen's national drink made from the coffee cherry husk and aromatic spices. We also serve our signature Adeni Tea, premium Arabic coffee, fresh pastries, desserts, and handcrafted seasonal beverages.
Every coffee is roasted with care to highlight the distinctive flavours of Yemen's high-altitude coffee farms. Whether you're discovering Yemeni coffee for the first time or searching for a specialty coffee shop in Toronto, you'll find an experience rooted in authenticity, quality, and hospitality.
Qishr Coffee House | Authentic Yemeni Coffee in Downtown Toronto
