The town is particularly plentiful in cafés; since just 2024, Montclair has welcomed Chashni Cafe, Sankofa Cafe, Bleu Cafe, Lit Cafe, and more. Very recently, a new Java joint called Qahwah House opened on Bloomfield Avenue. With the already large plethora of other cafés, this new opening begs the question: does Montclair really need more cafés?
Despite there being a multitude of cafés in Montclair already, Qahwah House manages to stay relevant and important to the community. Rather than being the same old story of a coffee house selling generic lattes and cappuccinos and offering little else to the table, Qahwah House brings a special diversity to Montclair. The café does offer many traditional coffee house finds, such as the simple matcha latte or mocha. However, you might also find some unfamiliar words on the menu. Qahwah House is the first Yemeni place in Montclair, New Jersey.
Qahwah House is a chain business of 20 cafés, but unlike many other large-scale food chains, Qahwah House does not sacrifice quality for quantity. I first discovered Qahwah House through their Carmine Street, New York location after watching a film at the IFC Center. Ever since then, visiting Qahwah House and getting a hot Adeni chai after watching “It’s a Wonderful Life” at the movie theater has been a Christmas tradition. When I noticed a location opening up in Montclair, I was delighted but not necessarily surprised; Montclair is the epicenter of Essex County’s culture. The only flaw of the Carmine Street was a large amount of popularity: it was sometimes extremely crowded and difficult to find a spot to sit down and eat. With the Montclair location lacking the same popularity due to its very recent opening and less urban area, the café is much quieter. This makes it easier for people to come study and hear each other over the noise.
In the past few years, you may have noticed a rise in Yemeni coffee spots. Qahwah House is the main business responsible for this new popularity. Founded in 2017 by Ibrahim Alhasban, a member of an eight-generation coffee farmer family, Qahwah House has found widespread success around the United States. This thriving business has helped Yemeni food gain acclaim in the United States.
Even despite its opening being so recent, Qahwah House’s Montclair location doesn’t disappoint in quality. Their mango refresher, triple chocolate jabal saber cake, khaliat alnahl, and sabaya are triumphs. Unlike many other mango-flavored drinks or desserts, their mango refresher is not overly sweet or artificial-tasting: it tastes exactly like biting into a fresh mango. Their triple chocolate jabal saber cake is a decadent, chocolatey mousse cake named after the Jabal Saber Mountain of Yemen. The khaliat alnahl is a pull-apart, buttery bread covered in honey and filled with cream cheese. This dessert is comparable to the sabaya, another honey-coated pastry.
Part of Qahwah’s success comes from its menu’s approachable content. The menu, alongside many traditional Yemeni foods, includes the American café classics of mochas, caramel macchiatos, a plethora of teas, and more.
Though I feel tempted to keep the knowledge of this new location to myself to preserve the tranquility of the space, I also know I must recommend a place with such high-quality food. If you haven’t yet tried Qahwah House, I strongly urge you to consider making a visit.
