Established in January 2024, the Greenfield location of Qamaria Yemeni Coffee Co. is one of over a dozen (and counting!) Qamaria locations in the US. Known for it’s vibrant, authentic Yemeni features, Qamaria leaves no detail unattended to. Offering single-origin coffees with notes of cardamom, cinnamon and cloves and exotic desserts served on traditional Middle-Eastern serve ware, the patron travels as close to Yemen as possible without needing a passport.
The space is huge, with tons of seating options. Yemeni music plays in the background. The space is clean and bright, making it a perfect place for a meeting or to work. If you’re a specialty coffee lover, don’t go here expecting super high cupping scores, but do expect coffee experiences that are high quality and unique. The fact that they serve Turkish style coffee and unique Yemen-styled coffee drinks makes Qamaria a destination for any coffee lover.
The baristas were kind, but don’t ask them super geeky coffee questions. You’ll be able to get answers from some but not all of them. Lastly, don’t buy the “light roast” expecting a normal light roast coffee. They serve “white coffee” which is a Yemen specialty, but it will be a coffee brewing experience that takes a decent amount of skill to extract a good cup of Joe. If you do try the white coffee, just expect an earthy, tea-like experience.
Photo courtesy of qamariacoffee.com
The offerings, however, are most certainly as unique as the space. And we’re not just talking coffee–the bakery items give your taste buds a temporary escape to a land far away.
Pistachio Iced Latte – This is a fun twist on an iced drink! The pistachio flavoring isn’t a syrup, but more of a cream-like addition to the latte. While it’s not strong in the coffee department, it’s a fun way to try one of Qamaria’s creative concoctions!Qamaria Latte – This drink is cardamom-forward but not overwhelming, with well-balanced in flavors. The additional (separate) espresso we ordered notably paired very well with this drink. It was sweet but not Starbucks-level sweet. The latte art is always a welcome touch! Espresso – Their double espresso showcases the region’s distinctive characteristics: pronounced notes of dried fruit, particularly dates and raisins, complemented by rich dark chocolate undertones and a distinctive cardamom-like spice finish. The lingering sweetness is quintessentially Yemeni, reminiscent of the natural processing methods historically used in the region’s mountainous terraces.Americano – (Back) The Americano transforms the espresso’s elements, allowing the coffee’s natural honey-like sweetness to emerge more prominently. The dilution reveals subtle stone fruit notes while maintaining the characteristic Yemeni complexity, making it an excellent introduction to this distinctive coffee origin.Aden Shai Latte – If you’re a tea person this is for you! The black tea with the steamed milk was incredibly smooth. The cardamom was notable but not overwhelming. The overall flavor profile of this tea latte was very enjoyable!Turkish Coffee – If you’re not a black coffee drinker, this may change your mind. Delicate, earthy and smooth, this was incredibly drinkable, especially when paired with one of their signature deserts. Also, who can resist getting a Turkish coffee in such beautiful drinkware? This is definitely a must-try. Pistachio Tres Leches Cake – We knew of Qamaria’s amazing Tres Leches cakes from their Instagram stories and couldn’t wait to try this! It was devoured quickly and was a perfect sidekick to the Turkish coffee! This photo-worthy desert definitely tasted as good as it looks.Pistachio Baklava – It did not go unnoticed that we ordered a lot of pistachio items on this trip! No regrets here though, as this perfectly-baked baklava highlighted the pistachio nicely without overpowering the honey-sweet flavor of the traditional Middle-Eastern treat. Bonus points for the beautiful plate!
The verdict? Qamaria is a must-visit in the Milwaukee area and we are lucky to have spots like this in the suburban coffee desert.
Qamaria Yemeni Coffee Co.
Hours: Daily – 7am to Midnight
qamariacoffee.com
(414) 485-7084
4818 S. 76th St. Milwaukee, WI 53220
Facebook: Qamaria Coffee Instagram: @qamariacoffee and @qamaria.wisconsin
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