Visited: Saturday, August 15, 2026 -- around 3:30 PM HYPER-HOT COFFEE, FLYING CARPETS & THE DEATH OF DRIVE-THRU MONOTONY Had a late-afternoon coffee craving while wandering Berkeley and landed at Qahwa Time. "Qahwa," appropriately enough, means coffee in Arabic, so nobody here is hiding the ball. First impression: friendly service, casual atmosphere, and just enough energy to make the place feel fun without someone trying to convince me I've joined a movement. I ordered the Modawar, a Yemeni-style coffee with evaporated milk, a touch of sugar and cardamom. And sweet caffeinated Moses -- this coffee arrived HYPER HOT. Not "wait two minutes before sipping" hot. I mean HOT hot. The kind of temperature where weaker men begin blowing frantically across the lid while quietly researching personal-injury attorneys. Perfect. I like my coffee served somewhere between volcanic and OSHA investigation, and this was excellent. Rich, aromatic, lightly sweet, with the cardamom coming through beautifully without kicking down the door and taking the entire beverage hostage. I was also stranded in that bizarre 3:30 PM jurisdiction where lunch has already left town but dinner hasn't been sworn into office, so I ordered a beef fatayar. Now THIS thing was fun. Warm folded pastry stuffed with beef and potatoes, carrying these wonderful curry-flavored undertones. Soft, savory, hearty, slightly doughy -- comfort food with just enough spice and personality to make you sit up and pay attention. About three bites in, I felt like I should have been sitting cross-legged on a carpet, flying directly into a genie lamp at full speed. I realize this may not be the traditional Yemeni dining experience. But it was mine. There was something almost pierogi-ish about the warm potato-and-meat comfort of it, except somebody apparently handed the pierogi a passport, introduced it to cardamom and curry, and told it there was a much larger world outside Cleveland. And speaking of that larger world: I am absolutely stoked that Yemeni coffee houses keep popping up all over the Bay Area. Bring them on. Yemeni coffee. Ethiopian food. Salvadoran pupusas. Korean barbecue. Burmese noodles. Filipino breakfast. Afghan kebabs. Georgian dumplings. Give me cuisines I can't pronounce correctly on the first attempt. Because when it comes to food, the more the merrier. A world where 95% of your culinary decision-making consists of Wendy's, McDonald's or Chick-fil-A isn't technically a human-rights violation, and I doubt The Hague will be opening an investigation anytime soon. But good Lord, what a dull existence. There are only so many times a grown adult can stand beneath fluorescent lights contemplating whether tonight represents a Dave's Double moment or a Spicy Chicken Sandwich moment before the human spirit begins requesting asylum. So yeah. Give me the Yemeni coffee house. Give me the nuclear-temperature Modawar. Give me the beef-and-potato fatayar that launches me across Berkeley on an imaginary flying carpet toward a genie lamp. Qahwa Time made my afternoon substantially less boring. And these days, that's worth celebrating. read more

Qahwa Time - Modawar (5/5) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

Wow. Just wow. Talk about a NICE refresher. If you like juice/refreshers and have been looking for a good spot outside of Starbucks, please definitely give this place a try. Their service was very quick and nice. The ambiance was very nice as well, with a lot of nice decor. read more

Qahwa Time - PASSION FRUIT PINEAPPLE - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

- I bought a bag of coffee beans and asked them to grind it for my French press. - Got home, brewed some coffee and realized grind was too coarse for proper extraction. - Went back, the team happily reground the beans THEN THEY SURPRISED ME WITH A COMPLIMENTARY SLICE OF BAKLAVA. I INSISTED ON PAYING AND MENTIONED THAT GRINDING BEANS I PURCHASED WAS ABOVE AND BEYOND ALREADY. They said they "appreciated the opportunity to make things right with my coffee beans". 10 out of 5 stars for this team. read more

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Ordered the iced Pistachio Latte with almond milk today and it was sweet and nutty - loved it. It even had little bits of pistachio in it. Going to try and taste my way through the menu! read more

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Pleasant ambiance and variety of menu items. Even though drinks are on the expensive side, they have some intriguing items I want to come back to try, the pastries look good, and our smoothies were nice, so I would definitely come back. Smoothies come on 16oz for $9 in a sealed bottle that you can easily carry. Had solid flavor combos. Shop had lots of sunlight and was bright and airy. -1 star mostly because the biggest deterrent for a student is that I could imagine it being really crowded and not having seating. The one restroom was large and clean. read more

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Stopped by late night yesterday and was happy to see the place buzzing with activity; with lots of seats, good WiFi, and charging outlets, this is my new go-to late night cafe. I tried the baklava and the chai. I was a bit disappointed by the baklava- it was very dense and cold, almost like it had just been taken out of a refrigerator. The chai was good and strong. Definitely recommend giving this place a visit! read more

Qahwa Time - Baklava - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

Qahwa Time's niche is Yemeni inspired eats and drinks. Opened recently on the ground floor of a commercial building. Elegantly decored in Yemen themes and leisurely seating, rhythmic music soothes the air while one sips a choice of libation & eats an array of desserts. menu is posted on the back wall behind the counter. Some writing is too small to read. Pastries, cake slices are in a covered case, unnamed, unpriced. Greeted quickly, courteously upon entry. Serviced at the right side where the counter is. Pd. Got drink in 5ish minutes. Offerings: pastries, cake slices, espressos, lattes, specialty coffee, smoothies, refreshers. Similar to other Yemen cafes. Sips: Mofawar (sm. 5.20) no sugar -has medium roast Yemen covfefe, cardamon, cream. -initially very hot upon receipt. Didn't try to drink it. Blend tasted very robust. Upon cooling, drink was luxuriously smooth, easy sipping. Addictive. 4.5 stars Worthy! Quantity: reasonable. Quality: top notch. Cakes et. al looked delicious... Metered parking in front and on side streets read more

Qahwa Time - Mofawar (sm. 5.20) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

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On a recent trip to Berkeley to accompany Hubs to work, the daughter and I stumbled upon Qahwa(Coffee) Time, and how, is a story in itself, to be told in a different setting, nonetheless I'm glad we did. Qahwa(Coffee) Time was a wonderful experience. Upon entry I felt like I had just been teleported to Yemen. The decor in this coffee shop is like none I've experienced. Absolutely gorgeous, and very spacious. In addition to the decor the restroom was photo worthy. I'm big on clean restrooms, because I feel it gives a glimpse into the kitchen. My mini-Me and I enjoyed their Yemeni Latte-divine, Baklava, and Potato Fatayer. I would've liked a bit more spice in the Fatayer and/or a spicy sauce on the side. Both the employees working were very attentive, and We weren't made to feel rushed. A very nice, chill, and relaxing vibe. I also received a lesson in Arabic, and this happened the day after My favorite girl and I had just been discussing how We need to learn it. Often times I get strange glances when I enter an establishment and begin taking photos, but after a while the staff relaxes. I'm not sure who the Community Manager is for the East Bay, but I think this would be a great locationa for an event. Qahwa Time many blessings to you! read more

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Great place to do some work and get a coffee. Have only had the espresso here and have to say it's great, much better than average. They have a bunch of pastries and food, looks good, haven't tried. Its very cozy and clean and has plenty of seating if you want to do work. It does have a good number of people on their laptops working though, so not sure how busy it gets but was able to find a seat when I visited. Paid parking is easy in the area, and you may be able to find side street parking for free but I dont know where it is. read more

I really enjoyed their coffee. It's not overly sweet and tastes very smooth. The place has outside and Inside seatings. They provide plugs and WiFi for convenience. I'll be back! read more

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Very cute coffee shop! It was packed on a Friday evening here. I was able to order at the kiosk and high tailed it to a recently vacated table. The brown sugar oat milk latte was probably one of the best lattes I have ever had! Friendly and efficient service. There was metered street parking on the side of the building when I pulled up. read more

Qahwa Time - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Came to Qahwa Time and tried the matcha and the Yemeni latte. The inside is sooo cute and cozy. It's honestly such a good study spot. The vibe is calm, aesthetic, and perfect if you want to get work done or just hang out for a while. I'll be honest, the drinks were not really my favorite. They were not bad, just not something I would personally order again. The food though was actually really good and definitely the highlight for me. The people working there were super nice and welcoming, which always makes a place better. Overall I would come back for the atmosphere, the food, and the chill study vibes. read more

Qahwa Time - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

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They use a dark, oily roast that was well done by the barista. If you're a dark roast fan, you'll be happy. Unfortunately, I like a light roast and of course, I've yet to find ANY coffee shop that has decaf light roast. Chocolate croissant was excellent and wasn't sourced from the Berkeley areas "usual suspect." 7:40am in the morning and the place was crowded with cricket match fans who were allowed to set up a make shift screen. Very cool to see the event being hosted. read more

I've never had Yemeni coffee and was curious as to what to expect. I saw that they closed at 11pm so stopped by after watching the basketball game. I ordered the Yemeni latte which is noted to have cardamom, cinnamon, and ginger. I could definitely taste some of the spices and appreciate staff asking about my sugar level preferences. Ambience is quite nice inside, but there were a couple tables that needed to be bused. It wasn't busy, so I feel like it should have been cleaning, especially since it was less than an hour to closing time. read more

This is my second review for a Yemeni establishment of late. I typically don't frequent coffee houses but was with friends. I was impressed with how modern the interior was. Very inviting. I had a large Turkish coffee as I don't think I've indulged before in this. As I'm not really a coffee drinker I got feedback from my companions who commented this was good coffee. I shared a hazelnut cheesecake which I did enjoy. Trying something new like this is always welcome. I think I'll come back and sample a different dessert. read more

Qahwa Time - Hazelnut cheesecake - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

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What a cute little retreat at the bottom of The Lair, one of the newer premier student housing buildings in Berkeley. The Adeni chai with milk no sugar was absolutely delicious. Rich, smooth flavors however refreshing at the same time. It was an experience. An experience I did not want to end. Not one to go out for coffee or tea but this place changed my mind in the value of a quality build out experience. Everything here is quality quality quality, down to the to go bags and cups and stunning interior. I came back an tried the savory offerings and large cardamom cinnamon bun. Also delicious! All the staff were kind, hard working and gracious. Thank you!! read more

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Cute place! Stopped in for tea with friends on Sunday evening. I had steamed ginger milk with oat milk which I loved. My friend had Karak Chai (strong chai) and they really liked it. Also had an assortment of sweet treats. I would definitely go back. read more

Solid coffee shop. Coffee is good and the Yemeni dishes are tastey albeit can be a little on the pricey side. Overall a good place to study and get work done. read more

Qahwa Time - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

- Biscoff latte and churro latte are my favorite drinks here! Keep in mind all the bevs here are a little less sweet than the average café (which i love). -Their TIRAMISU is amazinggggg! - Super lively environment. open early AND late. staff is SUPER nice. has plenty of outlets to do work. My favorite spot at berkeley FOR SURE!!! read more

Qahwa Time in Berkeley is the cutest new coffee shop -- I'm so glad I stopped by! It felt amazing walking in: cozy, welcoming, and adorable. The staff were super sweet and attentive. I ordered a Turkish coffee that was a bit too strong for me, and they immediately offered milk, asked which kind I preferred, and even suggested other milk-based drinks I might like -- such great service. I also had a caramel frappuccino that was delicious, and a kunaffa cake (I think that was the name) that was absolutely out of this world. I finished with a savory pastry filled with potato, carrot, and peas -- tasty and comforting. Overall a delightful experience; I'm in love with this place and highly recommend stopping by! read more

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A very high quality cafe the service is excellent always happy and active the drinks super high quality! The store looks so beautiful and cozy to study or to chill with friends or family! I recommend! read more

Qahwa Time - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I went in the store because it's next to the noodle house that I frequent. It reminds me of a nice Starbucks in a nice area the same kind of different when I went in, so I looked at the menu to see what I can order and it has a lot of choices. Good prices good flavors not your typical flavors. I got the passionfruit mango Matcha with soy milk and I absolutely loved it because it wasn't very sweet. I do not like sweet drinks and it came sealed with a can top ice cold ice added since I was going to the restaurant I was glad it was packed like it was because I waited till I got home to drink it so I can enjoy it. I also had the chocolate cheesecake right now. I can't think of the name of it. It doesn't have a list of items. I saw something that looks like a bird nest with little eggs. I don't know what that was but being that it's new to me I don't know who else would be familiar with the items, but I think they should have signs in front of the pastries that they sell. I would've been more app to try them things that I didn't know what everything was I didn't try anything else I will be going back. Hopefully, they have the names of the pastries that they provide cause every time I go to the noodle house I would like to purchase something sweet. I'm disabled so I'm not able to walk far. And that is right next-door. read more

the kunaffa cake is not something i knew i needed in my life until now and honestly where has it been. that crispy shredded pastry with the cream and syrup situation, it shouldn't work as a coffee shop dessert but it absolutely does. the latte is strong in a way that actually wakes u up which sounds basic but a lot of places fail at this fundamental promise. yemeni inspired coffee has this slightly different flavor profile than what ur used to and i mean that as a huge compliment, something a little spiced and warm underneath. open til 11pm is such a good call, this is genuinely a great late night spot when ur not trying to drink but still want to be out somewhere cozy. vibe inside felt welcoming and unhurried, nobody rushing u out. 44 reviews at 4.6 and i feel like this is just getting started. the bay needs more spots like this honestly, different and really well executed read more

I ordered the Mofawar coffee, at staff's recommendation, and it was fantastic. I got my coffee to go, but this place looks like a nice place to work or study. Loved the tradition Arab music in the background. Minus one star for a workplace safety issue: they have a handle-less milk foaming jug in the kitchen. Yemeni coffee is extremely hot, and staff shared that they'd gotten burns from using the jug to make it. Hopefully this is something the owners can resolve soon. read more

It is a nice clean location with lots of seating and a wide selection of food and drinks. Everyone working there is pleasant. And they are playing all the World Cup games on tv and they are easy for everyone there to view. I like their mint lemonade-they don't have that as good anywhere else! read more

I tried the Yemeni Traditional coffee and loved the complex flavors of the coffee and spices. They service is kind and impeccable.

Great smoothies and good food. Not thrilled with the touch screen ordering but the service was great and everyone was kind. Great spot to grab a drink or work remotely. Lots of seating available and comfortable seats. read more

Lovely place but most of all yummy coffee. I had the spiced Yemeni latte and very happy with how delicious it was.

My family and some friends went to this place yesterday. There were 6 of us and every single person enjoyed what they ordered. I got the Mofawar--coffee with cardamom, evaporated milk and lovely spices. It was perfection in a cup. Other things ordered were Pistachio Lattes, Pistachio milk cake and a savory pastry with beef and potatoes. The guy preparing our large order was friendly, welcoming and patient with my questions despite being busy. He told me that they roast their own beans from beans grown on their family farm, so of course, we brought a bag home with us! I'm sipping a cup as I write this review. It's very good, but would be better if I were sipping it at their Shattuck Avenue location, which is nicely decorated, warm and welcoming. Qahwa Time is absolutely top of my list of places to visit the next time I'm in Berkeley. In fact, it's a good reason to travel to Berkeley! I want to try their traditional Chai tea. It's served in beautiful glassware and looked DE-licious. I wish I had taken a picture of the art on the latte foam. I Highly recommend supporting this family business. read more

Such a nice spot! Interior is beautiful and the workers are really kind. I got an iced Yemeni latte and it was good-- especially for being a newly open cafe! However, one minor thing is I was biting on a lot of the little cardamom pieces in my latte; I feel like if they fix that this would definitely be my go to drink! read more

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Food service ambiance everything Perfect. Customer service amazing. Highly recommended. read more

Qahwa Time - Berry Dream Smoothie, Ask for the special Can. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

I didn't expect this level of quality ، amazing coffee, clean setup, and great attention to detail , this cafe can easily stand next to the best cafes in the world , +999 Respect read more

A new coffee shop prepares the best types of drinks, especially coffee, its taste is very special. The staff is very professional and nice. I also recommend visiting him. read more

I got a vanilla latte with oat milk less ice, it was a good amount of sweetness to it. There were 2 guys customer service was amazing. Nice people. The cafe looks nice, it's has a nice atmosphere. read more

Qahwa Time - Vanilla latte with oat milk - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Amazing ambiance and very solid drinks. Not too far off campus either. Service was enthusiastic and helpful.

Great coffee. Enjoyed the honey bread and cheesy zaatar bread. Open late at night if you want to work or study

Qahwa Time is a amazing coffee shop from amazing coffee, and pastries to beautiful ambiance. When I first Visited Qahwa I thought I just got off of a plane and landed in Yemen. This is truly exceptional! The service is awesome. read more

Clean space, drinks were good and the staff was nice. I'd give the brown sugar latte a 8/10. My friend got the banana matcha and it tasted artificial but it was still good, 9/10. read more

Great environment, great drinks, extremely friendly staff. I would absolutely recommend this cafe

Cute new cafe that does not have its act together. Despite taking forever to open, it has no website with info on opening hrs. I went once, had a nice experience and was told it opens at 7 am every day (take note, yelp - you're still saying it is 6 am). Then, I show up the following Monday at 715 am, and it is locked, with no one there - despite having an open sign in the window. Forget it - there are too many alternatives to risk wasting my time again on a business that has no consideration for its customers or their time. read more