Recently opened in March, Qamaria Yemeni Coffee Co. introduces Rochester to the rich traditional Yemeni coffee, tea, and pastries.
Most historians believe that the first cup of coffee brewed was in Yemen. Since then, coffee has been cultivated and traded across the globe. Qamaria’s mission is to share the unique flavors of Yemeni coffee with the world while empowering the Yemeni people.
On March 14, 2025, Qamaria held its soft opening at its location in Eastwood Plaza at 1529 US-14 Suite #100, Rochester, MN 55904.
In addition to its distinctive coffee, Qamaria also offers unique hours. They are open daily from 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM on weekdays and until 1:00 AM on weekends. These late-night hours are great for night owls or students looking for a study spot.
When I first walked in, I immediately fell in love with the bright and cozy atmosphere. There are colorful murals, minimalistic décor, and warm lighting that create a welcoming ambiance. The cafe offers a variety of seating options. Along one wall, there is a banquette covered in richly patterned fabric, and along another, there is window bar seating that provides natural lighting and a view outside. Guests can also choose from standard tables or lounge seating, where board games are available.
At Qamaria, you can order inside or through the drive-through window.
The menu felt overwhelming at first with the wide variety of options, including coffees, teas, smoothies, refreshers, pastries, and desserts.
Over several visits to Qamaria, I tried quite a few drinks, including:
- Iced pistachio latte
- Iced Qamaria latte
- Iced brown sugar oat milk shaken espresso
- Iced strawberry matcha latte
- Iced Spanish latte with soy milk
- Biscoff tres leches
Everything I tried was presented well. Most items were really good and rich in flavors, though I found the iced strawberry matcha latte to be too sweet with not enough matcha, and I couldn’t taste much Biscoff in the tres leches.
The service was excellent. Everyone was friendly and helpful. When I asked the person taking my order for a recommendation, she suggested the iced Spanish latte with soy milk, which turned out to be my favorite drink.
From my most recent visit to Qamaria, I tried the iced Spanish latte with soy milk (left) and the iced pistachio latte (right).
After ordering, you’re given a pager that buzzes when your order is ready. Their service was quick, so the wait was never long, around five minutes or less for three drinks.
Although Qamaria offers delicious drinks, desserts, and a great atmosphere, the prices are the downside. They include a three percent service fee in the order, so the average cost of a drink or pastry is $6 to $7, before the tax and fee.
Overall, I would rate Qamaria a 7 out of 10. The prices are something that would make me choose a different coffee shop on most days, but I’m thrilled to see a cultural coffee shop in Rochester that brings something unique to the local coffee scene. Whether you’re looking for good coffee or a late-night study spot, Qamaria is definitely worth a visit.
