For many, coffee is a morning pick-me-up. Sleepily meandering to a fresh pot and pouring a cup of joe is a daily ritual that feels typical. But for some, brewing and drinking coffee, and sharing among friends, is a special custom that reflects their cultural heritage. Around the world, coffee is produced, roasted, and consumed in many different ways. In Houston, our diversity of peoples and cultures means that locals are able to partake in some of the different styles of coffee and coffee-based beverages.
From where to find traditional Vietnamese ice coffee to all of the places showcasing the Yemeni coffee craze, consider this list as a great introduction to an international java journey of your own.
Golden Roastery
Part coffee shop, part food store, Golden Roastery is a feast for the senses, selling coffees from around the world, spices, herbs, Palestinian olive oil, and gorgeous tea and coffee services. It serves hot drinks like macchiato and cafe pistachio latte, as well as a variety of Turkish teas that are available in-store only. The Turkish coffee is served on sand, a practice in which the cezve (pot) is heated in a container of sand, allowing the water and finely-ground coffee to be kept at the right temperature. The cezve is lifted in and out several times, allowing the coffee to froth repeatedly. The powdery coffee grounds sink to the bottom, leaving behind a thick and aromatic liquid. The sediment at the bottom of the cup is not meant to be consumed, but is sometimes used to tell fortunes, similar to tea leaves. There are plenty of sweets to enjoy with a coffee or tea, including its famous kunafa or baklava. 3111 Fondren Rd., Houston, goldenroastery.store
Haraz Coffee House
This coffee chain has two locations in the Greater Houston area, in Sugar Land and Pearland. As well as it being a sit-down coffee shop, Haraz sells Yemeni coffee, machines, and accessories for the home brewer. Yemeni coffee cherries are sun-dried, which enhances their natural flavors, resulting in a tasty brew with notes of chocolate, dried fruit, and spice. There are traditional drinks like the Harazi mufawar, made with coffee, cardamom, and cream, as well as jubani, which gets flavored with cinnamon and ginger. The espresso bar offers a selection of lattes like pistachio and saffron. Don’t skip the pastry case, which is filled with typical sweets like double chocolate cookies, and interesting pastries such as the bee bites, a soft, bubbled bread with cream cheese inside and drizzled with honey. Multiple locations, harazcoffee.com
La Vita
This Italian coffee shop serves a variety of espresso-based drinks, including mochaccino, cortado, and doppio con panno, a double espresso topped with whipped cream. It also offers cold brews like the shakerato, an Italian specialty in which hot espresso and sugar are shaken with ice, then poured neat. There are breakfast bites and paninis, too. The interior boasts murals of the Italian coast and an eclectic mix of seating. It shares the space and large patio with Burger Vibe and Just Bagels, so you could hang out all day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 3730 Washington Ave., washingtonpatio.com/lavitacoffee
Fellini Caffe
Italians are serious about their caffe, and Fellini honors that tradition by creating a European ambiance for guests to enjoy a fresh-brewed coffee drink. Brews are made with Lavazza “Top Class” coffee beans, brewed in a La-Cimball M100 espresso machine from Italy. Beans are ground in a Kony grinder, and the espresso machine’s adjustable thermal balance system allows for the barista to set up the perfect temperature. Patrons can shoot back a simple espresso, or indulge in a morning cappuccino with a breakfast panini. The pastry case is filled with tempting treats and there is gelato as well. Both Houston-area locations offer indoor and outdoor seating, suitable for long stretches of sipping. Multiple locations, fellinihouston.com
Qamaria Yemeni Coffee Co.
Started by two young Yemeni entrepreneurs, this coffee franchise has exploded in popularity across the United States. While coffee plants are native to Ethiopia, it’s believed that it was in Yemen where the cultivation of coffee as a beverage began 500 years ago. At Qamaria, the coffee is carefully sourced from Haraz, Yemen, using the same natural techniques that draw out the earthy and complex notes of the cherries, giving an aromatic boost to both the beans and the husks. For the traditional qishr, the husks are used for brewing, resulting in a less-caffeinated drink. It is typically spiced with ginger, and sometimes cinnamon. While there are hot and iced coffee drinks at Qamaria, guests should step out of the box and try the Sheba, its version of qishr; or opt for mufawar, a Yemeni coffee, flavored with cardamom and cream. Continue the journey by ordering rose milk cake or kunafa cheesecake. Multiple locations, qamariacoffee.com
Le Cafe Josephine
Blending Moroccan and French flavors, this counter-service cafe in the Heights offers coffee options that could double as dessert. While there are standard espresso-based choices, a selection of simply scrumptious lattes are hard to ignore. Indulge in flavors like Nutella, bananas foster, creme brulee, and nutmeg and honey. On the nosh side, there are baguette sandwiches including Moroccan meatball, Merguez sausage, and Capri. Don’t miss out on the opera cake for even more of a sugar rush. 201 E. 20th St., Houston, lecafejosephine.com
Mazajj Organic Coffee
With a location in Katy and one in Houston, this organic coffee shop is on trend with the Yemeni coffee craze. It offers the traditional mofowar, with cardamom and cream, plus the sana’ani version, with just cardamom. The spellings vary sometimes, from one Yemeni shop to another, but the coffees are still made with the prized Yemeni coffee. Guests can order the traditional coffees by 12- or 16-ounce, or by the pot. The pots are served over a butane burner to keep them warm and arrive on a pretty tea tray. Mazajj serves the traditional honeycomb dessert, but also a Dubai chocolate dessert, and a coconut tres leches that adds a Middle Eastern touch with a topping of kataifi. There are savory snacks as well such as za’atar bread and spinach feta roll. Multiple locations, texas.mazajjorganiccoffee.com
Abdallah’s Lebanese Cafe
This family-owned restaurant began as a backyard Lebanese bakery nearly 50 years ago, and it eventually evolved into a restaurant. In 2025, the business was revamped and moved from its home on Hillcroft to a new location off of the Katy Freeway. With the younger generation running operations, the restaurant still proudly showcases family recipes. Fresh flatbreads, in varieties like za’atar and a meat version with spiced beef, appear from the oven. Traditional Lebanese breakfast offerings, such as shakshouka and labneh, are served with pita. The Turkish coffee is served by the pot, small or large, and is a perfect after dinner drink with baklava or osmalieh, a unique Lebanese dessert made with vermicelli. 2795 Katy Fwy., Houston abdallahs.com
Le’Drip
Houston has no shortage of places to get Vietnamese cuisine and ca phe sua da, or Vietnamese coffee. However, two sisters have taken the drink to a whole new level with fun flavor combinations and tasty foams. Emmy and Amy Le, owners of Le’Drip, source the robusta beans from Vietnam, which is the leading producer worldwide of the highly caffeinated beans. The dark roast coffee is made with a phin filter, a device similar to a moka pot. Then, sweetened condensed milk is stirred in, followed by ice, for a refreshing, and eye-opening beverage. Purists can skip the condensed milk altogether with a black coffee, but for those with sweet palates, the toppings and foams are fun and delicious, and there is even a banana pudding coffee. The shop also offers bac siu, which is a milk-heavy version of ca phe sua da. It comes in flavors like Nutella, peppermint coconut, and pandan. 9889 Bellaire Blvd., Houston, ledripus.com
Siphon Coffee
This cafe makes its coffee using a brew style that’s been around for nearly 200 years, though there are debates about its origins. Hario brewers are used, and guests are treated to a display that mimics a laboratory experiment. The Hario’s halogen bulb is heated by a butane burner, creating a vacuum seal that sucks the hot water up and steeps the coffee. When the burner is turned off, the coffee flows down and is ready to drink. The practice is popular in Japan, with many people believing it offers a richer mouth feel and a more balanced flavor than traditional coffee. The cafe also serves drip coffee and a variety of espresso-based drinks, plus a popular snickerdoodle latte. 701 W. Alabama St., Houston, siphoncoffee.com
Roostar’s Vietnamese Grill
This fast-casual Vietnamese eatery from Ronnie and Linda Nguyen represents the melding of cultures in Houston and the ingenuity of young business owners. The couple began their restaurant journey as a project while studying at the University of Houston. Now, the brand has three stand alone locations around the Greater Houston area and a successful catering program. The banh mi sandwiches are the main draw, made with homemade pate, fresh aioli, in-house pickled vegetables, French bread baked fresh daily, and meats that are marinated overnight. The perfect accompaniment is a Vietnamese iced coffee, made with strong coffee, sweetened condensed milk, and ice. There is also matcha milk tea and agave cold brew, a spiked nitro brew coffee. Multiple locations, Houston, myroostar.com
Cafe Piquet
For more than two decades, this Cuban restaurant in Bellaire has been a go-to for ropa vieja and Cuban picadillo. There is cafe con leche, which is made without sugar, and cortadito, made with espresso mixed with sugar. Many guests opt for the dine-in only Cafe Cubano, finely ground coffee, brewed espresso-style in a Moka pot or espresso machine. A bit of the brewed espresso is mixed with sugar to make an espumita, before more espresso is added, resulting in a strong and sweet drink. 5757 Bissonnet St., Houston, cafepiquet.net
Long Coffee
Located in the Saigon-Houston Plaza, this family-owned and operated coffee shop and roastery brews some of the strongest Vietnamese coffee in town, including its cafe sua nong, the hot espresso version. Milk teas are also very popular, and there is even a coffee milk tea. Long Coffee has a drive-thru for those needing a boost on-the-go, but there is seating inside and out for those who want to make it a leisurely stop with a croissant or a pate chaud. Families will appreciate the extensive menu of boba, smoothies, and slushies. Multiple locations, longcoffeeus.com
Buena Vista Cafe
Houston has two locations of this Cuban cafe, and each has its own unique style that blends the culture and flavors of Cuba and Miami. Find dishes like arroz con pollo and vaca frita, along with a lively weekend brunch that is a primo time for enjoying a cafe con leche or cappuccino. The cortadito features a shot of Cuban espresso, cut with steamed milk and sugar, for a potent beverage that will get you through the day… or night, if you attend one of the weekend Latin nights at the Heights location. Multiple locations, buenavistacubancafe.com
Vog’s Coffee House
This Istanbul-based brand arrived in Katy last summer, and is the first location for the U.S. The menu features a selection of coffee specialties, such as caramel macchiato and affogato. There are iced coffees, too, including coconut cookie latte and white mocha. For drip coffee aficionados, there are options like Aeropress, Chemex, and V60. Vogs also serves an authentic Turkish coffee, plus Turkish baklava with pistachios. The spacious interior offers a variety of seating areas and there’s a good selection of sandwiches, salads, soups, and pastries on the menu. 10610 Gaston Rd., Katy, vogscoffeehouse.com
Pondicheri Bake Lab
Located above Pondicheri, chef Anita Jaisinghani’s modern Indian restaurant, the Bake Lab serves as a respite from the busy city. Guests can sip on chai tea or a cappuccino while basking in the beauty and vibrancy of colorful murals that decorate the light-filled space. There is a coffee bar with standard beverages, like cortado or espresso, but there are also Indian-inspired drinks like Madras coffee, which is spiced and served with milk and sugar, and that can be served iced or hot. The signature Pondi latte is sweetened with cardamom and mace syrup, and pairs well with a butter chicken kolache or saag omelet. There are plenty of pastries, including rose laddu and besan mathai, which are both gluten-free. 2800 Kirby Dr., Houston, pondicheri.com
