Hurray for Haraz Coffee House

Chalk up another win for the 400 block on Elmwood Avenue. Haraz Coffee House has opened its doors at 471 Elmwood, bringing with it a different type of café offering in the Elmwood Village. The coffeehouse chain, specializing in Yemeni coffee, with a focus on organic, sun-dried beans and traditional brewing methods, serves up a wide variety of coffee varieties that many people will be unfamiliar with. On top of that, the products – including scrumptious looking pastries – are all organic, and the café setting is top notch.

What started off as a single coffeehouse in Dearborn, Michigan in 2021 has expanded at an extraordinary clip. I understand that around 20 locations are already open in the US, and 125 more are now on their way. An average of 2 locations are opening every month, and the chain is also now expanding its reach into Canada. The Elmwood location is the first in WNY.

Obviously Haraz (CEO, Hamzah Nasser) has figured out a successful formula that is driving the unbelievable growth. It could be the attention to details per its marketing and branding efforts. From stone coasters to branded water bottles, to the contemporary-yet-cozy atmosphere, it looks like Haraz has not skipped a beat.

When I stopped into the coffeehouse yesterday, it took me a couple of minutes to get my bearings. There were so many delectable sounding coffee and tea options, including the pistachio latte at the espresso bar (double espresso, pistachio, Hara spice) and the Saffron Adeni (saffron, premium creamy & black tea). I ended up ordering a 12 oz Meleki with sugar (coffee, husks, ginger, cinnamon, light cream), which was served piping hot. Once it cooled down a bit, I was able to thoroughly enjoy the complex nature of the drink that was unlike anything that I had ever tried.

The service was quick, efficient, and friendly at Haraz. As I watched people walk by, while waiting for my drink, I noticed a lot of people peeking through the windows, trying to figure out exactly what this newfangled café was all about. I have a feeling that it won’t be long before Haraz becomes a caffeinated staple in the neighborhood, which excites me greatly. For far too long, the 400-500 blocks of Elmwood have suffered. Now, there’s a new wave of businesses that have taken hold, and are looking for support from the community. From home baked cookies and smashburgers, to tacos, soul food, Greek, scratch bagels, Vietnamese and Thai, and Burmese street food, there’s a nice little mix of culinary offerings, with more on the way.

Haraz Coffee House | 471 Elmwood Avenue | Buffalo NY | (716) 248-1391 | Open seven days a week

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