Donovan H.
Yelp
To those that have not yet tried Yemeni/Peshawari coffee, it is a unique but complex process with its earthiness and different shaped beans. Since Sacramento already had a ton of standard coffee shops, it was a pleasant surprise to find this place. This is none other than "Qisa Coffee" in the Curtis Park neighborhood. Located directly at the corner of 24th St. and Castro Way, this place has been in operation since July 2024.
Since this part of town of Sacramento is nestled with charming homes in a very residential area, parking isn't too difficult to find. I was able to find a spot about a block away during the morning of Saturday 4/5/2025 at around 11:25am. One thing that really stood out was how spacious the business was both inside and out. You will find several red tables and chairs located at their outside patio while the indoor seating area has a very sleek modern look to it. I was particularly impressed with the hanging light fixtures, comfortable chairs, and just an overall excellent ambiance where much of the natural light from the sun made its way to the inside of the building.
Their menu is equally as impressive with hot & cold espresso drinks, tea, smoothies, and a unique assortment of Turkish and Arabic, beverages that you can't find anywhere else. Additionally, they have a nice variety of baked goods, sweet treats, and standard food items. This includes their "Honey Bites", "Naan Hummus Dip", "Cheesecakes", and "Smoked Turkey Sandwich". Since this was my first time coming here, I wanted to go with a fan favorite, their "Iced Pistachio Latte" (priced at $9). I completed my order with one of their savory dessert items, the "Rose Cake" (priced at $7). After paying the young lady at the counter, both my cake and drink was ready in less than 5 minutes.
Keep in mind that this business does not accept cash and ONLY takes debit/credit as well as Apple Pay/Google Pay. Since more places are going exclusively digital, its an easier process than having to count change as well as making cash deposits. I also wanted to add that this is one of the few coffee shops that has very generous hours of operation as they are open for business 7 days a week from 7am-11pm. Which is great since many people can come and get their coffee/food before work as well as making it a great atmosphere to work/study into the late night hours.
As for my Iced Pistachio Latte, it was good but not great. A little bit on the bitter side as I did not quite get a ton of that exclusive pistachio flavor in my drink. The Rose Cake was also good but not over-the-top amazing. I think for nearly $20 (after tax + tip) for these two items, it was a bit on the more pricey side. All in all, "Qisa Coffee" is a good above average place that I recommend. The variety of options alone is enough to please most people. With that said and done, I am giving this place four stars.