Coffee Shop
“We are not in the coffee business serving people. We are in the people business serving coffee.”
A coffee shop is a sacred place. It is a story of family and community, culture and care. Founded by brothers Hani and Zahi Yaafouri, Steam has created a special place of loyal business and natural beauty.
Hani’s history in coffee began working for Starbucks in his home country of Lebanon. His experience with Starbucks spanned from barista to leadership roles, which provided a unique knowledge about both coffee and business. He moved to Denver in 2006 to join his brother Zahi in master’s degree programs at the University of Denver. Zahi’s background and degrees from DU are in real estate, construction, architecture, and design. Hani’s original plan was to return to the coffee business in Lebanon, but he felt increasingly connected to Colorado. Hani discovered a property on South Pearl Street in 2012, and together the brothers opened Steam in 2013. The complementary spectrum of skills between the two brothers of business, service, and design formed a unique foundation to build upon.
At the heart of Steam is the embodied practice of hospitality. Hani shares the grounding vision for the business they are in: “Coffee is not just what is in the cup. People come for quality for sure, but this is a place where people connect. It's the place people have their first conversation of the day.” He continues with a compassionate tone, “And for some people, it may be the only conversation. I've always believed business is not a transaction. It’s a relationship.” Hani holds a conviction that good coffee should be accessible to everyone: “We keep the price reasonable for a reason.”
The priority of hospitality is communicated by Hani in manager meetings every Thursday when he reiterates the core values of the business, “We strive to serve great coffee with exceptional hospitality in extraordinary settings.” But the practice of hospitality is demonstrated by Hani as he regularly places himself on the schedule as a barista. His presence emanates hospitality and models to every employee the expectations of service and care. Listening to Hani share about Steam is a brilliant blend of both operational and relational values: "We're opening our home for everyone, every day. We better be ready.” His conviction is clear: “Hospitality is nonnegotiable.” He summarizes Steam’s philosophy with the words he first heard from Howard Schultz when working for Starbucks in Lebanon, “We are not in the coffee business serving people. We are in the people business serving coffee.”
That heart of hospitality and serving people has made Steam an influential business in the Platt Park neighborhood. It is the motivation for first-time customers to become regulars, and regulars to become friends. “I think we've seen this over the years. People respond positively to the environment we created. And we’ve become an anchor in the neighborhood.” When asked how Steam has cultivated love for the neighborhood, Hani replies with both humility and pride, “We have had regulars purchase a home in the neighborhood so they can begin their day at Steam.”
In 2021, Steam expanded to a second location in a 110-year-old firehouse on Tejon Street. The locations are each embedded in their neighborhood with unique architecture and design. “Two shops feels like the magic formula for us,” Hani shares with joyous sincerity. The two coffee shops provide connections to diverse neighborhoods while creating room for both businesses to continue to grow. The beauty and hospitality that define Steam are present in both locations. Steam is an inspiring place of people and presence. The coffee shop is a sacred place.
Thank you to Hani Yaafouri for his conversation and contribution to this article, and for creating a place of hospitality and beauty together with his brother, Zahi.
