Article written by Abbotsford RoadIntroducing Our New Series: Café of the WeekLast week, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Haitem Weslati, owner of Five Flies Coffee in Washington Heights.
Each week, we’ll be profiling one of our valuable partners, giving our customers a chance to learn more about the people and spaces behind the specialty coffee experience.
It’s our promise to open doors to a world of specialty coffee, not just for our customers but for our partners too.
Q1 (James Cummins): Quickfire—who are you, and what café do you run?
Haitem Weslati: I’m Haitem, and I own Five Flies Coffee located in Washington Heights at 158th St and Broadway. This new space is all about creating a welcoming environment for our customers to enjoy.
Q2 JC: What do you love? What gets you out of bed every day?
Haitem: The fact that we’re the only place in the neighbourhood with high-quality coffee and a peaceful atmosphere. It’s about creating a place for people to relax, connect, and savor good food, whether it’s a pastry or a perfectly brewed cup.
Q3 JC: What are you best known for?
Haitem: Consistency. Our baristas are trained by me to ensure that every shot is pulled with care. We hear it all the time—people stop making coffee at home because they can’t match the quality they get here.
Q5 JC: What makes your coffee quality so consistent?
Haitem: It’s all about training. We make a real effort to protect our style and train our staff to uphold the standards we’ve set. And a huge part of that consistency comes from our relationship with Abbotsford Road. Their roast is consistent every single time, which is critical for us. We rely on that to maintain the quality that keeps our customers coming back.
Q6 JC: Do you use Abbotsford Road’s training facilities?
Haitem: We’ve used their facilities a bit, and it’s been helpful. But we also do a lot of training ourselves to ensure we protect our coffee style. We make it a priority to hire experienced baristas, which helps maintain our rhythm and consistency. Details matter, and we focus heavily on that.
Q7 JC: What Abbotsford Road coffee do you use?
Haitem: We love the Crema Blend, a medium roast with a beautiful medium body. We use it for both espresso and cold brew. The best compliment for us is when a guest doesn’t have to say anything about the coffee—they’re just content because it’s perfect.
Q8 JC: When you were looking for a wholesale coffee partner, what stood out about Abbotsford Road?
Haitem: Flexibility was key. Logan has been incredibly flexible with us. I can call Logan, and within a few hours, we’ve got beans. That kind of service matters. Consistency in coffee is crucial, but the service is just as important.
Q9 JC: What’s the key to a happy relationship with your coffee supplier?
Haitem: Being in the service industry means we understand the importance of service. Abbotsford Road gets that, and it’s reflected in everything they do.Q10 JC: What exciting things are coming up for Five Flies?
Haitem: We’ve been focusing a lot on community outreach. Our open mic poetry nights have been a huge hit, and we’ve also started hosting stand-up comedy, which has been a lot of fun. Next up is live music—our Friday Night Tradition is really taking off. Washington Heights is full of creative people, and we want to be a hub for that energy
Q11 JC: Your customers love Shott Syrups, don’t they?
Haitem: Absolutely! We’re constantly selling out. The passionfruit, coconut, mango, and peach flavors are phenomenal. They’ve become some of our best sellers.
Q12 JC: What’s your favorite coffee?
Haitem: I’m a simple coffee lover—black brew is my go-to. After dinner, I enjoy a good espresso. It’s like a digestif for me.
Q13 JC: What do you love about Abbotsford Road?
Haitem: It’s clear they care about what they do. We share the same mindset: it’s all about serving our customers with passion and care.
Well, that's a wrap....
A huge thank you to Haitem for sharing his passion for service and specialty coffee. What a fantastic start to our Café of the Week series!
If you’d like to be interviewed for an upcoming feature, connect with us.
We’re always ready to open doors to a world of specialty coffee.
