About Us
ABOUT US
Influence Café
At Influence Café, coffee isn't just a drink—it's an opportunity. Located at the busy Central & Secor intersection in Toledo, OH, we wanted to create more than another café. Our founders envisioned a space where flavor, culture and wellness meet, where every sip tells a story, and where learning feels as natural as enjoying your favorite brew.
From our signature espresso creations to our natural and organically sweetened desserts, we've designed Influence Café for people who care about taste, health, and community. We believe that great dessert and drinks can be both indulgent and mindful.
"Influence Café was founded by Dr. Mahmood Meqdad, a pharmacologist who believes that science belongs to everyone, not just to the classroom. Inspired by the deep heritage of Yemeni coffee and the curiosity of modern science, he set out to bring that knowledge to the community through something universal: coffee. Every day, people enjoy coffee, tea, and desserts without realizing the fascinating chemistry happening inside the body. Influence Café was created to bridge that gap transforming everyday habits into moments of learning, awareness, and connection. Rooted in pharmacology and Yemeni coffee culture, the café honors Yemen’s legacy as one of the world’s first coffee exporters where coffee was not only a drink, but a symbol of hospitality, reflection, and intellectual exchange. By blending this timeless tradition with evidence-based science and artisanal craft, Influence Café becomes a space where flavor meets function, and curiosity becomes part of the experience."
THE INFLUENCE CAFÉ FOUNDERS
Owners/Operators
01. Mission
To make science part of everyday life, one cup, one conversation, one discovery at a time.
02. Vision
To create a space where flavor, culture, and knowledge meet, inspiring curiosity about how what we consume shapes how we feel.
03. Science
Every ingredient tells a story from caffeine’s effect on alertness to hibiscus’ role in vasodilation transforming daily choices into moments of learning.