Yemeni coffeehouses expand in the US as late-night, alcohol-free social spaces grow

Yemeni coffeehouses are spreading across the United States, offering late-night social spaces and drinks rooted in Yemen’s traditions. Technomic, a restaurant industry consulting company, said six major Yemeni-style chains reached 136 cafes after 50 per cent growth last year. That count excludes smaller chains and independent shops that also import Yemeni coffee and tea.

Representative image

Operators said the cafes suit changing US habits, including a rise in people who avoid alcohol. Many outlets stay open late, and some run past 3 am during Ramadan. A Gallup poll last year said 54 per cent of US adults reported drinking alcohol. That was the lowest share recorded in 90 years.

Yemeni coffeehouses and the late-night social trend

Ahmad Badr, who owns an Arwa Yemeni Coffee franchise in Sunnyvale, California, linked the model to Middle Eastern nightlife. "Generally in the Middle East, our nightlife is coffee, right? People hang out at coffee shops, they play cards, they talk. We wanted to bring that here,\" Badr said. Shop owners said the setting encourages conversation without a bar.

Expansion also tracked population shifts, according to the Arab American Institute. The Arab American population in the US rose 43 per cent between 2010 and 2024. Over the same period, the US population grew by about 10 per cent. Many Yemeni coffee shops opened in Michigan, California and Texas, where Arab American communities are larger.

At the same time, new outlets appeared far from traditional hubs. Shops opened in places including Alpharetta, Georgia, and Overland Park, Kansas. Portland, Maine, also appeared on the list of newer locations. Owners and analysts said the spread showed wider interest beyond Arab American neighbourhoods.

Yemeni coffee culture and a taste of home in US cafes

Faris Almatrahi co-founded Texas-based Arwa Yemeni Coffee, which has 11 cafes across the US and 30 more in development. Almatrahi said Yemen’s civil war, which began in 2014, has stopped many Yemeni Americans from visiting. Almatrahi said the cafes aimed to recreate a sense of place for customers.

Arwa sites use natural desert colours and archways inspired by mosque design. The cafes also use lampshades shaped like hats worn by Yemen’s coffee farmers. \"One of the ways to actually visit without travelling there was to bring that experience to the US, and that was a huge passion for us when we opened our first location,\" Almatrahi said. \"It was extremely emotional for all of us due to the fact that it really transported us to Yemen.\"

Almatrahi said most customers were not of Arab descent. Datassential, a market research company, reported that Americans were seeking global flavours and authentic experiences. Social media also helped trends move quickly. Operators said curiosity from different communities supported sales, even in areas with fewer Arab American residents.

Yemeni coffee drinks and food menus draw wider interest

Menus differ by chain, but many Yemeni cafes serve Adeni tea, a spiced drink similar to chai. Many also offer qishr, made from dried husks of coffee cherries. Familiar drinks, including lattes, may include honey or spices. At Arwa, lattes show a camel outline dusted in spices.

Food counters often feature khaliat nahal, a cheese-filled pastry drizzled with honey. Some shops also sell basboosa, a cake soaked in sugar syrup with lemon or rose water. Many menus include common US items too, such as matcha lattes. Some also add berry refreshers for customers seeking non-coffee options.

Peter Giuliano, a researcher with the Specialty Coffee Association, said culturally specific cafes have lifted the US coffee industry in recent years. Giuliano pointed to other examples, including Tierra Mia in California. Giuliano also cited Nguyen Coffee Supply, a New York-based company roasting Vietnamese beans.

Customers said online searches often led them to Yemeni cafes for the first visit. Cindy Donovan visited Badr’s Sunnyvale shop after looking for new coffee options on the internet. \"I think theyre much more refined and mellow, and much more full of flavour than a regular cup of dark roast, for instance,\" Donovan said. \"The cardamom in the drinks is fantastic. Very, very flavourful, rich but not heavy.\"

Yemeni coffee preparation and flavour profiles

Almatrahi said much Yemeni coffee is sun-dried, which can deepen flavour and add chocolate and fruit notes. Shops often use hawaij spice mixes that may include cardamon, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, coriander or nutmeg. Operators said these blends set Yemeni-style drinks apart from standard US coffee recipes.

Mohamed Nasser, director of operations for Haraz Coffee House, said the process often required hands-on preparation. \"Our coffee and teas are not just made through a fully automatic machine,\" Nasser said. \"We have to manually blend and mix our coffee and tea, boil it with water and evaporated milk, make sure that it comes out with the perfect taste, perfect colour.\"

Yemeni coffee history and Yemen’s role in the coffee trade

Trade groups said Yemen played an early role in coffee’s global spread. The National Coffee Association said coffee was likely discovered in Ethiopia, but it was cultivated in Yemen by the 1400s. Monks brewed it to stay awake during prayers. Yemen later controlled the trade for about 200 years.

The monopoly ended after Dutch merchants moved coffee seeds to Indonesia and began cultivating plants there. Almatrahi said Yemen’s coffee sector has seen renewed work over the past two decades. Almatrahi credited coffee companies, foundations and young entrepreneurs. Almatrahi said their efforts helped enable the current wave of US openings.

International agencies said Yemen’s economy remained under severe strain. The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations said more than 80 per cent of Yemen’s population lives in poverty. Coffee was listed as a promising area for development. Almatrahi framed US cafes as a way to share culture beyond business.

Almatrahi described Yemeni coffeehouses as cultural bridges as well as food outlets. \"We are ambassadors for our culture and our people. So when we open these shops, we want to perform the outreach, to show the hospitality, to show what we have to offer,\" Almatrahi said. Chains and independents continued to expand, as customers looked for late hours and new flavours.

With inputs from PTI