Yemeni Coffeehouses

Hundreds of years ago, Yemen helped introduce the world to coffee. Lately, the mountainous, war-ravaged country that borders Saudi Arabia is exporting something else: its coffee culture. Yemeni coffeehouses are opening at a rapid pace across the U.S. Restaurant consulting company Technomic says the number of cafes run by six major chains that serve Yemeni-style drinks grew 50% last year to 136, and that doesn't include smaller chains and independent cafes. Yemeni coffeehouses are meeting the moment for several reasons. They stay open late and provide a place to socialize for the growing number of U.S. adults who don’t drink alcohol. Americans are also seeking out global flavors.