Yemeni cafés have long been places where patrons gather over coffee, shuffling playing cards and settling into conversations that stretch past nightfall. In these spaces, coffee is a ritual — a reminder that time should not be rushed.
Aden Aroma Yemeni Coffee joined the mix two months ago, opening inside a strip mall in Harvey about 20 minutes outside New Orleans. The shop serves traditional recipes like Adeni chai and honeycomb bread until well past sundown.
On a cold Tuesday morning, small crowds gathered at Aden Aroma — some working quietly on their computers, others talking over coffee and pastries. Behind the bar owner Basil Alsoofi was surrounded by syrups and cans of condensed milk as he stirred a pot of coffee, moving the spoon clockwise…