Ali Suliman and Hakim Sulaimani, cousins born in southern Yemen, opened the first Yafa in Sunset Park in late 2019 with no prior work experience in a cafe. They named it after their birthplace and roast in small batches in Brooklyn, packing the single-origin Yemeni coffees in black bags. The website describes heirloom varietals from centuries-old terraces in the Haraz mountains.
There are now two shops in Brooklyn, in Sunset Park and Downtown Brooklyn.
