New specialty café brings Yemen’s coffee tradition to Pines Boulevard
On a busy stretch of Pines Boulevard, a compact shop is staking a claim on two promises that matter to many local coffee drinkers: distinctive origin beans and pastries you won’t find across the parking lot at a national chain. Haraz Coffee House has opened with beans imported directly from Yemen and a case of experimental desserts that have already earned loyal fans for their texture and theatrical look.
The owner, Ayaan Malik, described Haraz as a “specialty coffee shop that imports our beans from Yemen,” a tie to the country often credited as the birthplace of coffee. Malik said the shop’s approach is meant to support small growers and to highlight a cup that many in South Florida may not have tasted before.
“We’re a specialty coffee shop that imports our beans from Yemen,” Malik said, according to a WSVN report.
Haraz’s roasted profile has been described by Malik as noticeably stronger than what people in the area are typically used to. Some customers compare the flavor to Cuban coffee; Malik noted the comparison but also said he has not tried Cuban coffee himself.
Crunchy fruit pastries, teddy bears and a new chocolate purse
The baked goods case at Haraz leans toward the inventive. Three items stand out in local chatter: crunchy fruit pastries, crunchy teddy bears and a newly introduced item the shop calls crunchy purses. Malik said the fruit pastries were developed after a local search came up empty, and that he and his father worked out the recipe together.
- Crunchy fruit pastries: an outer layer of colored white chocolate wrapped around a mousse interior.
- Crunchy teddy bears: shaped confections filled with the same mousse.
- Crunchy purses: larger chocolate shells with a thicker coating to hold shape.
Malik described the purses as a recent introduction and said the thicker shell is necessary because the pastry itself is bigger than the others. He also told a local station that Haraz was the first to offer the purses in the area.
| Item | Key feature |
|---|---|
| Crunchy fruit pastries | Colored white chocolate shell; mousse interior |
| Crunchy teddy bears | Mousse-filled shaped chocolates |
| Crunchy purses | Thicker chocolate shell to support larger shape |
Local flavor, small-business implications
For Pembroke Pines residents, Haraz’s arrival reflects two broader trends: the increasing appetite for single-origin and specialty coffee in suburban markets, and a demand for uniquely local food experiences that chain cafés tend not to offer. Importing beans from Yemen signals a deliberate sourcing choice, one that can support small-scale growers and differentiate the shop in a crowded market.
At the same time, the menu leans on novelty and presentation. The pastries’ names — crunchy fruit pastries, teddy bears, purses — make them memorable and Instagram-friendly, which could help a small shop establish a local following quickly. Malik’s collaboration with family on recipes also underscores the personal, artisanal angle small cafés often emphasize.
Haraz’s stronger brew and unconventional sweets give Pembroke Pines another option for morning coffee or an afternoon pick-me-up. For residents curious about coffee histories or looking to try a different roast, the shop offers a taste of Yemen’s coffee legacy without leaving town.
As with any new local business, the long-term test will be balancing quality, consistency and community connection. Early signs suggest Haraz is aiming to meet that challenge by combining distinctive beans with a bakery case built on experimentation.
