Azal Coffee in Walker’s Point delivers on global flavors and local hospitality

Photos by Cherrie Hanson

Owners Mike Kaid (on left) and Musa Jamal and Bobbie Kaid (not shown), have familial business roots in Milwaukee but this is their first coffee shop.

Azal Coffee is Milwaukee’s newest Muslim-owned coffee shop, located in the heart of the Walker’s Point neighborhood at 1318 S. First St., across the street from the massive Rockwell Automation headquarters. Opened in April, Azal serves Yemeni coffee in addition to specialty tea, bakery and breakfast items. Regarding its coffee’s unique flavor profile, the Azal website states, “It is often described as being complex, with a combination of fruity, spicy and chocolatey notes.”

Azal is one of several Yemeni coffee franchises originating from Dearborn, Michigan that have expanded operations into Wisconsin in recent years. These coffee houses offer not only robust cultural experiences with their menu, but are also late night third spaces, giving folks a non-alcohol-centered social environment to spend time in the evening.

Nestled in a busy Walker’s Point strip mall on S. First Street, Azal serves a wide variety of customers who live, study and work in the area.

Brothers Mike and Bobby Kaid, along with Musa Jamal, are co-owners of Azal Coffee in Milwaukee. While all three men have previous business experience in Milwaukee, this is their first foray into coffee.

“People are not really going to places like Starbucks as they used to,” Mike Kaid notes. “We wanted a spot away from the Yemeni coffee shops that were already open.”

Milwaukee’s Azal franchise is the company’s first franchised location, therefore only second overall. After the co-owners visited the shop in Michigan and tried its drinks, they felt Azal best fit their standards for quality coffee and business model. “It’s still a small company, but we’re getting out there,” Mike affirms.

“The beans are the most important thing,” Jamal adds. “We get them directly from Yemen, and they’re premium beans, all graded 83 percent or higher. They’re not commercial beans at all.”

The owners like Walker’s Point because it is relatively close to college campuses like Marquette University and the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD), plus ample parking is available in the establishment’s rear. Additionally, Azal is wedged in a modernized strip mall, so if someone is doing some grocery shopping at the nearby Cermak or getting a haircut at Cairo Cuts next door, they can now grab their favorite coffee or tea drink while doing so.

The name “Azal” refers to an old Yemeni city, of which the shop has a mural. A sleek logo incorporating the shop’s name into a steaming cup of coffee emblazons the wall, while a color scheme of blue, gold and white blankets the environment. Enormous bags of Yemeni coffee beans and a set of shiny golden teapots lie to the left of the cash register, right underneath a television screen depicting Azal’s various specialty drinks being crafted.

Azal’s menu features a diverse range of coffee and espresso drinks that cater to various flavor profiles. Their full-bodied Azal Signature is made with coffee husks, cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, sesame, and cream. The Biscoff and Pistachio Lattes are so far a couple of Azal’s most popular drinks. Of course, typical coffee shop favorites like cappuccinos, mochas, matchas and cortados are also available. 

Azal has its own unique recipes and offerings of coffee, espresso, tea, cold refreshers, virgin mojitos, milkshakes and matchas (shown above).

The shop offers Turkish and Saudi-style coffee in addition to the Yemeni. The tea options include the Adeni, which is black tea flavored with cardamom, nutmeg, and cream, as well as the Blue Tea – butterfly pea flower tea with mint.

“There are health benefits to the Blue Tea,” Jamal mentions. “Fun fact, when you squeeze a little lime in it, it turns purple. People order it just to see the color change.”

Full pots of tea and coffee can be ordered, served on a tray on an open flame with a full set of glass cups. As a gesture of kind hospitality, baristas personally bring each order to the customer and routinely check in with seated customers, making sure they are satisfied.

Patrons can order full pots of tea and coffee to share, served on a tray with an open flame to keep warm.

Succulent pastries such as edible chocolate cups, mousses, tres leches cakes, croissants, cheesecake, and honeycomb bread are sourced from nearby local vendors. Unique to Azal are made-to-order breakfast options like waffles and mini pancakes, each available in Nutella, Biscoff, and pistachio varieties. The ‘Crazy Mix’ version is all three flavors on top of each other.

Counter seating looking out onto First St., couches or cafe tables, Azal has seating to fit everyone’s needs.

The cafe is open until midnight every day. If a customer does not want a coffee so late, the shop has plenty of alternatives like refreshers, virgin mojitos, and milkshakes – known at Azal as ‘pleasures.’ These ice-cold options can be perfect choices for a hot summer day.

“It’s a great place to hang out at night, and to get some work done too if you’re a student,” Jamal attests. “People didn’t know what the pleasures were at first, but now they’re getting ordered quite a bit.”

The premium Yemen coffee Azal uses in their drinks is for sale at the cafe. 

Jamal and the Kaid brothers look forward to Milwaukee’s bustling summer of festivals and community events that will most certainly bring new customers into Azal Coffee. Their outdoor seating area will be set up soon. The shop is still in its soft opening phase; a grand opening with an accompanying celebration will take place in the near future.

“Anyone who tries our traditional Yemeni coffee drinks can not only enjoy the atmosphere in our cafe but also taste the bold, rich taste compared to anyone else,” Mike contends.

Azal’s cafe is elegant and relaxing with a welcoming atmosphere.