Barista’s Choice By Caitlin Marsilii Photos by JPG Photo & Video (jpgphotography.com)
The tables have turned…Manayunk baristas ordered for me, and it was brew-tiful! There’s no doubt that Manayunk has some of the best coffee. Around every corner, there’s a cafe. On every menu, there’s a new latte to try or freshly roasted beans to pick up, and behind every counter is a warm and welcoming barista! With all the options, sometimes it can be hard to choose what to get, so I decided to let the baristas choose. I sat down with six different baristas to talk about their drink of choice and their story. 34
manayunk.com | Winter 2022-2023
Yaseen - Mama’s Boy Cafe Nestled cozily inside Fat Lady Brewing was my first stop, Mama’s Boy Cafe. Right when I stepped in, I was greeted by barista and owner, Yaseen Elzalabany, who was ready to talk about coffee, books, art, and really, anything on my mind. He genuinely wants to get to know everyone who steps into Mama’s Boy Cafe and wants to make them feel at home. It’s clear that home, family, and connection are all important elements to Yaseen, and guests at Mama’s Boy Cafe can really feel that in their experience. As you browse the menu, you’ll find that some items are personalized and named after people in his life. Yaseen also explained how his guests are more than just a face at Mama’s Boy Cafe: “I want everyone to feel like they’re a part of the cafe’s journey and that they’re growing with the business.” For Yaseen, it really is about building relationships and taking care of cafe guests the same way they take care of him.
Yaseen’s Story Yaseen has worked a variety of roles in different businesses and restaurants around Manayunk. He landed a job working at Fat Lady Brewing and worked out an agreement to take over the front of house space for Mama’s Boy Cafe. His parents own a coffee shop and restaurant in Allentown called Mo’s Eatery, so in a way, the cafe pays homage to his family. He also considers himself a mama’s boy hence the name.
Yaseen’s Choice The Little Zooz: This drink is at the top of the list for Yaseen. It’s near and dear to his heart as it is named after his eight year old brother, Zain. It is a latte made with a double shot of espresso, milk, and raspberry and mocha flavoring. He wanted to incorporate some of Zain’s tastes into the drink with the flavors and feels that it has the ultimate at-home taste.
