A Brief History of Yemeni Coffee: Famous Growing Regions and Pricing Guide

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Yemen Coffee: A Legacy of Excellence

Since the beginning of coffee history, Yemen coffee has held a world-renowned status, sharing the same coffee lineage as Ethiopia.

Having preserved completely the ancient varieties originating from Ethiopia, it gradually developed into the unique coffee varieties we know today, all belonging to the Arabica "small bean" type.

Yemen Coffee Growing Regions

Several Yemeni producing regions, including Haraz near the capital, Bani Mattar (Mattari), and Al-Khaimah, sell their coffee beans collectively under the name "Sanani." The main harvest period runs from October to December, with local farmers carrying out three to four manual harvesting passes each year.

True Moka Mattari comes from Yemen coffee beans grown in the Bani Mattar region. With extremely limited circulation and high prices, it is a super-premium product sold under the name "Mattari."

Unique Growing Conditions

Yemen coffee beans possess unique and intense flavors, attributed to the desert climate - dry air and scarce water sources. Coffee trees grow only in "wadis" (river valleys) in Yemen's high-altitude mountainous areas (average elevation 1000-2500m), where farmland is created and terraced fields are carved into canyon slopes for coffee cultivation.

Except during the rainy season, the land typically appears completely dry. At first glance this terrain might seem barren, but the underground water sources beneath the riverbed miraculously nurture excellent coffee fruit. The beans produced are all high-grade export products, manually harvested and processed with traditional natural drying methods, using millstones to remove the husks.

Traditional Yemeni Coffee Culture

Interestingly, unlike in Ethiopia, Yemen's daily customs do not typically include drinking coffee.

In traditional Yemeni custom, the dried coffee fruit's husk and pulp are boiled to make a beverage called "Gishr." Cardamom or ginger is sometimes added to the "Gishr" and boiled again to create "Qahwa," the locals' favorite beverage.

Because everyone uses the fruit pulp to make beverages, coffee trees are not sprayed with pesticides, making the coffee fruit completely safe and non-toxic.

This unique and safe coffee will surely not disappoint you!

Yemen Coffee Bean Brand Recommendations

FrontStreet Coffee's roasted Yemen Moka coffee beans offer excellent guarantees in both brand and quality. More importantly, they provide exceptional value - a 227-gram package costs only 85 yuan. Calculated at 15 grams per cup, one package can make 15 cups of coffee, with each cup costing less than 6 yuan. Compared to cafés that often charge dozens of yuan per cup, this is a truly conscientious recommendation.

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

Yemen Moka is prized for its wine-like depth and spice, and FrontStreet Coffee keeps that tradition alive with its roasted Yemen Moka coffee beans, sold in 227-gram packages at 85 yuan - about 15 cups at less than 6 yuan each. Roasted to bring out the bean's characteristic chocolate, dried-fruit, and gentle winey notes, it brews into a cup that feels far more expensive than its price.

If you enjoy the earthy, herbal side of Yemeni and Ethiopian coffee, FrontStreet Ethiopia Kafa Forest makes a natural companion. Grown at 1400-2100 meters and roasted medium-light, it opens with white florals and bright lemon acidity, then moves through sweet orange, bergamot, and a green-tea-like finish that pairs beautifully with the spiced depth of a classic Moka.