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Yemen Coffee Bean Cultivation History: Characteristics and Brewing Methods of Yemen Coffee

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/27, Professional coffee knowledge exchange for more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat official account cafe_style). For coffee enthusiasts with some knowledge, when mentioning Yemen coffee, it's easy to associate it with Mocha. Yemen has a long history of coffee cultivation. By the early 17th century, Yemen's coffee beans began to be exported from the southwestern port of Mocha to Europe, and Europeans thus called this

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The Legacy of Yemeni Coffee

For coffee enthusiasts with some knowledge, mentioning Yemeni coffee easily brings "Mocha" to mind.

Historical Significance

Yemen has a remarkably long history of coffee cultivation. By the early 17th century, Yemeni coffee beans began to be exported from the southwestern port of Mocha to Europe. Europeans thus called these coffee beans shipped from Mocha port "Mocha coffee." Ethiopia, located across the Red Sea from Yemen, later also used Mocha port for exporting coffee beans, leading to Ethiopian sun-processed coffee beans also often being regarded as Mocha.

Cultivation Methods

Yemeni coffee cultivation methods remain similar to those of 500 years ago, with almost all coffee grown on mountain slopes ranging from 3,000 to 7,000 feet in altitude. Due to sparse rainfall, coffee trees must rely on their strong water retention capabilities to survive drought periods. The harsh growing conditions result in smaller coffee beans but with considerable hardness. Yemeni coffee varieties are also quite complex, with recognized types including the small-bean Ismaili, ancient heirloom varieties, as well as Adeni and Mattari varieties.

Processing Techniques

Yemeni coffee undergoes natural processing. After harvest, the coffee cherries are typically spread out in courtyards or on rooftops for sun-drying. Some portions are even allowed to dry directly on the tree before harvesting (a method called floating).

The dried cherries must be hulled. Today, Yemen still preserves the ancient method of stone hulling, with the stone mills powered by camels or donkeys.

Renowned Growing Regions

Yemen has many coffee-producing regions, with Mattari from Bani Matar province being the most famous and representing the highest quality among Yemen's exported coffee.

The Port of Mocha

The early port of Mocha, which shouldered the important responsibility of export, had numerous names and spellings, such as Mocha, Mokka, Moca, Moka, Al-Mocha, Al-Makha, and so on. The port of Mocha was later abandoned due to silting, with exports now handled by the eastern port of Aden and the northern port of Hodeida.

Unique Flavor Profile

The arid Arabian soil and lack of moisture in the air make the coffee beans grown here particularly hard and small. The unique climate pattern also gives Yemeni Mocha a wonderful layered flavor - both wild yet restrained and complex. Those fascinated by its changing flavors praise Yemeni Mocha as the precious wine of Arabia.