What Brands of Specialty Coffee Beans Does Yemen Mocha Coffee Have? Is Yemen Coffee Considered Specialty Coffee?

For coffee enthusiasts with some knowledge, when Yemeni coffee is mentioned, "Mocha" easily comes to mind.

If Ethiopia is a versatile woman—complex fruity and floral notes—then Yemen is a brave man—chocolate, tobacco, and heavy body yet with a gentle sweet aftertaste.

Historical Background

Yemen has a very long history of coffee cultivation. By the early 17th century, Yemeni coffee beans began to be exported to Europe from the southwestern port of Mocha. Europeans therefore called these coffee beans shipped from Mocha port "Mocha coffee." Ethiopia, facing Yemen across the Red Sea, later also used Mocha port to export coffee beans, so Ethiopian sun-dried processed coffee beans are often considered Mocha as well.

Cultivation Methods

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

Natural Processing

Yemeni coffee belongs to the natural sun-dried processing method. After harvesting, the fruits are usually spread on courtyards or rooftops for sun exposure, and some are even allowed to dry directly on the tree before harvesting (this method is called floating).

Yemen's natural sun-dried processing involves harvesting fully ripe coffee beans by hand and then placing the freshly harvested beans directly in specialized coffee drying fields or on their own compacted earthen front yards to receive sun exposure. During the sun-drying period, similar to drying rice in Taiwan, wooden rakes are used to turn the beans to ensure each bean dries evenly. After about twenty days when the coffee drying is complete, the outer pulp and skin are removed to extract the coffee beans. Yemeni coffee is characterized by rich, complex, wild, mellow, and strong fermentation flavors with lower acidity. Additionally, Yemeni coffee often contains an uncertain factor (the timing of seasonal rainfall) that makes it unpredictable, making it fair to say it's one of the world's most special coffees.

Traditional Processing

The dried fruits must be ground and hulled. Today, Yemen still preserves the ancient method of stone grinding for hulling, with the stone grinders powered by camels or donkeys.

Coffee Growing Regions

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

Early on, the port of Mocha, which shouldered the important responsibility of export, had many different names and spellings, such as Mocha, Mokka, Moca, Moka, Al-Mocha, Al-Makha, etc. The port of Mocha was later abandoned due to sedimentation, and exports are now handled by the eastern port of Aden and the northern port of Hodeida.

FrontStreet Coffee's Yemen Mocha Mattari

FrontStreet Coffee's Yemen Mocha Mattari, perhaps due to Yemen's cultivation methods and ancient natural processing methods, gives this bean a somewhat nostalgic taste when consumed. Wild, full of untamed spirit and unrestrained, the rich chocolate flavor that enters the mouth is intoxicating. As the coffee cools slightly, the sweet and sour sensation of grapes fills the entire mouth.

Brewing Parameters

FrontStreet Coffee's brewing parameters suggestion:

V60/89°C/1:15/Time two minutes

Flavor Profile

Flavor: Dark chocolate, grapes, spices

Legacy and Usage

Since people began drinking coffee, Mocha has always been recognized as good coffee with a distinctive acidity. Some believe Mocha's special acidity is aggressive. That's because after a day of hard work, people's taste buds become less sensitive to delicate flavors. The coffee itself is very aromatic and rich. Yemen Mocha is represented by Mattari from the Bani Matar region. It has a sweet, smooth, and uniquely fragrant taste. It's characterized by slight acidity with a strong aftertaste.

Mocha is suitable for blending with Milds category coffees, especially suitable for combining with coffee from the Masos region, Indonesian Java coffee, and Sumatran coffee for creating blended coffees. Locals like to mix Mocha with Masos to make Turkish coffee. It's the most suitable coffee for post-meal consumption. It is also the finest among Mocha coffees.

Related recommendations: What is Mocha coffee? Yemen Mocha-Mattari sun-dried beans are the true Mocha coffee beans from Yemen.

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