Soon after the discovery of coffee in Ethiopia, the coffee shrub made its way to Yemen where it was written about by the mystic Sufis as far back as the 15th century. As the cultivation of coffee increased in Yemen exporting began from the ancient port of Al-Makha (it is to this port the modern term “Mocha” traces its origin.) Soon raw beans were smuggled out of Yemen and these Yemen coffee beans gave birth to what we see today as multiple varietals of coffee grown all over the world. But Yemen coffee has remained unique...

The uniqueness of Yemen coffee can be attributed to the uniqueness of Yemen itself. Yemen coffee developed through the centuries isolated from the offspring of those smuggled beans that gave birth to coffee in the rest of the world. In Yemen coffee is traditionally grown at high elevations in harsh environments receiving little rainfall. As a result the varietals that developed in Yemen had to survive a harsh climate. They are the result of centuries of adaptation to these unique conditions - thus the varietals themselves are unique to Yemen. In addition the added stress of these conditions on the plants increases the amount of nutrients and sugars pushed to the cherries which ultimately increases cup complexity. Due to the lack of rainfall, Yemen coffee has always been sun-dried (natural) further increasing the sweetness of the cup. Ultimately Yemen coffee and its history are much like Yemen itself: mysterious, intriguing and complex.

Unfortunately coffee production in Yemen has declined significantly over the last few decades. The foundational problem in recent years is a lack of understanding between the coffee people of Yemen and the specialty coffee market.

The folks at Rayyan Coffee Mill established their sourcing, processing and exporting operation to combat this very problem. They believe that Yemen has a unique place in the history of coffee and has a lot to offer both the specialty coffee market and the people of  Yemen. In the words of general manager and co-founder Andrew Nicholson, “We want to make Yemen coffee famous again. By focusing on cup quality everyone wins. Customers get an amazing coffee, farmers (and everyone else in the supply chain) earn more and maybe, just maybe more coffee will be planted and that could have a tremendous effect on Yemen’s economy!” Their commitment to cup quality, farm level interventions, good processing methods and relentless quality control coupled with their relationships with farmers (and many others in the supply chain) in Yemen make Rayyan a strong bridge between the Yemen coffee people and the specialty coffee  market.

This Matari lot is sourced from the famed Bani Matar district of Sana’a. Is it comprised of many lots mostly grown by small holder farmers. Yemen coffee varietals are often classified simply as “heirloom” but the primary varietals represented in this regional lot are varietals know locally as “Udainy” and “Dawi’ry.” Elevation is 1,775-1,950 MASL and the selection process for this coffee is based exclusively on cup quality.

Since Yemen is in the middle of a war right now this coffee has quite a story. The mill team tells us that the mill itself shakes from bomb blasts on a regular basis and that prior to export these bags were even moved to a few different locations (always in GrainPro) depending on what area of town the air strikes were focused on! To top it all off the usual port of export was closed leaving the only available option on the other side of the front lines of the war. It is finally here and with not even a hint of gunpowder in the cup.

Cupping Notes

The Matari lot requires de-gassing and changes significantly five days after roasting. The difference in the cup after de-gassing cannot be overemphasized.

Yemen Mocha Matari green coffee beans. In the central mountains of Yemen. Mocha Matari is grown at the highest altitude of all Yemen coffee's. Producing a rich, but sweet complex cup of coffee.

The Yemen Mocha Matari is one of the oldest coffees in the world, and has been grown and processed in the same way for over 1000 years. As the name suggests, this very special coffee is grown in the Bani Mattar district of Yemen, west of the capital city of Sana’a. However, do not be fooled by the word ‘Mocha’ in the title, this does not refer to chocolate but is instead the name of the Yemeni port from which the coffee bean has been shipped from for over a millennium. Based on the Red Sea coast of Yemen this port is famous for being the major marketplace for coffee from the 15th century until the 17th century.

Yemen Mocha Matari beans are slightly smaller than the average coffee bean, yet makes up for its small size with its concentrated flavour and fantastic aroma once roasted. Its size is the result of the high altitude at which it is grown, around 6500 to 7000 feet in the central mountains of Yemen. In fact, the Yemen Mocha Matari is grown at the highest altitude of all Yemen coffees. Roasted lightly the acidity and wild character of the bean can really be experienced.

The Yemen Mocha Matari is a medium to full bodied coffee which is absolutely brimming with exotic flavours of dark chocolate, cinnamon and cherry. Often regarded as having a deep bold wine quality, this coffee is rich and complex, yet sweet and fragrant. In fact, the combination of chocolate and cherry flavours means that this coffee is often referred to as having ‘dessert like’ qualities. In summary, the Yemen Mocha Matari really is a highly enjoyable and very rare coffee.