The history of Yemeni coffee dates back to the 15th century. Yemen is the original home of coffee and the first country to export it. Yemeni coffee has managed to sweep the global market and maintain its quality to this day. Yemeni coffee beans have captivated coffee lovers with their unique and complex flavor. Some have hints of fruit, others of chocolate. They are distinguished by their balanced taste between bitterness and sweetness. Despite the scarcity of resources in Yemen and the climatic conditions in Yemen, farmers and coffee traders have been able to maintain the quality and global reputation of Yemeni coffee.
In his book, All About Coffee, author William Harestone stated that Yemen played a pivotal role in the history of coffee, as Mocha was the main export port, and the name “Mocha” came to express the distinctive quality and balanced flavor. He also stated that the Yemenis were the first to cultivate coffee and use it as a beverage that later swept the global market. He pointed out that Yemen was the only source of coffee until the seventeenth century, after which competitors appeared and were unable to compete with Yemeni coffee or reach its quality and unique strong flavor.
- From seed to your cup of specialty coffee
What makes Yemeni coffee unique from other coffee varieties is its balanced taste between bitterness and sweetness, as well as the traditional cultivation practiced by Yemeni coffee farmers, which has remained unchanged since the beginning of cultivation. Farmers cultivate, harvest, and dry coffee using traditional methods to preserve its strong flavor. Coffee traders also strive to deliver high-quality coffee to coffee lovers, paying attention to the smallest details of packaging and shipping methods.
Yemeni coffee cultivation:
The coffee cultivation journey begins with the search for fertile land high in the mountains of Yemen. Farmers then plant the seeds in vitamin-rich soil and place them in nurseries until they grow. They are then carefully transported to the high mountains where they continue their growth. Coffee trees rely on seasonal rainwater and hand-held ponds that store rain to preserve their unique flavor. The plants are nourished with natural fertilizer to produce healthy crops with a strong flavor.
Yemeni coffee harvest:
During the coffee harvest season, farmers begin preparing hand-crafted baskets made of palm fronds and go out to pick the distinctive fruits. Farmers are careful to hand-pick only the ripe fruits, leaving the unripe ones to ripen. The manual planting and harvesting processes are what give Yemeni coffee its unique flavor, distinguishing it from all other types of coffee.
Drying Yemeni coffee:
Just as cultivation and harvesting were manual, farmers also complete drying using traditional methods. After harvesting the fruits, farmers begin preparing the roofs of their homes to dry the crop. They spread palm fronds or large clean pieces of cloth over them, then place the ripe coffee beans in the sun for 7-14 days, making sure to turn them over every day to loosen the beans from all sides. Farmers cover the beans in the evening to protect them from dirt and insects. Farmers are sure that the crop is completely dry if the color of the beans changes to a dark brown and they hear a sound when stirred. This is a sign that the fruits are ready to move to the next stage, which is sorting and peeling.
Sorting and peeling:
Then the sorting process begins, removing impurities from the coffee and peeling it from its husks with great care to preserve its unique flavour.
Since the beginning of coffee cultivation in Yemen, the methods of planting, harvesting, drying, and peeling have remained unchanged. This has allowed Yemeni coffee to maintain its quality and challenge all other types of coffee in other countries over the centuries.
- Hand-delivered quality
Farmers are extremely careful, and so are coffee traders who, after receiving the coffee from the farmers, re-sort it to ensure it is free of impurities and unusable beans. Everyone strives to preserve the quality of Yemen's rich heritage. Storage and transportation then begin. The coffee is kept away from humidity and high temperatures, placed in tightly sealed bags or containers, and transported by ship or plane. The coffee is not roasted until it reaches the target market.
Coffee beans are roasted by expert roasters, and each type of coffee has its own appropriate roast. Experts determine the roasting, either dark or light, to preserve the unique flavor of Yemeni coffee. After that, coffee traders begin packing the roasted coffee into airtight bags to ensure customers receive a fresh flavor. This step is sensitive because Yemeni coffee after roasting is susceptible to oxidation, so coffee traders are careful to tightly seal the bags. After that, they are distributed to cafes, and the barista begins preparing a cup of coffee that carries a unique flavor and a rich heritage.
- The return of authenticity to specialty coffee
In recent years, coffee lovers have begun to discover the complex, balanced flavor of Yemeni coffee and seek it out for a unique experience. Specialty coffee shops have begun adding Yemeni coffee to their menus after it had been absent from specialty coffee menus. Demand for Yemeni coffee has increased, restoring the strength of the Yemeni people to confront adversity, preserving their heritage, and increasing coffee cultivation and export.
No other coffee has been able to sweep the market like Yemeni coffee. Despite all the challenges it has faced, it has maintained its quality. Leading roasters in Europe and America continue to praise the complexity of Yemeni coffee's balanced and unique flavors, making it a prime choice for specialty coffee lovers. Many specialty coffee lovers have turned to Yemeni coffee and are constantly searching for it. Now, only the most distinguished coffee shops serve Yemeni coffee and add it to their specialty coffee menus.
- Why Yemenis?
Because specialty coffee lovers are keen to search for the finest types of coffee, and only a person who is knowledgeable about coffee types and has tasted the distinctive taste of Yemeni coffee will choose Yemeni coffee. Therefore, Yamaniyat is keen to select the finest types of Yemeni coffee to take specialty coffee lovers on a unique journey that extends through history and tickles their senses of taste with unique and balanced touches.
Yemeni women preserve Yemen's rich heritage and create an exceptional specialty coffee experience at competitive prices. Discover the uniqueness of Yemeni coffee and enjoy an exceptional experience.