For me there is an ancient mystical air around the coffees of Yemen and for the first time we are seeing some truly fantastic and original quality. 

Firstly…fresh crop Yemeni coffees! Almost unheard of ? If you take note of the green scoop sample it looks like a nightmare. The colours and screen sizes are all consistently inconsistent. Wild, natural coffees are often roller-coaster coffees, as they are going to be predictably, unpredictable. This is part of the magic. By buying a “lot”, we are secure in the knowledge that the coffee is going to be of “a premium quality” and our job is to monitor the coffee during its life, to ensure it is doing just what we want it to.

Opening the grain-pro sack hits you like warm, sweet dough proving, with notes of dried fruit, it reminds me of standing on Ronny’s patio at Triangulo (in Guatemala) and just the brown fruit of the naturals is strange but invigorating. 

We have saved the Matari for you as it is the clear winner in the cupping bowl. The liquor is lighter than the Sanani, with earthy notes at first, developing into a rosy, floral and rummy cup. The refinement has hints of Biloya special natural (still a huge personal favourite).

Is it too early to drink this? I think now it’s good and I’ll continue to taste it with intrigue as we travel through the crop. 

Why so expensive? We have paid a price approaching international internet auction lot status for this coffee, but it is striking and will divide the coffee crowd, as such a great and different experience.

 Going back to the scoop, this is possibly some coffee produced as it was many hundreds of years ago and is amongst the founding reasons we keep on drinking coffee today.

The story and the sheer adventure of amazing flavour. I am also REALLY happy to pay a premium for the coffees of Yemen, as a coffee economy in modern times shouldn’t hurt them too much.