The Traditional Art of Coffee Processing
In the Yafa mountains of Yemen, the traditional art of coffee processing begins with carefully hand-harvesting ripe coffee cherries. Each bean is meticulously picked, peeled, and classified by hand to ensure only the best quality. The beans are then sun-dried and finally packaged, preserving the rich heritage and unique flavor of Yemeni coffee. Here, we will show you every single step of the process, involving you in the journey so you can be assured of the care and quality behind every bean.
The Art of Harvesting Coffee Beans in the Yafa Mountains
In the Yafa mountains of Yemen, the journey of coffee begins with a meticulous and time-honored process—harvesting. Unlike mass-produced coffee, Yemeni coffee cultivation is deeply rooted in tradition, where each step is carried out with precision and care to ensure exceptional quality. At Star Mocha, harvesting coffee is not merely about picking ripe cherries; it’s about understanding the land, nurturing the trees, and preserving the heritage of Yemeni coffee.
A Legacy of Hand-Harvesting
The coffee harvest in Yafa is an entirely manual process. Farmers carefully hand-pick only the ripest cherries, ensuring that unripe or overripe beans do not compromise the batch's flavor and quality. This selective harvesting requires multiple rounds of picking, as coffee cherries do not ripen all at once.Unlike large-scale coffee farms that rely on mechanical harvesters, Yemeni farmers use their deep knowledge of the land and trees to determine the perfect harvesting time. This traditional method ensures that only the best cherries make it to the next stage of processing, preserving the distinctive flavor profile of Yemeni Arabica coffee.
Caring for the Coffee Trees Before Harvesting
The process of harvesting starts long before the first cherry is picked. Farmers in Yafa dedicate significant time and effort to nurturing the coffee trees, using techniques passed down through generations.
Sustainable Farming Practices: Unlike industrial coffee farms, Yemeni coffee cultivation relies on natural irrigation, organic compost, and shade-grown methods. The trees thrive in the mountainous terrain, benefiting from nutrient-rich soil and high-altitude climate.
Tree Classification and Monitoring: Each coffee tree is studied and classified based on its location, growth pattern, and health. Farmers pay close attention to the trees' needs, adjusting care practices based on the specific conditions of the valley or hillside where they grow.
This level of care not only enhances the quality of the harvest but also strengthens the sustainability of coffee farming in Yemen, preserving this rare and valuable crop for future generations.
Yemeni farmers carefully pick the ripe, puffy coffee cherries by hand, selecting only the best ones. This traditional method ensures high quality and preserves the rich flavors that make Yemeni coffee unique. Each step, from harvesting to processing, reflects a deep heritage of craftsmanship and dedication.
Yemeni farmers carefully pick the ripe, puffy coffee cherries by hand, selecting only the best ones. This traditional method ensures high quality and preserves the rich flavors that make Yemeni coffee unique. Each step, from harvesting to processing, reflects a deep heritage of craftsmanship and dedication.
Careful Selection: Ensuring the Finest Yemeni Coffee
After being handpicked, the coffee cherries are carefully sorted to ensure only the best ones are used. Farmers separate the ripe, reddish cherries from the defective ones, discarding any that don’t meet the quality standard. This crucial step preserves the rich flavors of Yemeni coffee, ensuring that only the finest beans make it through the traditional process.
Purifying the CHERRIES: The Washing Process
In this step, farmers carefully wash the coffee beans to remove any dust, insects, or impurities. This process ensures that each bean is clean and free from defects, preserving the purity and quality of Yemeni coffee before it moves to the next stage of processing.
Sun-Drying: Preserving the Essence of Yemeni Coffee
In the mountains of Yafa, Yemen, coffee cherries are naturally sun-dried in a perfect balance of light sunshine and dry weather. This unique climate allows the beans to dry slowly, preserving their rich oils, flavors, and full value. Traditionally, farmers dried their cherries on rooftops, but today, designated drying areas ensure an even and careful process. This natural method maintains the exceptional quality of Yemeni coffee, keeping its heritage alive.
Hulling
Hulling
After Drying: Preserving the Coffee’s Natural Integrity
After the coffee cherries are fully dried, the outer husk is removed in a process known as hulling. There are two methods for this: one removes the husk while the beans are still moist, and the other takes place after drying. We follow the latter, ensuring the beans dry naturally within their protective outer layer. This method helps preserve the coffee’s essential components, maintaining its rich flavors and quality.
Coffee Bean Classification: Ensuring Excellence and Quality
Coffee beans are classified according to their size or the core of the bean, with several levels of grading. The highest and most expensive beans belong to grade A, which are the largest and have the least acidity and the sweetest flavor. Following that are grade B beans, which are slightly smaller and have a higher acidity compared to grade A. The classification continues through grades C and D, all the way down to grade X, which represents the lowest quality in terms of size and flavor.
This classification process requires a great deal of effort and skilled manual work. It also requires a large quantity of coffee beans to be sorted, ensuring that a good amount of each type is selected. This extensive process is only offered to true coffee lovers—those who appreciate every detail of the bean. While all the coffee we offer is of very high quality, made from Arabica beans, and goes through every step of the traditional process, this meticulous classification highlights the finest, ensuring the best of the best. It’s all about preserving the natural excellence of Yemeni coffee.
Coffee Sipping and Offerings
After completing all the essential processing steps, we offer our coffee in a variety of options to suit different preferences. These include whole, dry coffee beans, as well as coffee cherries and husks. We also provide green coffee beans for those who wish to roast them at home. Additionally, our roasted coffee beans are available for those seeking the perfect cup right away. Every product, whether it's the beans, husk, or packaging, is carefully prepared to ensure the highest quality and authenticity in every offering.