Why coffee you ask? Several years ago, I read an article about the growing number of people roasting coffee at home. Since my baking hobby had started shrinking my pants, I found the idea of roasting coffee interesting. After all, I have always loved coffee, and many of my fondest memories and deepest thoughts have been shared with family and friends over a steaming cup of coffee. So, I took an introduction to home roasting class, and I was immediately hooked! My new hobby quickly became an obsession. I found myself spending hours reading and learning about the different varieties of coffee plants, the regions where they grow, and the people that passionately plant, nurture, and harvest these plants. I realized that coffee for them was not just a vocation, but a way of life that is deeply imbedded in their culture, economy, and society. Whether it be a large finca in Guatemala or the tiniest micro lot farmer in Ethiopia, they all share the same life-long pursuit of growing the perfect beans that will ultimately become the perfect cup of coffee. And, from that coffee plant, the farmers have grown families, communities, churches, schools, health care clinics, as well as saving our rainforests. I ask you, “can coffee save the world?” Perhaps! It certainly has changed mine for the better!
-Kirstie
My mission is simple. It is to bring to my community premium specialty grade coffees from around the world. My promise to you is to always source beans that are responsibly grown and harvested. I promise to take great pride and care into roasting every batch. I promise to continue to learn and grow as a nano roaster so that I can roast the best darn coffee you have ever tasted!
This is an authentic example of classic old-world Yemen coffee, representing one of the original coffees that has remained largely unchanged for over a century. Yemen is recognized as the world’s oldest territory for coffee cultivation. Its seed stock, originally sourced from wild landraces in Ethiopia, was used to establish the first commercial coffee farms, supplying the Arabian Peninsula and later mainland Europe. The term “Arabica” itself originated from the region's early coffee supply, which introduced coffee to Western markets.
This coffee is produced by small-scale legacy farmers in the high mountains of Yemen’s northwestern Sa’adah Governorate, who are organized under the Khulani Coffee Society for Agricultural Development (KCSAD). KCSAD brings together growers from the Sa’adah districts of Saqayn, Haydan, Ghamr, Razih, Monabbih, and Majz, with the primary goal of fostering increased investment in farms and raising quality standards throughout both the harvest and post-harvest processes.
Coffee-growing families in this region, as in other parts of Yemen, manage terraced plots of land passed down through generations. Coffee remains the principal crop, supporting livelihoods and serving as a longstanding social tradition that strengthens community ties.
Sustaining coffee trees in the arid, elevated, and unique climate of western and northern Yemen demands proven techniques refined through generations of farming experience. Farms feature terraced arrangements on steep, dry slopes. Manual boreholes are frequently excavated into rock to supply water to each tree where rainfall is limited. Trees are spaced at approximately 1000 per hectare—significantly fewer than the 4000-6000 per hectare commonly found in Latin America—due to terrace constraints and for improved groundwater access and erosion prevention. Cultivation of young coffee trees prioritizes resilience against harsh environmental conditions and water shortages. Mature trees grow tall and often develop branching structures that extend beyond terrace edges, locally referred to as “hanging gardens.” Shade trees are strategically chosen for their efficacy in reducing water evaporation. These challenging agricultural conditions result in low productivity; nevertheless, Yemen’s coffee trade directly employs over one million individuals, from cultivation through to export.
Pearl of Tehama, the milling and exporting partner for KCSAD’s coffee, is a family enterprise established in 1970 by Ali Hiba Muslot. Despite ongoing conflict in Yemen—which has resulted in significant loss of life and displacement of more than three million people, leaving two-thirds of the population in need of food or medical assistance—the Muslot family and Pearl of Tehama have consistently managed and exported coffee harvests on behalf of the farms and families they represent. Their continued efforts are noteworthy given the profound adverse impact of conflict on much of Yemen’s international trade.
Given these challenges, it is notable to receive a batch of Yemen coffee this season—a testament to the resilience and dedication of those involved in its production.
Yemen houses on terraces
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