The Long Awaited Comeback of Yemen Matari Coffee in Kensington

Every coffee bean tells a story, but some beans carry entire chapters of world history. If you have been stopping by our neighbourhood cafe in Kensington lately, you might have noticed a very special single origin back on our shelves. Yemen Matari has officially returned to Calgary.

For the long time regulars who remember when we served this incredible roast years ago, welcome back to one of the richest coffee experiences on the planet. For anyone trying it for the first time, you are in for a genuine treat. Getting these beans across the ocean and into our roaster was no small task, but every single sip makes the journey worth it.

The Historic Roots of Yemen Coffee

To understand why Yemen Matari is so special, we have to travel back several centuries. Yemen is where coffee cultivation first truly took off. The ancient port city of Mokha was the center of the global coffee trade for generations, which is where the term mocha original comes from.

The Matari region in Yemen sits high in the western mountains. The high altitude, arid climate, and mineral rich soil create growing conditions that you simply cannot duplicate anywhere else in the world. Farmers in this area still use traditional agricultural methods passed down through families for hundreds of years. They grow heirloom coffee varieties on steep stone terraces cut right into the mountain slopes.

When the coffee cherries ripen, they are picked by hand and dried naturally in the sun with the fruit intact. This natural dry process is what gives Yemen Matari its signature complexity, deep body, and distinctive flavour profile.

A Flavour Profile Like No Other

Yemen Matari is not your average daily brew. It offers a profile that stands completely apart from Central American or East African coffees.

When you brew a cup of Yemen Matari, the first thing you notice is the deep, comforting aroma. On the palate, it delivers a rich combination of dark chocolate, wild berry notes, and warm baking spices like cardamom and clove. It has a full, syrup like body and a clean, pleasantly winey acidity that lingers just long enough. Just to be clear, this is not that sharp or annoying sour acidity that ruins the whole experience. It is a very subtle, smooth, and perfectly balanced brightness that brings out the sweeter notes.

It is complex, deeply satisfying, and completely natural. The dark chocolate flavour comes straight from the unique terroir of the Matari mountains and the centuries old processing techniques, not from any added syrups.

Why Yemen Coffee Is So Hard to Find

Many coffee lovers ask us why we do not keep Yemen Matari on our menu year round. The simple answer comes down to geopolitics and global logistics.

Yemen has experienced severe political instability and ongoing civil strife for many years. Basic infrastructure like roads, electricity, and port facilities face massive disruption daily. For local coffee farmers, simply getting their crop from mountain terraces down to sea shipping containers is an enormous challenge. Shipping routes across the Red Sea have become increasingly dangerous and complicated to navigate, leading to severe delays and skyrocketing transport costs.

Finding authentic, high grade Yemen Matari through ethical supply chains requires patience and deep industry relationships. We insist on working only with importers who ensure fair pay and safe conditions for the farmers on the ground. Because supply is so limited and transport is so unpredictable, getting a single shipment to Calgary feels like a major victory every single time.

Small Scale Roasting Meets Rare Beans

Having exceptional green coffee beans is only half the equation. The other half is knowing exactly how to roast them to bring out their best qualities without scorching their subtle notes.

Yemen beans are notoriously uneven in size and shape due to traditional wild farming methods. You cannot simply trust a machine to do the job for you. We use a small, old-school, reliable gas powered roaster. It requires our full attention, constant physical monitoring, and hands on skill to get every batch right.

We carefully control the airflow and gas flame throughout the entire process to highlight the heavy chocolate sweetness and spicy aromatics while keeping the naturally rich body intact. The result is a beautifully balanced cup that honours the incredible hard work of the Yemeni farmers.

How to Enjoy Yemen Matari at Home and Beyond

If you pick up a bag of fresh Yemen Matari whole beans from us, you might wonder how to get the most out of them.

Because of its deep body and complex spice notes, this coffee shines absolute best in immersion and pour over methods. A French press or a slow pour over like a Chemex will pull out those rich chocolate and berry undertones without losing any of the heavy texture. If you are feeling adventurous, it also makes an extraordinary, rich shot of espresso with a thick crema.

Now for a little gourmet tip. Try pairing a fresh cup of Yemen Matari with a slice of dark chocolate pound cake, a cardamom pastry, or a classic spiced plum tart. The natural chocolate and baking spice notes in the coffee line up so well with rich desserts that it elevates both the treat and the brew to a whole new level.

Visit Us in Kensington

Whether you are a lifelong resident of Calgary, someone who just moved into our neighbourhood, or staying nearby at a local Airbnb, we would love to welcome you through our doors.

You can find us right in the heart of Kensington at 314 10th Street NW. We have been roasting coffee right here for over forty years. We still have the exact same owners, and we still use the exact same trusty analogue roaster as day one. The only thing that has changed over the decades is a fresh colour on the walls now and then.

Stop by the shop today to pick up a bag of Yemen Matari while our current lot lasts, or sit down and let us craft a fresh cup for you. See you soon!

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