Mohammed Alameal RM, Yemen

Yemeni coffee has been grown and processed the same way in Yemen since at least 1450 CE. The farms are steeply terraced, and often one lot can come from many terraces made up of several farmers. The extreme dry high altitudes of Yemen produce unique, nuanced heavy-bodied dried fruit flavors.

In modern times, much greater care is exercised in selecting and drying the coffee than was the case a decade ago.  This lot - made up from single farmer, Muhammad, and from one single terrace - immediately stood out from others with its clarity of intense plum, clove, honey, and cinnamon notes.