Khawlani – Mokha Bunn

Yemenite coffee is always special and always unique. Every time I try a coffee from Yemen I am surprised by the complexity and depth of flavor. Mokha Bunn is a roaster based in Canada who sources directly from individual farms and lots in Yemen. They offer coffee from regions across Yemen. One thing that’s nice about Mokha Bunn is they allow you to select your roast level for a coffee—and let you know the profile to expect with each roast level. I prefer lighter roasts, so this nano-lot Khawlani I enjoyed was with their lightest roast level.

The coffee began with a slightly rustic fragrance that featured notes of caramel and fruit undertones. The flavor was complex and changing. It featured an unrefined sweetness that was fruit-forward, but with caramel and baking spice support. It also had notes of chocolate throughout that changed as the coffee cooled. The acidity was juicy with a rich body and full mouthfeel; the finish was smooth and lingering. As expected for a Yemenite coffee, it was wonderfully complex with lots of layers of flavor.

The Bottom Line

Mokha Bunn does a wonderful job of finding the balance between approachability and complexity. This coffee, as well as other ones I’ve had from Mokha Bunn, maintains the depth and complexity that is so wonderful in a Yemenite coffee but also is rounded out just a bit to be more approachable. If you’ve been interested in trying a coffee from Yemen, but worried it could be too exotic this would be a great one to try.