Current Reserve Lots
Wadi Jannat
Wadi Jannat, in Ba'dan, Ibb, has been called the Valley of Paradise for centuries. SL34 grown on ancient mountain terraces at 2,000 meters, naturally processed as part of Qima's Farmer Series.
A nano lot, which means it is small enough to trace back to the exact hands that picked it. Enduring tradition, modern precision, and one very good cup.
Maghrib Ans
High in the rugged hills of Maghrib Ans at 2,100 meters, this Kent variety survives water scarcity, isolation, and terrain that would break most farms. The farmers here preserved their heritage anyway.
Every bean in this lot is a peaberry, the rare single seed that forms inside a cherry instead of two. Denser, more concentrated, and vibrant in a way regular beans are not.
Yemen gave the world coffee. Then the world forgot.
The tree has its roots in Ethiopia, but the coffee drink was born in Yemen, and until the early 1700s Yemen was the world's only exporter. Drinking an Axis Mundi lot is tasting the place the whole ritual started.
A few years ago, Qima Coffee and scientists from the Alliance for Coffee Excellence found a pure Arabica mother population still hiding there: Yemenia. An entirely new ocean of genetics. We were at the first global auction in 2020 and bought one of the top lots. The world lost its mind, in the best way.
"We can't always afford the top of the auction anymore. We move heaven and earth to bring some of it back anyway."
What earns a lot the Axis Mundi name
Every lot genetically confirmed through RD2 Vision. You know exactly what is in the bag.
True cost of production, a living wage for the household, quality premiums on top. Traceable to the farmer.
Small batches, a bespoke profile per lot, cupped and scored before a single bag leaves the roastery.
SCA-certified, Golden Bean and Good Food Award-winning roasters. Genetic innovation, decades of technique.
What the faithful say
Ye hath not lived untilst ye layeth the roasted bean of Yemen on thine tongue.
Seriously, though, this is one of the best smelling, and best tasting roasts. I recommend using an aeropress for the perfect extraction.
I was very surprised at how outstanding this coffee is. The aroma and flavors are exceptional. I will have to order more!
While pricey, for good reasons mentioned at the maestros at Mad Priest, this is definitely a special coffee. On the grind this roast results in a sweet and tart complex bloom of fragrances leading to notes of blood orange. If you are a French Roast die-hard, be prepared for a new experience.
Savory leaf, leather and exotic bark leading to aromatic wood tone, maybe subdued cinnamon or sandalwood, and blood orange tartness. The flavors are so complex: rich dried slightly spicy fruit, maybe fig, some herbal red tea notes, and a blood orange tone that is unique in my experience in the rarer Yemen coffees.
One last thing: this coffee has a long resonant finish that is very satisfying. This was an exceptional acquisition. Thank you.
So good. This coffee makes me want to go to bed early, so I can get up and have more.
What a treat. What an experience. Savor, savor, savor! Used a French drip and it was exquisite. Highly recommend!
These beans made the most interesting cups of coffee I've ever had.
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