Quick answerThis glossary defines common coffee terms in plain language, from origin and processing words to brewing and tasting vocabulary, including Yemeni terms like qishr, dallah and finjan.
A-F
- Arabica: the main high-quality coffee species.
- Bloom: CO2 bubbling when water first hits fresh grounds.
- Body: the weight or texture of coffee in your mouth.
- Burr grinder: grinder that crushes beans evenly.
- Cezve/Ibrik: small pot for Turkish-style coffee.
- Crema: golden foam on espresso.
- Cupping: professional tasting method.
- Dallah: Arabian long-spouted coffee pot.
- Degassing: release of CO2 after roasting.
- Extraction: dissolving flavor from grounds into water.
- Finjan: small handleless coffee cup.
G-P
- Green coffee: unroasted beans.
- Haraaz: famous Yemeni coffee region.
- Heirloom: traditional local varieties.
- Mocha: Yemeni port; also chocolate-coffee drink.
- Natural process: beans dried inside the cherry.
- Pour-over: manual drip brewing.
Q-Z
- Qahwa: Arabic word for coffee.
- Qishr: Yemeni drink of spiced coffee husks.
- Ratio: coffee to water, often 1:16.
- Robusta: hardier, more bitter species.
- Single origin: from one place.
- Specialty: coffee scoring 80+ points.
- Terroir: how place shapes flavor.
- Washed process: fruit removed before drying.
Frequently asked questions
What does qahwa mean?
Coffee, in Arabic.
Arabica vs Robusta?
Arabica is sweeter and more complex.
What is mocha?
Both a Yemeni port and a chocolate coffee drink.
Put your vocabulary to work: shop Al-Aqeeq.
Direct From Yemeni Farmers
Freshly Roasted to Order
Delivered Across the USA
Supporting Communities