Order a mocha in a café and you will get a chocolate coffee drink. But the word has a much older story that begins on the coast of Yemen.
The port of Mocha
For more than a century, ships from Egypt, Turkey, India and Europe sailed to al-Makha to buy coffee grown in the Yemeni highlands. Merchants called it "Mocha" coffee, and the name became shorthand for quality coffee. Read more in Caffè Mocha: The Facts.
From place name to chocolate drink
Natural, sun-dried Yemeni coffee has a strong chocolate note. When coffee houses later combined espresso with chocolate, "mocha" was the perfect name.
Mocha Java
When the Dutch grew coffee on Java, traders blended it with Yemeni Mocha. "Mocha Java" is one of the oldest known coffee blends.
Taste the original
Al-Aqeeq Mocha Yemeni is single-origin Yemeni coffee with natural chocolate notes, no flavoring needed.
Frequently asked questions
Does mocha coffee contain chocolate?
A café mocha drink does. Yemeni "Mocha" coffee beans do not; their chocolate flavor is natural.
Is the port of Mocha still used?
Al-Makha still exists on Yemen's Red Sea coast, but it is no longer the world's coffee hub.
How do I make a mocha at home?
Brew strong coffee, stir in 1-2 tablespoons of cocoa or melted dark chocolate, and top with steamed milk.
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