13th December, 2022 | 14:00 hrs London time

Welcome to the Labour of Love, The Gems of Yemen

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Experience some of the finest collections...

Experience this year’s Gems…

Ordering samples allow you to taste each lot prior to the auction and be ready to bid. Each sample set will contain 18 coffee samples (100 grams each).

 

Sample Set Fee: $250 each (sold out)

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Sheba Coffee

About this Year’s Auction

This year, we are excited to present ‘The Labour of Love’, the next inception in experimental coffee processing.

Having spent the last three years trialing hundreds of experimental processing methods, Sheba Coffee’s team in Yemen have cracked the code, producing 18 coffees, each scoring 89+ points.

By applying innovative techniques, this year’s auction’s focus is to enhance the sensory experience behind each coffee; creating value for the producer whilst maintaining the inherent cup profile that each region represents. We are excited to demo our latest offering of quality coffees and hope you enjoy them as much as we do.

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Auction times in your region

13th December, 2022

  • 06:00 am - Los Angeles
  • 09:00 am - New York
  • 14:00 pm - London
  • 17:00 pm - Riyadh
  • 18:00 pm - Abu Dhabi
  • 22:00 pm - Shanghai
  • 22:00 pm - Taipei
  • 23:00 pm - Tokyo
  • 23:00 pm - Seoul

14th December, 2022

  • 01:00 am - Sydney
 

Pre-Order a Sample Set

Includes:

  • 18 samples /100g per box

Sample Set Fee: $250 each

Sold Out

All lots have been cupped and graded by local experienced professionals as well as renowned SCA Q-Graders within Europe. We know that you wouldn't settle for anything less.

Initial Processing Details

For Sheba Coffee's 2022 Auction, three unique processing methods have been selected. These are:

Supernatural

For Sheba Coffee’s Supernatural lots, you will find flavours of intense rose, florals and blueberry notes, layer over dried yellow fruit, finishing with a complex and juicy mouthfeel and a bright and zesty structured acidity, reminiscent of grapefruit, mandarin orange and bergamot.

 

Single Fermentation

For Sheba Coffee's Single Anaerobic Fermented lots, think juicy mango, dried tropical fruits and blackberry notes, complimented by sweet brown spice and a caramel base, leading to a silky mouthfeel texture and extended aftertaste.

 

Double Fermentation

For Sheba Coffee's Double Anaerobic Fermented lots, the extended fermentation and selected terroir create a layered and complex flavour profile. Think ripe bananas, red berries such as strawberry and cherry and an integrated winey acidity, opening to a silky, almost yogurt-like mouthfeel.

 

The Romance of Heritage Reawakened

For centuries, the world's most exquisite coffee remained Yemen's secret. Home to the original, pure Arabica taste, Yemen’s distilled passion for cultivating extraordinary coffee left an indelible mark on the world in the 1400s.

As the years went by, the world began to forget just how irreplaceable is the true Mokha. But it's no longer a secret to be kept - it is a wealth to be shared with those who desire the very best.

As a company rich in Yemeni heritage, the world's finest coffee is our bloodline. Our legacy. Our future. Together, we will reawaken the world to the alluring magic of Yemeni coffee. Because this isn't just our story, it's a love letter to coffee itself, just waiting for you to write the next page.

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Our Regions, and their flavours

This year’s auction ‘The Labour of Love, The Hidden Gems of Yemen’ features coffee from three remote regions within the Yemeni mountains. 

Haraz

  • Located on the periphery of the Governorate of Sana’. It is the most celebrated coffee producing region in Yemen.
  • Ravishingly beautiful, and its inhabitants have a distinct culture.
  • At the forefront of Yemeni coffee cultivation having maintained its ancient growing traditions while other regions have struggled.

Characteristics:

Raisins, dried fruits, berries, Complex acidity, winey and high in sweetness.

Al Hayma

  • Located on the outskirts of the Governorate of Sana’a. This region is far from green and verdant, being arid with a harsh climate at a very high altitude.
  • Coffee production in Al-Hayma is modest in scale.
  • However in the right hands, Al-Hayma coffee quality is supreme.

Characteristics:

Blueberries, strawberries, mandarin orange, red apple and complex rose florals.

Ibb

  • Nestled in Yemen’s Northern region, Ibb is home to a diverse landscape featuring high altitudes and sub-tropical climates.
  • The capital, also named Ibb, sits at over 2000 meters above sea level along a ridge of Mount Al-Shafah.
  • Farmers in the region depend on natural springs and wells to water their crops, including their coffee trees.

Characteristics:

Chocolate, Dried Fruit, Honeycomb, Orange and a pleasant acidity.