Quote:
Originally Posted by clowntable
The best coffee I've ever had was at the Hilton in Addis Abeba. They have a little corner between the lobby and the area that has the banking/travel/souvenirs where they brew the coffee traditionally with an open fireplace. There are about 4 or 5 little stools to sit on around the fireplace.
Just a heads up in case any of you ever happen to be in Ethiopia.
I'm well aware that some of the great taste may have been placebo though
Great and ancient coffee tradition in that part of the world. One of my favorite coffees is Yemen Moka
http://www.u-roast-em.com/coffee-beans-yemen.html
From the above link:
"Yemen Mocha is one of the most ancient and traditional coffees. This natural coffee has been famous for centuries as Mocha, since it was through that port, which has long been closed off by a sand bar, that this coffee was first shipped to the West. Mochas as now shipped from Hodeida and Adan, and exports are around 60,000 bags per year with only a small amount coming to the U.S.
This small, round, irregular olive green to yellow bean is still grown as it probably was over a thousand years ago. Planted in irrigated terraces clinging to the sides of semiarid mountains, water is directed through little rock-lined channels to the roods of the plant. To protect the plants from hail and cool night temperatures, the plants are shaded with poplar trees.
Most coffee from Northern Yemen is processed naturally. Dried with the fruit still attached to the beans, the dried husk is later removed by millstone or other primitive methods. This accounts for the rough, irregular look to the bean.
Of the market names that most often appear, Mattari usually represents a more acidy, winey version that the lower toned, more balanced Sanani.
Since Mocha is such a disctinctive coffee, everyone has something interesting to say about it: Unique, sharp flavor… mellow body…creamy….rich….distinctive winey flavor… chocolaty undertones. Give it a try and see what flavors your palate detects. "
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I purchase Yemen Mocha, roasted whole beans, from a local coffee roaster and it is superb. Five Stars.
-Zeno