YEMEN IS UNLIKE ANY OTHER COFFEE-GROWING REGION, SET APART BY ITS EXTREME AND UNFORGIVING CLIMATE.

Yemen’s coffee growing regions experience some of the most severe temperature variations globally, with some of the hottest temperatures during the hottest months and some of the  oldest during the coldest months. Its regions distinctly separate into two clusters: the northern areas (such as Sanaa) and the southern areas (including Taiz and Lahej). Northern regions tend to experience more intense temperature extremes compared to southern regions. This contrasts sharply with other coffee-producing regions like Brazil, Colombia, central America, East Africa, and Asia, which generally maintain more moderate and stable temperature ranges.

Yemen is the driest coffee-producing region globally, with annual rainfall ranging from just 244 to 379 millimeters, compared to the global average of 1,368 millimeters. Even Ethiopia’s Harrar region, the closest comparison, receives nearly double Yemen’s rainfall, while most other regions get four to ten times more. Yet, despite these harsh conditions, Yemen’s coffee thrives, showing a remarkable resilience that is unmatched worldwide.