Yemeni Coffee Achieves Record Heights at the Best of Yemen 2025 Auction
Dubai – September 2025 (Qahwa World) – The Best of Yemen 2025 auction, organized by Qahwa Al Qimma (Qima Coffee), has come to a historic close after two days of global bidding that stretched across 12 intense hours. The event not only broke price records but also highlighted the resilience of Yemeni farmers and the global demand for their unique coffees.
The auction witnessed unprecedented participation, with servers overwhelmed after 11 hours of bidding and forced into a temporary pause. When resumed the following day, just one more hour of spirited competition was enough to crown this year’s winners.
The Top Lots
1st Place: Yahya Al Faqeeh, offering the rare Yemenia variety processed naturally, achieved the highest price of the auction at $851.50 per pound for 37 lbs. The winning buyer was Black Sip Coffee Roasters, securing one of the most expensive Yemeni coffees in history.
2nd Place: Maghrib Ans XV (Kent, Alchemy process), 110 lbs, sold for $320.50/lb to Sulalat.
3rd Place: Hejrat Al Ain Women Farmers XV (Yemenia, Alchemy process), 88 lbs, reached $327.50/lb, purchased by Albhaa Roastery and Out of Line.
4th Place: Bait Yaseen XI (Yemenia, Alchemy process), 110 lbs, sold for $196.50/lb to Entro Coffee Egypt and ESS’s Roasters Saudi Arabia.
Women Farmers in the Spotlight
Women-led lots stole the spotlight this year. Coffees from Hejrat Al Ain, Hayma Dakhiliya, Bait Al Yaziji, and Al Mezab all ranked among the top positions, underscoring the growing role of Yemeni women in shaping the country’s specialty coffee renaissance.
Global Buyers
Bidders came from across the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and North America. Notable names included George Howell Coffee Company (USA), Slope Roastery (Saudi Arabia), Andes Coffee Roaster (Latin America), and several specialty roasters from China and Europe. The diversity of buyers confirmed Yemen’s status as a global benchmark for rare and exclusive coffees.
Auction Figures
Total lots: 33
Total weight: 2,857 lbs
Total value: $391,632
Average price (weighted): $137.08/lb
Median price: $109/lb
Highest price: $851.50/lb
Lowest price: $50.50/lb
Lots over $100/lb: 21
In its closing statement, the organizer said: “This milestone is not only about record prices—it is about the resilience of Yemeni coffee and the farming communities behind it. The unwavering commitment of our buyers and partners makes these moments possible year after year.”
The Best of Yemen 2025 auction was more than a commercial success; it was a cultural milestone. It brought together farmers cultivating coffee in the mountains of Yemen with roasters across the globe, uniting two ends of a shared story: those who grow coffee at its birthplace and those who bring it to the world’s cups.
