MFC Moka Java

Bittersweet Chocolate, Leather Aromatics, Dried Blueberry, Grape

Back in the 1600s, when the coffee trade was in its infancy, two origins had risen to prominence: Yemen and Java. This was in colonial days, when Europe’s idea of a good time involved lute music and world domination. The British and the Dutch controlled both origins, and ships made regular voyages to and from Java and the Port of Moka—Yemen’s oldest port—to transport coffee to caffeine-obsessed Europeans. At some point, someone had the good sense to start mixing the beans, and Moka Java was born.

The ancient fusion counts as the oldest coffee product in history, a blend that dates back to the 1600s, and it’s managed to survive everything from kingly coffee bans to American misadventures in instant brewing. It’s a potent mix of bittersweet, rustic tones and fruited character. Sadly, today, Moka Java calls to mind one of two things: an unholy swirl of Hershey’s syrup and bottom-of-the-barrel coffee, or a hellfire-scorched, dark-as-sin caffeinated abomination.

Real Moka Java uses Yemeni beans as its base, but you’ll pretty much never see that, because blending with Yemen requires a special kind of insanity. Instead, you’ll get a weird potluck of Brazil, Ethiopia, and wet-hulled Sumatra. But this Moka Java actually uses Yemeni coffee as its base. It's roasted with the same care as rarified lots, and the flavor is an elevated expression of the coffee world’s oldest product.

Bittersweet chocolate dominates the cup. It’s got a dry quality that lingers for days and just enough sugar to guard against astringency. Leather aromatics create a deep, resonant impression, which, matched with the chocolate, makes for a decidedly rustic opener.

As the cup cools, fruit notes rear their head. Dried blueberry, a touch of grape—which may present as a winey whisper. They’re present enough to make an impact, but restrained enough to play a supporting role. The mouthfeel is pleasantly thick and takes on a milky quality as the cup cools.

Look, I hold blends in the same esteem as I do ’70s cover bands, but Moka Java is in its own category. If you’re a coffee geek, its flavors are foundational, and you rarely get the chance to try the real McCoy. Be a coffee scholar and grab a bag.