Yemeni Eatery, M2 Mocha Café, Opens Wednesday On Ashmun Street, With Fanfare, Tastings,

NEW HAVEN, CT — There's a new café in town. M2 Mocha Café features "time-honored" specialties from Yemen.

"We believe M2 Mocha Café will bring something new to the area and offer an experience that New Haven residents and Yale’s diverse, international community will enjoy," M2 Mocha Café owner Abdilaziz Altahri said.

Yale University Properties, Mayor Justin Elicker, Café owner Altahri, and community members will welcome M2 Mocha Café to 100 Ashmun St. at a ribbon-cutting ceremony

Wednesday at 2 p.m. The ceremony will be followed by complimentary tastings from the café’s selection of time-honored Yemeni specialties.

All are welcome to attend.

After months of renovation, the freestanding café features a sleek, modern interior washed in natural light, with inviting bench and table seating. It also has a private room that can be booked for small gatherings of up to 50 guests.

The café will serve traditional Yemeni beverages, pastries, and sandwiches. These will include aromatic Mufawar coffee, brewed with cardamom and cream, as well as many other coffee blends, including Maleki, Sana’ani, Qishr, Jubani, Arabic, and Turkish selections.

"Mocha coffee originates from the Port of Mocha in Yemen, and we’re proud to serve what we consider some of the finest coffee in the world," Altahri said. "Yemeni coffee is typically lightly roasted, though we offer a full range of roasts. Many customers prefer the lighter roast for its herbal notes. We also have many different types of unique teas."

Tea selections will include traditional shai Adeni (a premium black tea mix and heavy cream), shai Yemeni, saffron shai, and iced shai.

Pastry selections will include sabaya (a traditional rich, flaky pastry served with honey); basbousa; milk cake; cheesecake; and muffins, in a mix of flavors and varieties. Other sweet offerings will include waffle and crepe creations, chimney cakes, and gelato with toppings.

The dining menu will include grilled halloumi cheese wraps, labneh and olive flatbread, grilled chicken tikka, chicken fajitas, Caesar salads, Greek salads, and a fruit salad topped with a light honey-lime dressing.

The café offers on-site parking and is located across the street from Yale University’s police and health center buildings.

“It’s a great location that’s close to everything. We’re very happy to be here and to bring our culture to New Haven and Yale,” Altahri said.