A late-night coffee shop with a ‘unique twist’ is coming to Johnson County
Mocha Point Yemeni Coffee Co. began with Ali Othman seeking a solution to a few problems.
Firstly, the young professional struggled to find any coffee shops in St. Louis that were open late — most seemed to close early in the afternoon. Secondly, Othman couldn’t find the same Yemeni coffee his parents had taught him to love.
So Othman opened Mocha Point in St. Charles two years ago.
After finding success in the St. Louis area, Mocha Point is coming to the Kansas City metro, starting at 8641 W. 135th St. in Overland Park.
Omar Abdelmoity, owner of the Kansas location, said it will open in late 2025 or early 2026.
The Johnson County spot will be the Mocha Point’s second location. A third will open in the St. Louis area next year.
The expansion is part of a broader goal to bring more Yemeni coffee shops across Kansas and Missouri. Mocha Point customers will notice some of the same flavors as other coffee shops, as well as some that are different.
“We utilize a lot of cardamom, pistachio notes, cinnamon, nutmeg,” Abdelmoity said. “A lot of what we’re wanting to build a brand is not necessarily the product, but the overall environment.”
Its menu will include drinks Americans are familiar with, like lattes and Americanos. Cultural offerings include the Yemeni latte (with honey, cinnamon, cardamom, clove, ginger), pistachio latte, pistachio croissants, Adeni chai (black tea with cardamom and ginger), sticky date cake, and more.
The shop showcases seasonal offerings. From its fall menu: pumpkin latte, pumpkin chai, salted date banana latte, blueberry matcha and blended mango chai.
“We’re hoping that they’re going to see a unique twist on what we call coffee,” Abdelmoity said.
Mocha, Yemen, is thought to be the birthplace of coffee as a beverage. Europeans associated the chocolatey notes of the beans to cocoa. If one orders a “mocha” in a Western coffee shop today, it will most likely come with a splash of chocolate syrup.
Othman said coffee beans from Yemen are some of the highest quality. Combine that with the stylish atmosphere and friendly service, and he believes customers will be more than satisfied with Mocha Point.
“When a person steps into our coffee shop, they really feel a different experience,” Othman said. “It’s an elevated experience.”
Hours will tentatively be 7 a.m. to midnight, matching typical hours of Yemeni coffee shops and giving consumers nearby a place to study late or catch up with friends in the evening.
There aren’t many Yemeni coffee shops in the Midwest. Othman said Yemeni shops found success in Dearborn, Michigan, a few years ago, making it one of the first cities to welcome Yemeni coffee culture into the United States.
A few more are scattered throughout Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota.
“It’s much more than your average coffee shop,” Othman said.