‘This is gonna be the spot.’ Coffee shop that’s a first for KC area opens
Note to those who’ve never tasted Yemeni coffee: The taste is similar to its American counterpart, but it has a flavor profile commonly described as earthy and bold.
In fact, Mocha, Yemen, is thought to be the birthplace of coffee as a beverage, and mochas are named as such because Europeans associated Mocha’s beans with a chocolatey flavor — though ordering a mocha in a U.S. coffee shop will likely produce a much different drink. Yemeni coffee drinks are also often made with spices like cardamom and nuts like pistachio, and they’ve not been widely accessible in the Kansas City metro.
Until Tuesday evening, that is.
The metro’s first Yemeni coffee shop just opened in the Kansas City metro, much to the delight of Kansas Citians with Middle Eastern ties who are used to driving several hours for the drinks.
“We’ve had it in Dallas, but honestly, this is the best Yemeni coffee shop I’ve tried,” said a customer named Lena, whose family hails from Egypt. She asked not to give a last name.
Lena and her friend sat at a table inside Mocha Point Yemeni Coffee Co. at 8641 W. 135th St. in Overland Park at its soft opening. Dozens of other customers flowed in and out of the rust and sand-colored space, ordering cakes, bread and Adeni chai. Lena drank an iced Spanish latte.
“I’m a big coffee connoisseur. This is the best coffee shop in the KC metro area, honestly,” she said, with much of her cup already drained.
Another table of Middle Eastern young women sipped their drinks and told The Star that this isn’t their first time trying Mocha Point. The shop has a location in the St. Louis area, with a loyal following there.
“We drove two different times to St. Louis, back and forth, just for the coffee,” Hur Elaine Al-Sheriff said.
“This is gonna be the spot,” her friend, Tala Joudeh, concurred. “I see us fermenting here. … Everyone and their mom is gonna be here.”
Their favorite drinks are the Adeni chai and Spanish latte. Others on the menu include a banana cream latte and Yemeni latte.
The shop sells individual drinks as well as large pots of Adeni chai, Arabic coffee, Turkish coffee, Saudi coffee and more — ideal for families and groups who want to share.
There’s also a variety of herbal teas, matcha with flavors and espresso drinks with various syrups .
Mocha Point is the creation of Ali Othman, who partnered with his brother, Addel Othman, to open the first location in St. Charles over two years ago. At the time, Ali struggled to find anything similar to the Yemeni coffee shops he’d experienced elsewhere.
But in the past few years, an appetite for Yemeni coffee has been increasing in the West. A Bon Appétit article from March 2025 noted 30 distinct Yemeni coffee brands operating across the country.
“It’s been trending all over the U.S., and not only for the Arabs,” Al-Sheriff told The Star on Tuesday. “Yemeni coffee has been very much all over the place. I feel like I’m in Chicago because of the vibes.”
Mocha Point is the first of a trio of Arabic coffee shops opening in the metro, specifically Johnson County. Turath Coffee is opening at 9916 College Blvd. in Overland Park, and R. Qahwah is coming to 95th and Metcalf.
Some attending the soft opening were trying Yemeni coffee for the first time. A few women in messy buns and sweats approached store owner Omar Abdelmoity at the counter and inquired about each of the featured drinks.
Co-founder Addel juggled the crowds by bouncing between tasks behind the counter: handing out drinks, whisking matcha, etc. He did take a moment to speak with The Star.
“I know people are very, very excited about it, and we see the feedback online,” Addel said. “We get texts, calls DMs all the time: ‘When are you gonna open up?’”
A woman strolled across the shop and asked customers at each table if everything was to their liking. In here, she told The Star, Hanan Fouad is known as the general manager. She takes her marching orders from founders Ali and Addel.
But outside Mocha Point’s doors, she’s their boss. They call her “Mom.”
“Our motto is come for our coffee, stay for our culture,” Fouad said. “Like what you’re seeing: Just sitting and enjoying their coffee, not the, ‘Grab and I’ve gotta run.’”
Mocha Point will be in the soft opening phase for a while with limited hours, mainly 4 to 10 p.m. When they launch, they’ll open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, and 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
Follow the shop online for updates on hours.
This story was originally published February 19, 2026 at 9:15 AM.