Mocha Bay will also serve matcha lattes, smoothies, juices, and Adeni tea, a Yemeni milk tea typically spiced with cardamom or cloves.<\/p>\n
The pastry case is expected to include sweet and savory items, including Dubai chocolate-inspired pastries, cakes, cheesecakes, and potentially small pitas with traditional fillings.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s definitely a good feeling to bring a traditional family culture to our St. Pete community, which we love,\u201d Ali said. \u201cWe can\u2019t wait to make memories with our St. Pete community.\u201d<\/p>\n
Yemen played a significant role in coffee\u2019s history. While the coffee plant is native to Ethiopia, coffee cultivation and bean roasting can be traced to Yemen in the 15th century. <\/p>\n
The caf\u00e9\u2019s name references Yemen\u2019s Mocha port<\/a>, a major center of the early global coffee trade.<\/p>\n \u201cYemen actually is known as one of the birthplaces of coffee,\u201d said Tony Baker, a partner in Mocha Bay. \u201cThe country is known for growing and brewing some of the best coffees in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n Hours are still being finalized, but Ali said Mocha Bay could open early for morning customers and remain open as late as 2 a.m. or later on weekends.<\/p>\n Mocha Bay will not serve alcohol or offer hookah. Instead, the caf\u00e9 is expected to cater to students, remote workers, and others looking for a place to gather or work early in the morning and late at night.<\/p>\n No social media pages have been created for Mocha Bay yet. Updates on its downtown St. Pete buildout will be shared through Arab Tampa Official<\/a>, a local business directory for Arab residents in the Tampa Bay area run by Baker.<\/p>\n Baker and Ali are also partners in a second Mocha Bay location planned for Tampa\u2019s Temple Terrace neighborhood next year.<\/p>\n