M2 Mocha Café to celebrate downtown New Haven opening with Yemeni tastings

By Joseph Tucci, Staff Writer, April 27, 2026

M2 Mocha Café will welcome guests to its eatery with a ribbon-cutting at 100 Ashmun St. on April 29, according to a news release. The Yemeni cafe had a soft opening earlier this month, according to its Instagram. New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker will attend the ribbon-cutting.

The cafe’s space has a “sleek, modern interior washed in natural light” with bench and table seating, according to a news release. The cafe also has a private room, which can be booked for up to 50 guests. The café is a member of The Shops at Yale, a group of retail and dining businesses in Downtown New Haven.

After the ribbon-cutting, guests can have complimentary tastings of Yemeni specialties from the café. On the menu will be 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. It will also have dessert options like waffles, crepe creations, chimney cakes and gelato.

The café will serve a variety of teas, including traditional shai Adeni (black tea mix and heavy cream), shai Yemeni (spiced milk tea), saffron shai (milk tea infused with saffron strands, cardamom and cinnamon) and iced shai (black tea with milk, cinnamon, cardamom, ginger and cloves.) It also has Maleki, Sana’ani, Qishr, Jubani, Arabic and Turkish coffee blends.

“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. 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,” owner Abdilaziz Altahri said in the news release.

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