Interview with Ali Dabashi, one of the brothers behind the Creation of 1450 Mokha, and Ahmed, a family friend and partner.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth

The signature drink, the 1450 Latte, made with white chocolate cardamom syrup and seasoned with a shake blend of cardamom, cinnamon and nutmeg blended in-house, rimmed with honey.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth

Katie interviewed one of the 6 Dabashi Brothers, Ali, and their partner Ahmed on the second day of their soft opening of 1450 Mokha at in Poughkeepsie, located across from Marist University in the Job Lots / Home Depot shopping center at 3434 North Road. Many in Beacon have never seen Ali in this setting - relaxed and sitting in the deep red Yemeni style couches that he crafted and built. "Why aren't you in Key Food?" demanded Katie. "Did you get bored?" Ali smiled and shook his head.

"The Dabashi Brothers, along with our partner Ahmed, have opened 1450 Mokha. Our passion is coffee, and we love our culture so much. We wanted to bring something that we always drive an hour and half to every time we are off work - which is the taste of Yemen."

Writing this interview - which you must also watch in video here in this article - required savoring the signature iced drink of 1450 Mokha. The latte is gorgeous in the glass, and the baristas recommend stirring before sipping in order to swirl the flavors, which are traditional Middle Eastern spices composed of white chocolate cardamom syrup and seasoned with a shake blend of cardamom, cinnamon and nutmeg blended in-house, rimmed with honey. The creme at the top is a secret. This drink is transformative.

1450 Mokha is not just an ode to their ancestral home of Yemen, and is not just a coffee shop. It is their haven to stretch out their creative sides and flavor pallets to welcome all to enjoy and experience traditional Yemeni hospitality.

Located in the parking lot of Job Lots, Home Depot, with a Planet Fitness coming soon, this coffee shop is ideal for being in the center of things. "Home Depot is my home," said Ali during our interview, as he can be often be found envisioning new shelving and building it.

After our interview, a new customer walked through the door, drawn in by the Arabic music playing softly outside. The fact that he could hear the music from the parking lot, while avoiding numerous potholes that frequent most of those shopping market parking lots up Rte. 9, was impressive.

The new customer was beside himself with enthusiasm: "I could hear the music! Did you just open? Is this a new location for you? Do you have other shops? Didn't this used to be the acai bowl place? But they had no foot traffic? Congratulations!!"

This is 1450 Mokha’s first location. Foot traffic might not matter here, with the Arabic community driving up seeking these homegrown flavors and new customers from the medical and student communities becoming regulars. Located across the street from Marist University, and near the Culinary Institute, this little coffee shop will be a must-park-and-sit to study, talk, relax, and develop the next big ideas.

The Meaning Behind 1450 Mokha

The Tres LEche dessert at 1450 Mokha.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth

The name 1450 Mokha is especially deep to Ali and his brothers. "Mokha" (also spelled Mocha) refers to the historic port city of Al Mokha on Yemen's Red Sea coast. For centuries, coffee grown in Yemen was exported through this port to the rest of the world, making Mokha one of the most important names in coffee history. The word "mocha" used around the world today traces its roots back to this historic city.

The number 1450 represents the year when coffee began gaining prominence in Yemen and the Arabian Peninsula. Yemen played a central role in cultivating, preparing and spreading coffee culture throughout the world.

Sweet treats can be found inside, which include traditional Yemeni sweets such as Honeycomb bread, Sabayah, authentic Yemeni sweets from Mocha Sweets in Detroit, Michigan (a region with a large Arab community), with many other pastries and desserts.

Desserts Available In The Case

Three pistacchio desserts avilable at 1450 MOkha.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth

Sampled for this interview was the Festival (Gluten Free), featuring Vanilla Cream, Pistachio Cake and Almond. Next was the Pistachio Mouse, with a Chocolate Cake crust. And finally, the Layered Pistacchio Stack, with a soft but thick Chocolate on top, Pistachio layered with cream and a chocolate base buried underneath. Best eaten as the row with all flavors on the spoon together into your mouth.

The Origin Of The Coffee

The coffee and espresso is from Moka Origins, which is roasted locally in PA and includes beans from Uganda, Ethiopia, and other regions. Beacon locals have already been exposed to this line of coffee through Junior Zayad Dabashi who has been attached for some years.

The Hudson Valley local painter Mary Mechalakos (Murals by Mary) came up to paint the mural of the logo on the wall. She will be defining the culture and the history of their coffee on the longer wall opposite the barista station soon.

Coffee & Matcha

Many other drinks are available, including the Adeni Tea, which unlike the Red Tea, boils with evaporated milk. It is another Yemeni favorite and will be the next order for A Little Beacon Blog when we plop down into the ugly chair in the front that Ali says is his favorite: "The best, ugliest, most comfortable chair you can have."

Matcha is available as well. But not just any matcha. "I had no idea there were so many versions of matcha," Ali said. "This is ceremonial grade matcha - top of the line straight from Japan." During staff-training, which involved professional baristas from Michigan to train the 7 new staff members, 1450 Mokha gave away the coffee and matcha that they made during training. "Everyone wanted the matcha, and we ran out. I went everywhere to find more,” Ali recalled. “NYC. Walmart. Everywhere to find anything. Finding the ceremonial grade matcha is like a drug market." Matcha at 1450 Mokha is the right color green with no additives. Not sweetened or flavored.

Events like screening of the World Cup will be held in the outdoor seating with a beautiful view of the setting sun and Job Lots. This finely crafted coffee spot is a wondrous addition to Poughkeepsie.

Tin Shingle is a proud sponsor of this series, the Good News Small Business Interview because Tin Shingle knows that belief in an idea and in the self is foundational to making it happen.

Business dreamers and doers often work in isolation, if only in their minds, while dreaming of each component of a business.

Tin Shingle teaches and empowers businesses in getting the word out about their business by getting into the news and making their own social media.

Tin Shingle’s Community Membership is open to all who are doing it themselves or hiring staff to do it in-house. Private services are also available for those who need storytelling produced for them or training to get their staff capable.