How a Saudi coffee legacy percolates through the generations

Saudi farmer al-Malki, 90, has nine sons, all of whom take part in the coffee industry, ranging from agriculture and packaging to transportation and marketing. Photos: Fayez Nureldine/AFP

For Farah al-Malki, growing coffee plants in Saudi Arabia's southwestern region of Jizan is more than just a profession. It is a family tradition passed down from generation to generation.

The 90-year-old patriarch has a long history with coffee, which spread from Ethiopia to Yemen and then to the rest of the Middle East around the 15th century.