1450 Mokha: A Prime Third Space Is Brewing

1450 Mokha welcomes students with a large, open space. Owen Whelan '27

What’s more college than a coffee shop?

Previously, options for an off-campus walk to chat with a friend were limited unless you were ready to sit down at a chain restaurant or hop into a car. However, since its opening in August 2026, 1450 Mokha has been a locally owned Yemeni café located a short walk from North End or Fulton that offers a comforting atmosphere for casual conversation.

1450 serves coffee, refreshers, pastries and other café classics. Its refreshers come in several flavors, with the lemonade base option being delightfully sweet. The Blue Lagoon was described as tasting similar to a blue raspberry Jolly Rancher. Best sellers include the coffeehouse’s signature drink, the 1450, and the Golden Shake espresso (verify name).

One of the café’s founders, Ali Dabashi, is a Hudson Valley local. He jumped at the opportunity to create a coffee shop in the area once a spot finally opened up, with the proximity to several local colleges being a bonus.

The clean interior features plenty of table and counter space, accessible outlets, multimodal seating options, a walk-up counter and free Wi-Fi. The café’s large garage-door-style opening at the front of the building welcomes customers in, and staff bring orders directly to dine-in customers seated at a table or on a couch. Dabashi said the café stays open into the night for students looking to study. Even though the shop is located in a shopping center, the noise levels were comfortable.

From left to right: a fruity refresher, a raspberry croissant, and a matcha drink. Owen Whelan '27

“Our coffee shop focuses on bringing the community together," Dabashi said. “That's why you see the coffee shop divided, from workspace to group work to single work to comfort and gathering.”

Yemeni coffee has a rich history and is noted for its distinctly earthy flavor. Dabashi said the name 1450 honors Yemen’s coffee heritage. Coffee drinking was established in Yemen in the fifteenth century, and mokha is a name associated with Yemeni coffee and the historic port of Mocha. 

For a chat with friends in a calm atmosphere, the prices are fair for daily sipping or a sweet-treat run. Prices start at $6.50 for a 1450, the café’s signature espresso drink, as well as some matcha products. Refreshers begin at $7, with smaller coffees being as cheap as $2.95. Pastries vary in price, but are easily shareable. 1450 Mokha also anticipates supporting Marist Money and has a loyalty points system.

With a prime location, fair prices and good treats, 1450 Mokha is set to become a staple for Marist students and the larger Poughkeepsie community.