The Ethiopian Coffee Ritual
A centuries-old tradition, the Ethiopian coffee ritual is an essential part of preserving the culture and communities within Ethiopia. Taking over an hour to complete, the ritual invites people to share stories, connect and slow down.
Coffee originates from the Kaffa region of Ethiopia, and Ethiopia remains one of the world's largest producers of coffee today with over 5 million farmers. Coffee is embedded deeply within daily life in Ethiopia.
The Bunna Ceremony
The ritual begins with the roasting of green coffee (unroasted beans) over a fire. The roasted coffee is then ground by hand and brewed in a jebena, a traditional clay coffee pot. The coffee is poured into small cups called cini and served. ​
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Incense is usually burned in the room, and a grass mat,or qétéma, is laid down to consecrate the space.
Importance and Effects
The Ethiopian coffee ritual is important to the Ethiopian peoples' cultural identity. Ethiopians also use the ceremony as a way to respect their elders. While it is said that the ritual might have began from religious origins, the Ethiopian coffee ritual has now become a social and reflective activity. ​
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Women are the most involved in the ceremony - they perform the acts of roasting and brewing the coffee and the men participate in the serving and drinking.
The coffee, or bunna, is served in no less than three rounds throughout the group. Coffee is offered to the eldest members first, and families share ceremony serving responsibilities throughout the week.
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These are daily ceremonies and many families practice the ritual more than once a day!​​
