In Ethiopia, coffee is not something you grab on the way out the door. It is something you sit down for, often with family, neighbours or guests, and it can take an hour or more. This is the coffee ceremony, known as buna.
Where coffee began
Ethiopia is widely seen as the birthplace of coffee, and the plant still grows wild in its highland forests. It is no surprise that coffee sits at the centre of Ethiopian hospitality. Inviting someone to coffee is a way of saying they are welcome and that you have time for them.
How the ceremony works
- Green coffee beans are washed and roasted in a pan until they turn dark and fragrant. The roasting pan is often carried around so everyone can enjoy the smell.
- The roasted beans are ground by hand.
- The coffee is brewed in a jebena, a round clay pot with a long neck, and poured into small cups without handles.
- Traditionally there are three rounds, called abol, tona and bereka, each a little lighter than the last.
Incense often burns in the background, and the coffee might be served with a simple snack. But the heart of the ceremony is not the coffee itself. It is the conversation that happens while you wait for it.
Coffee ceremony at Sinq
At Sinq, you can order a traditional coffee ceremony for 2 to 5 people. We roast and brew the coffee the traditional way and bring it to your table to share. It is a lovely way to end a meal, especially with friends or family, so give yourselves time to enjoy it.
We can also bring the coffee ceremony to your event as part of our catering.
Book a table and stay for coffee.