The Eritrean Coffee Ceremony & More on Habesha Coffee

Pouring coffee during an Eritrean coffee ceremony

READ ALSO: Coffee Ceremony in Ethiopia PDF & More

Traditional Eritrean Coffee Ceremony/Coffee Ceremony in Eritrea/Eritrean Coffee Tradition/Eritrean Traditional Coffee Ceremony

The Eritrean coffee ceremony is a traditional cultural practice that holds great significance in Eritrean society.

Similar to the Ethiopian coffee ceremony, it is a social event where coffee is prepared, brewed, and served to guests. The ceremony is a symbol of hospitality, friendship, and community bonding.

Here are some key aspects of the Eritrean coffee ceremony:

  1. Preparation: The coffee ceremony is typically conducted by a designated host or hostess. The process begins with the washing and roasting of green coffee beans over a charcoal fire. The roasted beans are then ground using a mortar and pestle.
  2. Incense: During the ceremony, incense (typically made from frankincense or other aromatic resins) is burned to create a fragrant ambiance and ward off evil spirits. The pleasant aroma of the incense adds to the sensory experience of the ceremony.
  3. Traditional Coffee Pot: The coffee is brewed in a traditional clay coffee pot called a “jebena.” The jebena has a distinct shape with a narrow neck and a wide base. It is often adorned with colorful patterns or decorative elements.
  4. Brewing Process: The coffee is brewed using the jebena, typically placed on hot charcoal or an open flame. Water and the freshly ground coffee are added to the pot, and the mixture is brought to a boil. The brewing process is carefully monitored to achieve the desired strength and flavor.
  5. Three Rounds of Serving: Eritrean coffee ceremonies typically involve three rounds of coffee serving, each with a different name: “awel,” “kala’i,” and “bereka.” The first round, “awel,” is considered the weakest and is often served to children. The second round, “kala’i,” is stronger and is served to adults. The final round, “bereka,” is the strongest and is believed to bring blessings and good fortune.
  6. Serving with Snacks: Alongside the coffee, traditional snacks such as popcorn, peanuts, or roasted barley (known as “kolo”) are served to guests. These snacks provide a delightful accompaniment to the coffee and enhance the social aspect of the ceremony.
  7. Symbolism and Social Bonding: The Eritrean coffee ceremony is more than just a beverage preparation. It holds deep cultural and social significance, symbolizing friendship, hospitality, and community. It is a time for people to come together, share stories, and strengthen relationships.
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The Eritrean coffee ceremony is not merely about the consumption of coffee but rather a celebration of Eritrean culture, traditions, and values. It is an opportunity for people to connect, engage in conversation, and appreciate the importance of community and social bonds.

Eritrean Food Near Me

I do not know of any Eritrean restaurants in Dar es Salaam, but for Habesha food in general, I recommend Rohobot Ethiopian Restaurant in Msasani.

Ethiopian Cultural Coffee Ceremony (Habesha Coffee Ceremony)

The growing and preparing of coffee is a longstanding tradition in Ethiopia.

The buna Ethiopian traditional coffee ceremony is practiced all over Ethiopia.

Ethiopia is where Coffea arabica, the coffee plant, originates from.

The Ethiopian cultural coffee ceremony begins with raw coffee beans.
The Ethiopian cultural coffee ceremony begins with coffee beans.

Although coffee is now grown in various parts of the world; Ethiopia is the largest coffee producer in Africa and the fifth largest producer in the world. Coffee grown in Ethiopia accounts for 4.2% of global coffee production.

Today, I’d like to tell you about how I first discovered Ethiopian traditional coffee and how it came to be my favorite coffee of all.

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At university, I used to drink coffee all the time.

During the day, I drank coffee to get me through boring lectures.

At night, I’d drink coffee to keep me awake while studying.

It was during this time that I developed a taste for the way I drink coffee today: dark, sweet, and preferably with no milk.

It’s that particular taste for coffee that led me to what I’d like to tell you about today: Ethiopian traditional coffee.

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As an (older) adult, I no longer drink coffee as much as I used to.

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I don’t usually drink coffee in the morning.

In fact, I generally try to stay away from coffee because it makes me a little jittery.

Nonetheless, after a heavy meal or when I need some pepping up, I often turn back to trusty coffee.

How I Discovered Ethiopian Traditional Coffee

In recent years, there’s one coffee that I have come to love above all others.

That’s Ethiopian coffee served the traditional way.

Habesha Coffee

The first time I  drank this kind of coffee was at Habesha Restaurant (in fact, the first time I ever ate at Habesha), when an Ethiopian colleague suggested ordering Ethiopian coffee to wash down the huge wonderful meal we had just had.

Ethiopian Coffee Tradition

Ethiopian coffee is served very strong, just the way I like it, and without milk.

It is usually accompanied by burning incense which (for me) is half the experience of drinking traditionally brewed Ethiopian coffee.

I love the simplicity of Ethiopian coffee, which allows you to truly savor the  wonderful flavor of the coffee itself.

Traditional Coffee Ceremony in Ethiopia/Ethiopian Cultural Coffee Ceremony

Until very recently, I had often heard about a famous ceremony surrounding how Ethiopians drink and serve coffee: the Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony.

On a recent visit to Addis Ababa, I had the chance to witness this ceremony (or a summarized version of it) in the lobby of the Hilton Addis Ababa Hotel.

I saw the process through which everyday Ethiopians take dried Ethiopian coffee beans and turn them into their potent flavorful brew.

As if I wasn’t sufficiently enamored with Ethiopian coffee before witnessing this ceremony, the ceremony gave me more background with which to further enjoy the drink.

See also  Coffee Ceremony in Ethiopia PDF & More

Watch the video below to learn more about how Ethiopian coffee is drunk in Ethiopia.

Making Traditional Ethiopian Coffee

Are you a fan of Ethiopian coffee? Or do you rather prefer the coffee of the coffeehouse culture, complete with complicated Italian-inspired names?

If you have never tasted Ethiopian coffee before, I recommend it highly.

Simply ask for it at an Ethiopian restaurant near you (FYI, the best Ethiopian coffee I’ve ever had was from Habesha Restaurant in Nairobi so try it there if you are in that city).

Let me know what you think when you do.

Until the next time,
Biche

 Photo Credits: aiic2015assembly.org

10 comments

  1. Hi Biche, I also love Ethiopian coffee. When I was in Ethiopia, it took the ladies more than 2 hours to prepare it (with the green grass and all that), but it was worth the wait. I also like the strong Swahili coffee in Mombasa, and even an Italian espresso.

  2. sounds wonderful, but here in this little town of Taos, New Mexico I don’t think thats a possiblity, but I will look for it in the stores. I’ve had to go to one cup a day due to heartburn, but I do enjoy that ONE and it’s fun trying different kinds. We (my honey and I) are currently exploring having traditional Turkisk coffee. we’ll see.
    peace n abundance
    CheyAnne

    1. Hi CheyAnne,

      Ethiopian coffee really is outstanding! How small a town is Taos? What’s the nearest big city to you? Maybe you might be able to get some authentic Ethiopian coffee there. There are Ethiopian restaurants in many of the bigger cities in the US.

      Sorry about the heartburn. Out of curiosity, what is Turkisk coffee (or was that just a typo? Did you mean Turkish?)? Tell me more about that kind of coffee!

      Biche

      1. Taos is about 30,000 with a big county included north of Santa Fe, which is the capitol of New Mexico, but our biggest ‘city’ is Albuquerque which is roughly short of 3 hours away by vehicle, not to bad. We don’t care for it at all and love living as far off the grid as we can. ( written abit about that here…. http://newmexicomtngirl.com/2008/11/11/we-have-a-sotarano/ ) anyways,
        Turkish is a sugar coffee grounds, brought to boil three times, very richness with foam and cardamon
        peace n abundance
        CheyAnne
        ps almonds, raw or roasted stops heartburn in its tracks AND their good for you

        1. Hi CheyAnne,

          Your response has me smiling, remembering exactly why I love the Internet and blogging so much: I can connect with anyone, anywhere across the world, and learn so much about places I’ve never been to and about lifestyles so different from my own. First and foremost, thanks for sharing.

          I’ll read your post (thanks for the link) and then inundate you with questions. You live off the grid? That’s cool! More on that after I’ve read your post.

          Turkish coffee sounds great! I’ll have to try it out some time. I am not sure if there is a Turkish restaurant in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, but I know there’s one that I frequent quite often when I am in Kampala, Uganda – a restaurant by the name of Effendy’s. I let you know what I think when I do. Same goes for you when you try it out, please! 🙂

          Thanks for the heartburn tip. I have never thought of using almonds to cure heartburn and yet I often have almonds on hand at home. Thanks!

          I wish you all the best!

          Biche

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