The Coffee Ceremony

Coffee was first cultivated in Ethiopia. The legend places the discovery in the Kaffa region — where a goat-herder named Kaldi noticed his flock grow unusually energetic after eating the cherries of a certain plant. Whether or not the goats actually did this, the plant itself is real: Coffea arabica, the species that produces nearly all of the world's specialty coffee, is native to the highlands of southwestern Ethiopia.

The buna ceremony — the traditional Ethiopian way of preparing and sharing coffee — is one of the oldest hospitality rituals on Earth. It takes about 45 minutes. We perform it at the restaurant on request, and as part of larger events.

How It Works

The full ceremony is a sequence:

1. Frankincense is burned on a small charcoal brazier. The smoke perfumes the air.
2. Green coffee beans are washed and then roasted by hand in a pan over the same charcoal, with the host shaking the pan continuously. The aroma changes as the beans go from grassy to nutty to caramel.
3. The roasted beans are walked around the table for everyone to smell — sometimes still in the pan.
4. The beans are ground by hand using a wooden pestle and mortar.
5. The ground coffee is brewed in a tall-necked clay pot called a jebena, which sits directly on the charcoal until the coffee rises.
6. Coffee is poured in a single continuous stream from a height — into small cups, sometimes with sugar, never with milk.

The Three Rounds

The ceremony is not one cup of coffee but three. Each round has a name:

• Abol — the first round. The strongest. The pour with the most ceremony attached.
• Tona — the second round. Slightly weaker, made from the same grounds with fresh water.
• Baraka — the third round. The "blessing." Lighter still, and traditionally the round at which the conversation has gone its deepest.

To leave before the third round is a small social misstep. Plan for an hour.

What Is Served Alongside

Popcorn, freshly popped at the table. Sometimes kolo — roasted barley, chickpeas, and sunflower seeds. Sometimes himbasha, a slightly sweet spiced bread. Always something to nibble between cups.

How to Request the Ceremony

The coffee ceremony is available at the restaurant for parties of four or more, with 48 hours notice. We also do it at private events, weddings, and corporate gatherings. Private dining and events

If You Just Want a Cup

That's fine too. We brew Ethiopian buna any time the restaurant is open, served in a small cup, no ceremony required. Just ask for "buna." It will arrive black, strong, and beautifully clean.