Where Coffee Was Born, and So Was I
I was born and raised in Ethiopia, where coffee — Buna in Amharic — is not just a drink but a cornerstone of identity, culture, and daily ritual. Ethiopia is not only my birthplace but the birthplace of coffee itself. The smell of coffee is intertwined with my very being, the ceremony and its rituals are woven into my memories, and the word coffee is inseparable from my identity.
Growing up, my parents and society never explicitly taught me that Ethiopia was the birthplace of coffee — I had never even heard of the famous legend of Kaldi until I enrolled at Jimma University to study horticulture. But our way of life taught me everything I needed to know. In almost every Ethiopian household, Buna is brewed at least once a day, and on average two to three times a day — and that is no exaggeration.
Coffee Is Not Just a Drink — It’s a Ceremony
Back home, you don’t simply open a bag of pre-roasted, pre-ground coffee and press a button. Coffee brewing is a full ceremony. It begins with washing the raw green beans, roasting them over charcoal, and savoring the intoxicating aroma of a fresh roast. The coffee is then brewed in a Jebena — a traditional clay pot crafted specifically for this purpose.
The experience goes far beyond the cup. A light snack is always served alongside — popcorn or freshly baked homemade bread — called yeBuna Kuris in Amharic. Fresh green grass is spread around the Jebena and the small ceramic cups, and aromatic incense burns nearby, filling the air with warmth and ceremony.
Coffee Is Community
Our parents rarely brewed coffee just for themselves. Every neighbor was invited. Every guest was welcomed with a fresh ceremony. The social fabric of Ethiopian life is deeply strong, and coffee is its thread.
A full ceremony can last over an hour and a half — and that time is never wasted. It is the sacred space for laughter, gossip, and jokes, but equally for serious conversations about social, economic, and political matters. Coffee is where community happens.
Holidays are unimaginable without elaborately decorated coffee ceremonies. Ethiopian weddings pulse with the energy of traditional coffee rituals. It is even a central part of funerals and the mourning services that follow — gatherings that can last for days and draw entire communities together.
The Backbone of a Nation
There was a radio program our parents listened to every morning while the family had breakfast before heading off to work — and we children headed off to school. It opened with the jingle “ye economy walta buna buna” and went straight into the coffee market and trade report. That was our daily reminder: coffee is the backbone of the Ethiopian economy.
I grew up hearing that 60% of Ethiopia’s exports came from coffee, and that the majority of the population depended on it — directly or indirectly — for their livelihood. While Ethiopia has since diversified its exports, the country is now exporting record volumes of coffee to international markets, and its global reputation has never been stronger.
My Journey Into Coffee
As a horticulture graduate from Jimma University, I was fortunate to study coffee from the ground up — from the legend of Kaldi’s discovery to its production, processing, and genetic diversity. I completed three dedicated courses on coffee and made regular visits to the Melko Agricultural Research Center, Ethiopia’s mandated coffee research institution, for hands-on training.
I walked the trial fields, studied different coffee tree varieties, and marveled at the extraordinary genetic diversity Ethiopia holds. I saw wild coffee growing under forest shade — coffee in its most natural, ancient form. It was humbling and inspiring all at once.
Why This Blog
Every significant memory of my childhood and adult life is touched by coffee. Its smell alone carries nostalgia, warmth, and a bittersweet homesickness that no words can fully capture.
I am starting this blog to share that rich heritage — to give Ethiopian coffee the story it deserves, and to shine a light on the hardworking farmers I have been privileged to serve throughout my professional journey.
I hope to share my knowledge, and equally, to learn from this process and from you.
Enjoy reading, and please share your thoughts — I would love to hear from you.
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