Coffee festival

Unlike other coffee cultures, Ethiopia has its unique and complex traditions. The Coffee Festival is a long, grand and honorable way of hospitality from Ethiopia, where coffee originated.

What exactly should the coffee ceremony be like? There are no written instructions on this issue, and there are different coffee ceremonies in different parts of Ethiopia. However, the following activities are the general practice of Ethiopian coffee ceremonies.

The first activity is to send verbal invitations to family, friends and neighbors. Then make sure that the necessary arrangements and decorations for the coffee ceremony are ready. Traditionally, the floor of the house is covered with a magnificent carpet or mat, on which the coffee ceremony is held. The carpet will also be decorated with bright and lush green grass and flowers. A beautifully made coffee cup rack will be set up on the carpet, which is used to hold small coffee cups without handles. These small coffee cups are quietly waiting for the fresh coffee to be brewed.

When the guests are full, the coffee ceremony will begin. The first step is to bake green coffee beans with a bonfire or a small charcoal stove. At this time, the crackling sound of coffee beans could be heard, and the rich and attractive fragrance came out. When the coffee beans are just brown, a servant will walk around the house with a roaster, and the guests will fan the steam gently on themselves with their hands, so that they will be filled with the attractive smell of coffee.

Next, the coffee beans will be mashed with a traditional special mortar, ground into fine powder, and ready to be put into black ceramic coffee cans and boiled in boiling water. Sometimes some cinnamon, cloves or cardamom are added to add some pleasant and elegant aromas. When the coffee reaches the boiling point, the owner will take the coffee can off the stove and place it on a special shelf for a period of time to precipitate the impurities. Then put a piece of incense on a small ceramic incense rack, because there is already a small piece of red-hot coke on the rack, so the smell of incense permeates the whole house. Coffee is accompanied by snacks such as baked bran, bread or a round pancake called lnjera (a unique Ethiopian snack made from a local grain called thrush). Next, the youngest child in the family will serve refreshments and coffee to the guests in order of age.

After the first round of coffee ceremony (local people call it "abol"), the second round ("tona") and the third round ("bereka") coffee ceremony is over. The more coffee you drink, the more relaxed and comfortable you feel. During the coffee ceremony, people are also constantly exchanging their thoughts and feelings, their concern for their family, gossip in the neighborhood, and what is happening in the community.

Traditional coffee ceremonies are more than just drinking coffee. In the unique aroma of coffee, in the unique traditional scenes and sounds of Ethiopia, people also exchange feelings and become more and more intimate.

China Coffee Trading Network: www.gafei.com