The best Ethiopian coffee may be compared with the finest coffee in the world. The world "coffee" comes from Kaffa, the name of a small town in Ethiopian.
The most popular legend concerns the goat herder from Kaffa, where the plants still grow wild in the forest hills. After discovering his goats to be excited, almost dancing on their hind legs, he noticed a few mangled brances of the coffee plant which was hung with bright red berries. He tried the berries himself and rushed home to his wife who told him that he must tell the monks. The monks tossed the sinful drug into the flames, an action soon to be followed by the smell we are all so fimilliar with now.
Coffee is the backbone of the economy of Ethiopian, and the coffee ceremony is a part of Ethiopia's social and culture life, as well as a part of the daily routine. The coffee ceremony is a way of communication and a social value in their society. It is a gathering for family and friends. It can be hosted any time of day. Most parts of Ethiopian host a coffee ceremony three times a day.
If you receive an invitation to a coffee ceremony from an Ethiopian, it is a mark of friendship or respect and hospitality.
The ceremony is normally conducted by a young lady wearing a traditional white dress. The preparation takes about three hours to be compete. First, the hostess washes the coffee beans gently by hand. Then, she roasts the coffee beans in a coffee roasting pan on small open fire. When the beans start to pop, the hostess shakes the coffee roasting pan and walks around the room (the beans won't burn). Enjoying the lovely rich coffee aroma and experiencing the sound of roasting is a important part of the ritual. After that, the hostess puts the roasted coffee in a small household tool called "mukecha" for the grinding. At last, she puts the roasted coffee power in a traditional pot called "jebena", then add some water and boil it. Finally, the coffee is realy to drink. Coffee is served in tiny China cups and some snacks are provided as well. It is polite to drink three cups, because the third cup is considered bestowing a belssing.
In a world where time has long become a commodity, the Ethiopian coffee ceremony takes us back to a time when value was given to conversation and human relations.
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