Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 38 minutes ago
Experiencing new cultures is food for my soul. Today I got to try an Ethiopian coffee ceremony. Here’s what I’ve learned.
The traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony (called bunna) is central to daily life and gatherings. It’s an elaborate process that can take an hour or more:
1. The host roasts green coffee beans over an open flame.
2. Guests are invited to smell the freshly roasted beans — this is part of the experience.
3. The beans are ground and brewed in a clay pot called a jebena.
4. Coffee is poured into small cups from a height to create a frothy top, often served with sugar or sometimes salt or butter depending on the region.
5. Serving coffee is seen as a gesture of respect and connection; refusing coffee can even be considered impolite in some settings.
We had popcorn served with the coffee, as well as incense burning too. It smelled so good! What an experience.
With - @kiratheyogi
Location: Bunna Cafe, Brooklyn
Experiencing new cultures is food for my soul. Today I got to try an Ethiopian coffee ceremony. Here’s what I’ve learned.
The traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony (called bunna) is central to daily life and gatherings. It’s an elaborate process that can take an hour or more:
1. The host roasts green coffee beans over an open flame.
2. Guests are invited to smell the freshly roasted beans — this is part of the experience.
3. The beans are ground and brewed in a clay pot called a jebena.
4. Coffee is poured into small cups from a height to create a frothy top, often served with sugar or sometimes salt or butter depending on the region.
5. Serving coffee is seen as a gesture of respect and connection; refusing coffee can even be considered impolite in some settings.
We had popcorn served with the coffee, as well as incense burning too. It smelled so good! What an experience.
With - @kiratheyogi
Location: Bunna Cafe, Brooklyn
