Fact Finder - Food and Drink

In Ethiopia, the birthplace of coffee, the 'Buna' (coffee ceremony) is a core social and cultural ritual. It is a slow, multi-sensory process that can take up to three hours. The ceremony begins with the roasting of green coffee beans over hot coals in a pan. Once the beans are dark and oily, they are passed around so guests can inhale the aromatic smoke. The beans are then ground by hand using a mortar and pestle and brewed in a traditional black clay pot called a 'jebena.' The coffee is served in three rounds: the first is 'Abol,' the second is 'Tona,' and the final, weakest round is 'Bereka' (blessing). It is considered a sign of high respect for a guest to be invited to a coffee ceremony.