Home / Travel guides / Coffee Culture

Ethiopian coffee ceremony explained: steps, meaning and etiquette

By Mengistu Alemayehu · Updated November 8, 2026 · 6 minute read

Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee and still Africa's largest coffee producer. Here, coffee is not something you grab on the way to work. It is a reason to sit down together. Families hold a coffee ceremony every day, neighbors drop by, and guests are always invited to stay for at least one cup.

Where coffee comes from: the legend of Kaldi

Ethiopians tell the story of Kaldi, a goat herder in the southwestern highlands who noticed his goats dancing with energy after eating red berries from a wild shrub. Whether the legend is true or not, wild coffee still grows in Ethiopia's forests, and the region of Kaffa is often linked to the word "coffee" itself.

What you will see, step by step

1. Setting the scene. Fresh grass and flowers are scattered on the floor, and frankincense burns in a small clay burner, filling the room with sweet smoke.
2. Washing the beans. The host rinses green, unroasted coffee beans by hand.
3. Roasting. The beans are roasted in a flat iron pan over charcoal, stirred constantly until they turn dark and glossy and begin to crackle.
4. Sharing the aroma. The host carries the smoking pan around the room so every guest can breathe in the smell. It is polite to waft the smoke toward you and say thank you.
5. Grinding. The roasted beans are crushed by hand with a wooden or metal mortar and pestle.
6. Brewing. The grounds go into the jebena with water and boil over the coals. The pot is then rested so the grounds settle.
7. Pouring. The host pours from a height, in one steady stream, into small handleless cups arranged on a wooden tray, without spilling a drop.

The three rounds: abol, tona and baraka

Coffee is served in three rounds, each brewed from the same grounds with fresh water, so each cup is a little lighter than the last.

What is served with it

• Sugar is the most common addition. In some homes coffee is taken with a pinch of salt or a little butter.
• Tena adam, a sprig of rue, is sometimes added to the cup for its herbal flavor.
• Snacks such as popcorn, roasted barley (kolo) or bread are passed around.

Coffee ceremony etiquette for visitors

• Accept at least one cup. Refusing outright can feel unfriendly.
• Compliment the aroma when the roasting pan comes round.
• Do not rush. The ceremony is about time spent together, not just the drink.
• Stay for all three rounds if you can, and say amesegenallo (thank you).
• Ask before photographing your host.

Where to experience one in Addis Ababa

Many cultural restaurants and hotels in Addis Ababa hold coffee ceremonies, often in the afternoon or after dinner. You can also buy a jebena and small cups in the city's markets to recreate it at home. If you are passing through Bole Airport, a short layover is enough to experience one properly.

Planning a stop in the city? Read our guide on how to spend a layover in Addis Ababa.

Frequently asked questions