View source for Coffee ceremony of Ethiopia and Eritrea

{{Short description|Coffee culture of Ethiopia and Eritrea}}
[[File:Coffee ceremony.jpg|thumb|200px|An [[Eritrea]]n woman pouring traditionally brewed coffee into [[finjal]] from a [[jebena]].]][[File:Ethcofcerm.jpg|thumb|200px|An [[Ethiopia]]n woman roasting coffee at a traditional ceremony.]]
The '''Habesha coffee ceremony''' is a core cultural custom in [[Ethiopia]] and [[Eritrea]]. There is a routine of serving [[coffee]] daily, mainly for the purpose of getting together with relatives, neighbors, or other visitors. If coffee is politely declined, then [[tea]] will most likely be served.
Loose [[Poaceae|grass]] is spread on the floor where the coffee ceremony is held, often decorated with small yellow flowers. [[Asteraceae|Composite]] flowers are sometimes used, especially around the celebration of [[Meskel]] (an [[Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church|Orthodox]] holiday celebrated by Eritreans and Ethiopians).
==Brewing==
The ceremony is typically performed by the woman of the household and is considered an honor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://drinks.seriouseats.com/2011/05/coffee-traditions-the-ethiopian-coffee-ceremony.html|title=Coffee Traditions: Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161113114621/http://drinks.seriouseats.com/2011/05/coffee-traditions-the-ethiopian-coffee-ceremony.html|archive-date=2016-11-13}}</ref> The coffee is brewed by first roasting the green coffee beans over an open flame in a pan.<ref name="laweekly" /><ref name="epicurean" /> This is followed by the grinding of the beans using '''Mukecha''', a traditional [[wooden]] [[mortar and pestle]] .<ref name="epicurean" />  The finely ground beans are then are then brewed in a '''jebena ''' - a traditional clay pot, which contains boiling water and will be left on an open flame for a couple of minutes until it is well mixed with the hot water. The delightful aroma of the roasting beans plays a role in the ceremony. Is often shared with guests as a warm gesture of hospitality.  <ref name="laweekly">{{cite web|url=http://www.laweekly.com/restaurants/experience-a-true-ethiopian-coffee-ceremony-in-las-little-ethiopia-6445661|title=Experience a True Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony in L.A.'s Little Ethiopia|last1=Tavitian|first1=Maral|date=January 5, 2016|access-date=November 11, 2016|website=LA Weekly|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161112040823/http://www.laweekly.com/restaurants/experience-a-true-ethiopian-coffee-ceremony-in-las-little-ethiopia-6445661|archive-date=November 12, 2016}}</ref> After grinding, the coffee is put through a sieve several times.<ref name="epicurean" /> The boiling pot (''[[jebena]]'') is usually made of [[pottery]] and has a spherical base, a [[neck]] and pouring spout, and a handle where the neck connects with the base.<ref name="epicurean" /> The {{Lang|am-latn|jebena}} also has a straw lid.<ref name="epicurean" />
The gathering goes beyond a coffee break. It's an occasion where loved ones gather to chat about everyday matters and connect with one another emotionally and spiritually through shared experiences and well wishes, for good health and success.
==Serving==
[[File:Himbasha.jpg|thumb|right|120px|[[Himbasha|''Ambasha'']] is sometimes used as a snack during the ceremonies]]
The host pours the coffee for all participants by moving the tilted boiling pot over a tray with small, handleless china cups from a height of one foot without stopping until each cup is full.<ref name="epicurean" /> The grounds are brewed three times: the first round of coffee is called {{Lang|ti-latn|awel}} in [[Tigrinya language|Tigrinya]], the second {{Lang|ti-latn|kale'i}} and the third {{Lang|ti-latn|baraka}} ('to be blessed'). In [[Amharic]] the terms are {{Lang|am-latn|abol}} ({{Lang|am|አቦል}}), the second {{Lang|am-latn|tona}} ({{Lang|am|ቶና}}) and the third {{Lang|am-latn|baraka}} ({{Lang|am|በረካ}}).<ref name="coffeeland">{{cite web|url=http://www.afar.com/magazine/coffeeland|title=Coffeland|magazine=Afar|last1=Farley|first1=David|date=April 8, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161113042118/http://www.afar.com/magazine/coffeeland|archive-date=November 13, 2016}}</ref> The coffee ceremony may also include burning of various traditional [[incense]].<ref name="coffeeland" /> People add sugar to their coffee, or in the countryside, sometimes [[salt]] or traditional butter (see ''[[niter kibbeh]]'').<ref name="epicurean" /> The beverage is accompanied by a small snack such as [[popcorn]], [[Peanut|peanuts]], or ''[[himbasha]]'' (also called {{Lang|am-latn|ambasha}}).<ref name="epicurean">{{cite web|url=http://www.epicurean.com/articles/ethiopian-coffee-ceremony.html|title=Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony|last1=Doyle|first1=Emily|website=Epicurian.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091003021517/http://www.epicurean.com/articles/ethiopian-coffee-ceremony.html|archive-date=2009-10-03}}</ref>
==See also==
{{Commons category|Coffee ceremony}}
{{portal|Coffee|Drink}}
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
*[[Tea ceremony]]
*[[Cuisine of Eritrea]]
*[[Cuisine of Ethiopia]]
{{div col end}}
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*[https://ethiopiancoffeeceremony.com], Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony Video run by ethiopiancoffeeceremony.com [https://ethiopiancoffeeceremony.com]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20141008074931/http://careynash.com/2014/09/28/ethiopian-coffee-ceremony/ Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony in photos] at Canadian Photographer series on the Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony
*[http://whatisthecoffeeceremony.com What is the Coffee Ceremony], a multimedia primer on the Coffee Ceremony run by [http://bunnaethiopia.net Bunna Cafe]
{{Coffee|nocat=1}}
[[Category:Culture of Eritrea]]
[[Category:Culture of Ethiopia]]
[[Category:Coffee culture]]