The streets of Addis Ababa pulse with energy. Blue and white Lada taxis weave their way through the traffic, the call to prayer rings out every few hours and sellers bustle around, proudly displaying their wares. Meanwhile, traditional music booms out from shops and street corners. Yet, if you step inside homes, offices and meeting places, you’ll experience the calmer atmosphere of coffee ceremonies, where people come together – in friendship, community and quiet anticipation.
In 2011, I took a break from being a journalist and PR in London to work in Ethiopia’s capital city for Save the Children. One day, a colleague ushered me in from my lunch break, telling me there was something special I had to see. Hot coals were already smouldering and she’d laid out a mat made from grass reeds, a boat serving tray and small cups. She lit frankincense to cleanse the space, as the entire office staff gathered. She washed the coffee beans then roasted them, making sure to waft the woody aroma over to each person in turn. There was no hurry, nor impatience – it was all about savouring the process. She ground the beans with a pestle and mortar, then brewed them in a jebena, a traditional clay coffee pot. After a short while, she gracefully served each of us in turn, ensuring to provide three rounds of coffee. She popped piles of salty popcorn, which we munched on as we sipped and chatted with each other. It was a sensory experience of being transported away from deadlines and demands, before the working day, once again, took over.
‘Coffee ceremonies play a pivotal role in everyday Ethiopian life,’ says Nura Aman, technical manager for agriculture and natural resource at Farm Africa, a charity that helps coffee farmers in eastern Africa secure a fairer future. ‘They are a symbol of hospitality, community and respect, reflecting values of unity, solidarity and inclusivity. In Ethiopian culture, we welcome guests with open arms, and offering refreshments is considered a gesture of goodwill and warmth.’
Historically, it’s believed that coffee beans sustained warriors, farmers and merchants during arduous times. The ceremonies originated from the rural farming communities, and today, people in Ethiopia enjoy one up to three times a day. ‘Participants often take turns in various roles, which underscores the collective nature of the ritual,’ says Nura. ‘It nourishes bonds between individuals – fostering a sense of belonging and kinship. Each element of the ceremony is symbolic. For example, the final round of coffee (called baraka), signifies blessings and good fortune. Ceremonies are often accompanied by prayers and invoking the divine, to seek protection and guidance from ancestral spirits. Drinking coffee in this way is symbolic of national identity and deeply ingrained in the social fabric of Ethiopian life.’
More than a routine
According to the British Coffee Association, 98 million cups of coffee are consumed in the UK every day, with 80 per cent of people who visit coffee shops doing so at least once a week. And whether it’s a solo coffee date or a catch-up with a friend, most recognise that going for a coffee is about far more than a caffeine source to gear the body up for the next task. It’s a bid for connection, and creating a ritual around it can provide a form of psychological sustenance, as well as an opportunity to slow down, which, in turn, aids productivity and wellbeing. As clinical psychologist Michaela Thomas, who hosts the Pause Purpose Play podcast, explains: ‘Rituals in themselves can hold comfort, as you feel safe and grounded when something is familiar and predictable. It can anchor you in an otherwise turbulent world.
‘Pausing with a hot drink such as coffee can engage your five senses to be more mindfully aware of your external world. It can also make you more aware of your inner world, of your thoughts, feelings, urges and wishes. If you take a slow cup on your own, ideas and insights might come to you. If you take a slow cup together with someone else, you might feel grateful for the company and the connection that mindful moment brings.’
Social ritual
For Ethiopians such as Nura, the social element is essential. ‘This ritual goes beyond a simple break – it encourages mindfulness and reflection,’ he says. ‘It also serves as a school of socialisation, where young people learn proverbs, stories, customs and norms, and as a platform for women to gather to discuss social issues and exchange ideas. In workplaces, coffee ceremonies encourage informal networking and idea exchange, fostering innovation and camaraderie among colleagues.’
Wherever you are, however, what matters is making it personal and drinking it all in.
Five steps to your own coffee ceremony
No matter your culture or creed, or where you live, you can create something special that’s fun and connects you to friends, family and colleagues
Gather your people
Invite people to share the experience with you and set intentions for the conversations and sharing that will take place at your ceremony. If you’re choosing to have a solo ritual, keep a notebook and pen handy to journal your thoughts, as well as to record insights and aha moments.
Set the scene
Designate a special space for your ritual and create a calming atmosphere, using music, incense, candles, lighting or soft furnishings. Make it warm and inviting. Carefully choose which cups you’ll use and lay out what you need.
Use quality ingredients
You don’t have to spend a fortune, but, if you can, use freshly roasted coffee beans and filtered water. If children are present, you can make warm milk or hot chocolate.
Embrace the process
Instead of focusing on the end result, be mindful of every stage of preparing your coffee. Use the time to breathe, reflect and be still.
Make it personal
Use the Ethiopian coffee ceremony as inspiration, but make your ritual unique. Think about the touches that would honour your own ancestral lineage and consider what the community you have gathered would truly appreciate. For instance, in Ethiopia, the tradition is to serve the youngest person first, and then progress in order of age. Personalise everything from the brewing to the flavours to the snacks served. Most of all – make it joyful.
Not into coffee? No problem
Reap the benefits by creating a ritual around any hot drink
‘Hot drink rituals exist in many parts of the world and can hold strong symbolic meaning around togetherness and relaxation,’ says Michaela. ‘In countries like China and Japan, preparing tea can be practised as a ceremonial art form, and the whole ceremony is slow and lengthy to complete. You don’t need oodles of time, however, just the inspiration to do things a little differently.
For reiki healer and spiritual coach, Jo Smith, cacao is her drink of choice. ‘Making and drinking cacao is a sacred experience,’ she says. ‘I set intentions as I make this heart-opening drink and then sip it mindfully while asking my intuition what I need to know in that present moment. It’s a part of my spiritual practice that allows me to connect back into myself and leave behind the outside world for a time.’
Whether you opt for tea, cacao, golden milk (with turmeric and spices) or a herbal infusion, you can make it special by pausing before you sip. Be mindful of the long journey it’s taken to get the ingredients into your hands. Finally, give thanks and focus on what you’re grateful for, in that moment. This has more power than you may think, as scientists have found that gratitude alters the human heart and molecular structure of the brain. So that you not only nourish your body, but also your soul.
Follow Jo on Instagram @jo_the_channel