New generation aims to preserve coffee ceremonies

Paul Smithson

27/10/2011 17:14:44

The traditional Ethiopian method of drinking coffee has been on the wane in recent years, but a new generation of drinkers appears to be keen to preserve the conventions.

Coffee lovers going back to the historical roots of the drink may note that the first coffee bean was discovered in Ethiopia and the country remains a key grower, but World Coffee News claimed that the popularity of the beverage as a ceremonial drink has reduced significantly.

However, while older drinkers have largely dropped the tradition from their day to day lives, younger people seem to be injecting new enthusiasm into the “pomp” that goes with its classic form of consuming coffee - as an indication of a celebration among neighbours.

While these ceremonies were known to take hours, modern consumers can take much of this delay out of the equation by using a coffee machine, but still enjoy the social aspects of Ethiopia’s consumption style.

“Coffee ceremonies in the country were times when neighbours would sit together and discuss the local news, ‘put the world to rights’ and indulge in some social bonding,” the news provider explained.

According to guardian.co.uk Ethiopia is the seventh-largest producer of coffee beans and the top supplier in Africa, but British NGO Plan UK has claimed unusual weather conditions could impact this year’s harvest.

The organisation suggested southern parts of the country have experienced severe droughts, which could lead to supply issues to Western markets such as the UK.