If you were to do any research into the history of coffee, it would not take long for you to find out how important Ethiopia is to the discovery and growth of coffee. While there are many legends telling the story of the discovery of the potent effect of coffee, one thing remains certain: almost all agree that coffee originated in Ethiopia.
Ethiopian beans are some of the most sought out beans today. With research that has found how elevation can alter the growth and flavors of coffee, the high mountains and perfect climate lead to Ethiopia producing some of the finest coffee beans in the world. Often described as some of the lightest, fruitiest, and smoothest coffee, especially using manual brewing methods, Ethiopian coffee has become the go-to beans for countless specialty coffee shops around the world.
The economy of Ethiopia is centered around coffee. They export their coffee to over 60 different countries, and over half of their foreign income comes from selling coffee. But also, Ethiopians drink around half of their production of coffee themselves. There is also much more to the story of coffee's birthplace:
Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee culture, and many of the social interactions we have today began in Ethiopia. Coffee is a very integral part of everyday life there, from growing, washing, roasting, and finally drinking the coffee.
Coffee is such a large part of society, that many of the relational expressions come from the act of drinking coffee. One Ethiopian coffee saying is "Buna dabo naw". This translates to "Coffee is our bread". Another common saying is "Buna Tetu". This is a phrase that literally means "Drink coffee". This applies not only to the act of drinking coffee but also to socializing.
Coffee is one of the most influential drinks in the world. From economies, to politics, to social interactions, to even an entire language, The Coffee Society of Ethiopia is a living example of the power of one small fruit.
Shiferaw, Alazar. “Ethiopia: Coffee Export Revenue - in the Making.” AllAfrica.com, 2 Mar. 2018, allafrica.com/stories/201707180486.html.
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