Ethiopian Coffee:
Part One - An Overview of the Coffee Industry in Ethiopia
It is believed that the story of coffee has its roots and beginnings in Ethiopia, which is considered the original home of the coffee plant. After asking a few people in Ethiopia about the discovery of coffee in their country, it was clear that there are many legends regarding the origin of coffee. The cultivation and use of coffee is traced back to as early as the 9th century in the Ethiopian highlands and it is from here that the beans reached Arabia, Europe and other parts of the world. The most popular account of the origin of coffee is the story of an Ethiopian goatherd who noticed that his goats were behaving abnormally after having eaten some red berries in the bush. He tried some berries and found that they had somewhat of a stimulating effect on him. Before he knew it, the monks at the neighbouring monastery tried the berries and agreed on the beans powers. Although some of the Monks considered these beans the ‘devil’s work,’ they soon appreciated the beans’ restorative powers and used them to keep them awake during their night prayers; this is why they spread the use of coffee. In fact, coffees powers have always been linked with religion and for this reason; each tradition has its own story of the origin of coffee. It is said that the trees producing the coffee beans blossomed in an area called “Kaffa”; it is commonly believed that Kaffa is the root for the word coffee. When coffee was first discovered during these early times, it was not strictly used as a beverage. While some tribes grounded the coffee beans, mixing them with animal fat to form small balls they carried on long trips, others used the beans to make porridge. Undeniably, the power of the coffee beans was not a secret; within years, coffee beans were exported to different parts of the world and were incorporated into many cultures.
As seen, since its discovery, coffee has always played an integral role in the lives of many Ethiopians. Coffee has always been seen as a medicine, a food and a beverage. To this day, many parts of the country are filled with coffee farms; and in big cities, it is quite common to find cafes on nearly every other street. This just shows how integrated coffee is in Ethiopian culture. Ethiopians actually have coffee ceremonies, usually after their meals. The coffee beans are roasted in a pan and the rich aroma fills the room. Once they are ready, they are pounded and the ground coffee is brewed and is drunk at its freshest. Ethiopian coffee is not only known within the country, but also outside the country. This country is one of Africa’s largest coffee producers and in fact, coffee export is the main source of foreign exchange. This being said, a huge percentage of the population is actively involved in this industry and therefore there is a lot of reliance on coffee. Because of the price fluctuations of coffee, protective measurements need to be taken to ensure that these kinds of products are safer export products, especially in a country like Ethiopia which relies greatly on coffee. If this coffee industry was to collapse in Ethiopia, not only would the economy suffer greatly, but millions of people’s livelihood would be at stake too. To ensure that this industry does not collapse, it needs to receive everything from constant support for research, infrastructure improvement to quality control systems and increased publicity.
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