Ethiopian Coffee Tours From Bean to Cup

Did you know Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee?
Long before cappuccinos and espresso bars, coffee was discovered in the lush highlands of Ethiopia. Today, Ethiopia is not only one of the world’s top coffee producers, but also home to one of the richest coffee cultures on Earth.

The Origin of Coffee: A Taste of History

Legend tells us that a goatherd named Kaldi noticed his goats dancing after eating red berries from a wild bush in the Ethiopian highlands. That berry? Coffee. Since then, coffee has become an essential part of Ethiopian identity woven into its social fabric, rituals, and daily life.

What You’ll Experience on Our Coffee Tours

1. Farm Visits: Where It All Begins

• Walk through lush green coffee plantations in regions like Yirgacheffe, Sidamo, or the highlands around Lalibela.

• Learn from local farmers about organic growing methods, shade-grown techniques, and sustainable harvesting.

• Witness the traditional hand-picking of ripe cherries.

2. Processing & Roasting

• Watch coffee being sun dried, hulled, and roasted the traditional way.

• Participate in wood fired roasting, where green beans turn brown and aromatic in clay pans.

• Smell the transformation fresh, earthy, smoky, magical.

3. Traditional Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony

• One of the most beautiful rituals in Ethiopia.

• Includes:

  • Washing & roasting beans in front of guests.

  • Grinding by hand using a mortar and pestle.

  • Brewing in a jebena (traditional coffee pot).

  • Serving three rounds of coffee: Abol, Tona, and Bereka.

  • Incense, conversation, and cultural exchange.

4. Coffee Tasting & Culture Talk

• Sample different regional beans flavors range from floral and citrusy to rich and chocolatey.

• Learn how coffee connects to hospitality, spirituality, and daily life in Ethiopia.