Host your own Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony
Welcome to the Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony – a tradition that has been well-known and highly regarded in Ethiopia for many years, and a wonderful opportunity to come together with friends, old and new.
We’d love you to experience a unique taste of Ethiopia, by hosting an immersive fundraising coffee morning (or afternoon!) with your friends, family, or others in your church or small group – either online or in person.
So, what is a coffee ceremony?
Don’t be put off by the word ceremony. It might seem a bit unusual, but think of it a bit like a wedding. In the same way as a wedding ceremony is a formal celebration of the love of the bride and groom, the Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony is a formal celebration of friendship.
A coffee ceremony is a ritualised form of making and drinking coffee, and it is an important part of Ethiopian culture.
For us, it’s basically a coffee morning with a bit of a twist. And we’ll give you everything you need to guide you through – learning lots about Ethiopia and Tearfund’s work there – along the way.
What should I expect?
In Ethiopia, the host will normally invite their friends along and spend time carefully roasting and grinding the coffee beans, savouring the sweet aroma, and lovingly serving their guests in person, discussing the important matters of the day.
Our take on a traditional Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony is the perfect opportunity to get your friends and family together to enjoy a cuppa and some good conversation! We’ve prepared a whole host of activities to keep things flowing. All you have to do is keep your cup topped up while you explore them together.
We have a personal invitation, quiz, discussion questions, prayer points, and a video from Tearfund’s Country Director in Ethiopia that you can use, explaining more about what a traditional coffee ceremony entails. We’d also like to give a flavour of what life is like in Ethiopia and how our church partners are responding to some of the most vulnerable communities in the country right now.
What do I need?
A kettle, for a start, and access to the internet if you plan to host your ceremony online. Get yourself some coffee too (fair trade would be good, Ethiopian even moreso for the full, authentic sensory experience!) Some popcorn is also a fun idea, as this is often served as a snack at a ceremony.
We will provide you with the rest. You just need to invite your friends to come online at the right time to enjoy it and ask them to make a donation to attend. Donations will help support Tearfund’s work in Ethiopia and around the world.
How do I get involved?
It’s super easy to be a host – all you need to do is sign up
You will then be able to access a variety of fabulous resources that will help make your Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony a big success.
