by Sam Rotondo
There is nothing quite like a good cup of coffee. It is a companion to all -- the studious scholar, the on-the-go businessman, the creative dreamer, the superhero mom, and the wild traveler. From cozying up with a good book and a favorite mug, to filling up a canteen and taking it the mountains, to meeting up with a dear loved one, or to enforcing that much needed quiet time -- coffee fills so many of our needs.
But what if the taste, the smell, and the bean itself all stood for something so much more?
Known as the birthplace of coffee, Ethiopia fully incorporates the ritual of “coffee dates” into everyday life, meals, and relationships. In Ethiopia, the saying buna dabo naw, meaning “coffee is our bread,” is a literal term conveying that coffee is not only a necessity, but holds deep importance in Ethiopian culture.
The discovery of the coffee bean begins with a man named Kaldi, a goat herder from Kaffa, Ethiopia. One day while Kaldi was herding his goats, he began to notice that his goats had all begun wildly running around! He soon realized it was due to a nearby shrub that the goats had been feeding on. There, he found small berries that would soon become known as the coffee cherry. It wasn’t long until Kaldi was called upon by the monks at a nearby monastery, who greeted him with disdain for his recent discovery. You see, the monks believed that the effects of this new found berry were acts of the devil. They took it upon themselves to dispose of the coffee cherries by throwing them into the fire. But to their sheer surprise, the aroma of the burning coffee cherries became all too delicious! They took the beans from the fire, crushed them, and then poured hot water over them. The outcome: a delightful, hot cup of coffee.
Here at Parker Clay, we not only recognize the importance of coffee in Ethiopian culture, but we celebrate it! To greet a loved one with a hot beverage is a symbol of both compassion and servitude. We are proud to share with you our new Parker Clay roast, in partnership with Arcade Coffee Roasters. Happy International Coffee Day!