Coffee ceremony

Coffee is something of a delicacy and to be asked to take coffee is a special invitation. The Eritrean coffee bun, pronounced as "boon" is always made by a woman, who washes the green beans and roasts them in a pan called a menkeshkesh. When the beans are dark enough, the pan with the smoking beans is passed around and one fans the smoke so as to appreciate the aroma of the freshly roasted beans. The beans are ground and put on a small rush mat (mishrafat) which is used as a funnel to pour the coffee into its pot (jebena). Water is added and the coffee brought to the boil over a charcoal brazier. It is shameful to let the coffee boil over. The hostess sets the mood by burning incense. When all is ready sugar is put in the small cups (finjal) and the coffee is strained into them. Popcorn is eaten at the same time. If you have accepted an invitation for coffee be prepared to wait an hour for it to be completed. It is rude to leave early. Standard practice is that you must have three cups and compliment the taste, after which you are able to leave whenever you wish.