This winter, Starbucks introduced a new addition to its coffee lineup: Single-Origin Ethiopia whole bean coffee, now available across North America. The coffee, sourced from Ethiopia’s Sidama region, offers a unique taste experience with its floral aromas and notes of tangerine and lemon balm. For the first time, Starbucks has presented an Ethiopian coffee in its blonde roast profile, designed to emphasize the bright, fruity flavors for which Ethiopian coffee is renowned.
Ethiopia: The Birthplace of Coffee
Ethiopia, widely recognized as the birthplace of coffee, holds a deep cultural and economic connection to the beverage. According to legend, coffee was discovered around 800 A.D. by a goat herder who noticed his flock gaining energy after eating coffee cherries. Today, Ethiopia remains Africa’s largest coffee producer, with the crop playing a critical role in the country’s economy and livelihood. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, one in four Ethiopians relies on coffee for their income.
Honoring Tradition
Central to Ethiopian coffee culture is the traditional coffee ceremony, a custom rooted in hospitality and connection. Families and friends gather to roast, brew, and share coffee, accompanied by stories and camaraderie. The ceremony symbolizes warmth and community, often taking place three times a day in rural areas.
Behailu Gebremariam, General Manager of Starbucks Farmer Support Center in Addis Ababa, emphasized the cultural significance of coffee in Ethiopia. “In the streets of Addis Ababa all the way to the rural countryside, you have people drinking coffee,” he said. For Gebremariam, coffee represents more than a beverage; it is a way of life.
To pay homage to Ethiopia’s rich coffee traditions, the Starbucks Single-Origin Ethiopia packaging features a depiction of the Jebena, a traditional Ethiopian coffee pot used in the ceremony.
Single-Origin Coffee
Unlike blends that combine beans from multiple regions, single-origin coffee highlights the unique flavors of a specific location. Leslie Wolford, a coffee developer at Starbucks, described the Single-Origin Ethiopia coffee as a celebration of the distinct flavors unique to Ethiopian coffee. “It’s a coffee that you learn with and fall in love with immediately,” she said.
The coffee’s light roast enhances its signature notes, offering a window into the vibrant flavors that have made Ethiopian coffee beloved worldwide.
A Celebration of Ethiopian Heritage
For Gebremariam, the launch of Starbucks Single-Origin Ethiopia is a significant milestone. “Coffee is everything to me,” he said, reflecting on his personal and professional journey in Ethiopia’s coffee sector.
With the introduction of this coffee, Starbucks not only brings a piece of Ethiopia’s rich coffee heritage to consumers but also underscores the country’s pivotal role in shaping the global coffee industry.