Table Service

In Harar, we basically alternated between two restaurants: Hirut Restaurant and Fresh Touch. At both of these places, after lunch when we order coffee, they bring it in a small clay jebena pot that holds about two small cups worth, and pour it at the table. This is served with a small bowl of popcorn to neutralize one's palate, I suppose. They also place an incense burner smoking with sweet smelling etan (gum), which plays on the senses as the dark, oily Harar coffee perks up your taste buds. Dereje pours in two or three heaping spoonfuls of sugar into his buna and I make due with just one, then we stir for a good while until it should all be melted and thoroughly mixed in. The cups are small and hot and I sip at it at least a dozen times. Each sip brings the bittersweet taste of Harar coffee as Dereje and I sit back and relax watching BBC news on the cafe tv.