Ethiopia is a nation known for its coffee, and while there are many excellent coffee options across the nation, I settled on a national favorite during my stay in Awassa called Dukamo Coffee.
Best Coffee In Awassa, Ethiopia
Daye Bensa (often sold under village or lot names such as “Dukamo,” “Shantawene,” or “Bombe”) began as a small, family-run operation built by brothers Asefa and Mulugeta Dukamo and has since grown into one of Sidama’s (an ethnic group in southern Ethiopia) most important specialty exporters, operating numerous washing stations and working with thousands of smallholders to bring single-origin Ethiopian lots to the world market.
What makes the Dukamo name notable to roasters and drinkers is the combination of careful on-farm selection, local milling expertise, and a string of high-profile quality wins that pushed Sidama into the global spotlight.
We took a tuk-tuk from our hotel into Awassa, where Dukamo Coffee is a very popular hangout in the center of the city.
Dukamo Coffee Awassa
Sumuda Gebriel
Hawassa, Ethiopia
+251 92 350 4046
7:00 am – 8:00 pm (daily)
Here, coffee is not just a drink, but a ritual. We were seated, low to the ground, and ordered coffee (cappuccinos). The coffee was very good: strong and robust in flavor.
More traditional Ethiopian coffee was also available and warmed over hot coals right in the center of the coffee shop.
The coffee was so good I bought a bag to take with me and ended up buying several more bags in Addis Ababa on my way out of the country. Thus, for several weeks, I was able to enjoy this coffee at home in Los Angeles as well.
I also want to give a shoutout to the Haile Resort in Awassa, which had a great coffee bar and excellent coffee (both espresso and traditional Ethiopian):
Finally, Starbucks may use a lot of Ethiopian coffee in its various blends, but it does not have any locations in Ethiopia. Ethiopians are too discerning! 😉
Great report, Matt! East African coffee, generally, is really, really good stuff. I’ve really enjoyed visits to coffee farms in Kenya and Rwanda, too.
They serve it with popcorn? Is that an Ethiopian thing/
Love the photos and this whole series on Ethiopia.
ETB has depreciated quite a bit since I was last there. From the looks of that menu, the country must be very inexpensive for those spending USD these days.
Black market rates used to be about double the bank rate. That has changed to the point where there is little difference for us. And no more exchanging dollars on the black market and then paying for your hotel etc in birr, almost cutting the room rate in half.
That is fascinating – I remember being approached by black market folks in Addis offering double the official rate. Has that really been eliminated? How is inflation?
That really makes Ethiopia cheaper since I used official exchange rates…
When you’re drinking coffee from a traditional jebena in Ethiopia, hard not to pinch yourself – a pretty nice thing to do. I have to believe that this world is still more beautiful than not, and traditions like that are part of the reason why. Glad you were able to take some home with you and brew up some memories.
Also of course recommend Ethiopian Yirgacheffe – it’s just great stuff.
As far as I know there’s only one Starbucks location here in Melbourne, too. It’s mainly patronised by tourists.
Australia coffee culture is impressive; like, no joke.