Bunna Cafe

Coffee is everything in Ethiopia. Not only does it drive the economy, but it drives everyday life. Ethiopians drink coffee multiple times a day, be it as an espresso, cortado, or through the traditional coffee ceremony — the intricate, intimate process of making coffee from raw bean to brew while bringing people together in conversation and celebration as the process develops. When we began the concept of Bunna Cafe sitting in a coffee shop in Union Square in 2011, it was evident that coffee (bunna) had to be the anchor for everything we do. To build a restaurant that truly embodied the feel and essence of Ethiopian culinary culture, it had to be present, front and center. To that effect, in our initial dinner parties and pop ups, we would set up the elaborate coffee ceremony, including our Rekbot, custom-made by our friend Shimelis Fikre. Almost a decade later, the coffee ceremony still anchors everything about Bunna Cafe, sitting on our beautiful thatch roof stage in the middle of the dining room. We hand roast single origin beans there, and serve fresh Bunna for free at various times throughout the week. It is our calling card, and we are proud of its effect. This is fun, delicious, nutritious, and communal cuisine. Habesha have a tradition of sharing. Meals are shared, coffee is shared, homes are shared. It is a source of pride and honor to be able to give what you have to those that do not. Dining is more than putting food in your mouth. It is an event, a time to tell stories, to learn, to build. The anatomy of Ethiopian cuisine encourages that setting to a tee.