Ethiopian Review

By Melissa Allison | The Seattle Times

Ethiopia is considered the birthplace of coffee. Legend has it that a goat herder named Kaldi noticed his goats behaving strangely after eating coffee berries. So he tried them, and danced with elation. When he took the beans to a monk, the monk became afraid and threw them in a fire, which sent the delicious aroma of roasted coffee beans throughout the monastery.

There’s more — and there are variations — but what’s most important is that Ethiopia has preserved its coffee heritage. Some of the best coffees in the world are grown there, and generations of women maintain the tradition of the Ethiopian coffee ceremony. It is one part culinary delight, one part community gathering and — at least this weekend — one part education.

As part of its East by Northwest exhibit on Ethiopian immigrants, the Northwest African American Museum will host an Ethiopian coffee ceremony on Saturday from 4 to 5 p.m.

If it’s anything like the ceremony at the Burke Museum last spring, be ready for a terrific treat.

Click here to see a map for  Northwest African-American Museum