Incense and Fresh Grass: How the Coffee Ceremony Begins

Before the coffee itself appears, the ceremony at Ge'eza opens with two simple gestures: freshly cut grass is laid on the floor, and incense is lit. It is the first listed step of the ritual, and it changes the character of the space before roasting even begins.

Why start with grass and incense

The Ethiopian coffee ceremony is not treated as a simple drink service: it is a moment that is prepared, the same way a room is prepared to receive a guest. The floor covered in fresh grass marks the start of the ritual in a visual and sensory way, before the first gesture around the coffee itself. The green scent of the cut grass then mixes with the incense, and that combination is what signals the ceremony has begun.

A scent that changes a room

Incense burns throughout the ceremony, for about 45 minutes. Its role is not decorative: it marks a break from the rest of the day, much like closing a door behind oneself. The space changes character, quite literally, through the scent that settles before the crackle of beans in the pan can even be heard. For guests experiencing the ceremony for the first time, this opening moment helps signal that this is not a coffee taken in a hurry.

What follows the setup

Once the grass is laid and the incense lit, the ceremony follows its usual course: green beans are washed, then pan-roasted in front of guests, who are invited to breathe in the rising smoke. The beans are then hand-pounded in a mortar, before being brewed in the jebena, the long-necked clay coffee pot set over the embers. The coffee is finally poured from a height into small handleless cups, across three rounds. The coffee ceremony page lays out the whole ritual and lets you book.

A language of hospitality, not a backdrop

These opening gestures are not a backdrop added for effect: they have always been part of the ritual, in Ethiopian homes as much as at Ge'eza. Receiving someone for coffee, in Ethiopia, means transforming the space and setting aside time for it, not just pouring a drink. The article the coffee ceremony as a language of hospitality unpacks what this ritual means within Ethiopian culture, beyond the practical steps.

What a guest experiences

For a visitor encountering the ceremony in Point E, the order of the senses matters as much as the gestures themselves. First the scent of fresh grass, then of incense, then the sound of beans crackling in the pan, and finally the smoke guests are invited to breathe in before the beans are ground. Each step sets up the next, without being rushed. It is this unhurried pace, more than the coffee itself, that stays with guests afterwards.

The object that comes next

Once the beans are ground, the jebena takes over: the clay pot in which the coffee brews over the embers, before being poured into the small cups. Its distinctive shape, with a long narrow neck, is not decorative either: it helps hold the heat and lets the grounds settle at the bottom. The article jebena, the Ethiopian clay coffee pot explains its shape and role in detail.

Groups and first-time visitors

For a visitor passing through Dakar, or a regular bringing a guest for the first time, this opening step also works as a silent cue: it signals, without a word, that what follows will take time. That is especially true for a group, where laying the grass and lighting the incense gives everyone a moment to sit down and slow down before roasting begins.

Experiencing the ceremony at Ge'eza

The full ceremony, with incense, grass, the three rounds and homemade dabo, costs 7,000 F per person and takes about 45 minutes. It is best booked 24 hours ahead, especially for a group, through the coffee ceremony page or by WhatsApp at +221 78 660 07 07, with confirmation by the same channel or by phone.

A ritual echoed in other cultures

Preparing a space before receiving guests is not unique to Ethiopia: many hospitality cultures mark the start of a shared moment with a sensory gesture, whether incense, a flower offered at the door, or a welcome drink. What sets the Ethiopian coffee ceremony apart is how consistent these gestures are: grass and incense open the ritual every time, whatever the occasion, a birthday, an official visit or a simple break among friends. That consistency gives the ritual a recognisable shape, found just as much in an Ethiopian home as at Ge'eza, thousands of kilometres from Addis Ababa.

What happens before guests arrive

Part of the preparation happens before guests even arrive: the beans are chosen, the space is arranged, the cups are lined up on the rekebot. Grass and incense are the first visible signs of that behind-the-scenes work, the moment preparation becomes public. For the guest, everything starts there, even though the team has already been busy a little earlier so nothing is missing during the 45 minutes of the ritual.