As most coffee shops switch lights off to close, Tre Stelle in Plano stays open a few hours longer for its immersive experience. The evening sun cuts through the coffee shop as workshop stations are set up. One behind the coffee bar for latte art, one pour-over coffee station, and two stations for jebena, a clay pot used for traditional Ethiopian coffee. The crowd is intentionally small, kept to around 20 people paired off in groups, and the event only takes place every few weeks. Husni Awol, creator of The Habesha Barista, describes what jebena is while burning aromatic incense, beckoning for attendees to smell.
“It’s part of the [Buna] ceremony,” says Awol. “You walk around the gathering with frankincense or myrrh.”
Dallas has no shortage of specialty coffee shops, including those that use Ethiopian coffee beans. In recent years, Yemeni cafes have spread around the area. But ancient coffee tradition remains less visible…