Before the First Pour….

Clay-covered hands carefully hold a newly formed jebena coffee pot in its unfired state, showcasing the raw artistry that precedes the firing process in traditional Ethiopian pottery making. The wet clay surface shows tool marks and finger impressions that demonstrate the entirely hand-built nature of these ceremonial vessels. Each jebena is individually shaped by skilled potters who understand the precise proportions needed for optimal coffee brewing – the bulbous base for heat retention, the narrow neck for controlled brewing, and the distinctive spout for ceremonial pouring. The potter’s clay-stained hands tell the story of this ancient craft, where knowledge about clay preparation, shaping techniques, and vessel functionality passes directly from master to apprentice through touch and observation. This raw vessel will undergo careful drying and firing to become one of the sacred tools of Ethiopian coffee ceremony, transforming from soft earth into durable ceramic through processes that connect modern coffee culture to millennia-old pottery traditions.