How the other half has its Coffee

The recent prices hike in food has been a nuisance on many aspects of city life in Addis Ababa. The expensive food items are there for people who can afford them but the poor have always had ways to survive the shortage, pressure and the crisis. I have the conviction that there are paths that the poor themselves find and walk to survive with their fellow brothers and sisters. Consequently, I think anyone passionate about solving the crisis should open their eyes and ears to find the paths of survival.

Two days ago, I observed a women passing by me, easily carrying plastic bags with two thermoses from which came the aroma of Ethiopian coffee. She stopped in front of a building and I saw her serving two guards of the city administration who have special mission of getting illegal venders off the street (DENB MASKEBER in our local language Amharic). I couldn't judge them for not stopping her, as a matter of fact her "illegal"activity is the only way they themselves could have their daily coffee.

I had a chance to taste her coffee with a group of young shopkeepers standing outside their shops. They told me that they liked that the coffee, the price is very cheap and it comes right up to their doorsteps. A few streets away the same coffee goes for 5 times the price.

While she was pouring my coffee, I tried to find out from her how her business was faring. I could see she is struggling to survive and she told me with a tired voice that her profit has declined so much over the last few months.  “The price hike was so fast….it was like wild fire.  When I started two years ago I was selling the coffee for 50 cents, then at the beginning of this year it went up to 75 cents and soon after 85 cents and now it has gone up by 15 more cents.’ She said the cost of coffee beans has gone up but she still dare not increase her price by more that 15 cents for fear of losing customers. So instead she gave away one of her thermos because she could no longer afford to fill it up with coffee. She told me, "I am doing this work because it is better than sitting idle."

At first I ignored her comment as this is the common saying for many other small business owners. But the look on her face and her tired voice made me take her seriously. I was afraid to lose the human connection by pushing her with further questions so I had my one cup of coffee and walked away.

This is how the other part of the city (Addis Ababa) has its coffee. And I hope some one else would let us read how the other half of your city having its meal ….share your stories.

By Emeshaw Tegegnework