Coffee Cupping Tour in Addis Ababa: Taste Ethiopian Origins

Taste Ethiopia’s coffee roots with expert cupping and fresh roasts at Gelani

A coffee cupping and roastery tour in Addis Ababa where you learn to identify tastes and aromas from a coffee expert, then tour an artisan roasting and processing facility in Menagesha Suba Forest Park. The morning starts with a structured tasting class. The afternoon moves to the facility where you sample what the roasters produce. Lunch at Gelani coffee and all entry fees are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Coffee tasting and roasting tour

• Attend coffee cupping class
• Tour artisan roasting facility
• Taste roasted coffee samples

The experience

If you've landed in Addis Ababa with a free afternoon or you're new to coffee tasting, this tour builds the skill first. A coffee expert leads a cupping class where you learn to recognize the different tastes and aromas that come from brewing: the foundation you need before walking into a roastery and understanding what you're tasting. The class is hands-on: you're doing the tasting, not watching someone else do it.

After the cupping session, you move to an artisan roasting and processing facility in Menagesha Suba Forest Park. Here you see how the beans go from raw to roasted, and the roasters let you taste what they've made. Lunch happens at Gelani coffee with options across the menu, so you eat what appeals to you. The whole day runs five to six hours, and an air-conditioned vehicle handles the transport between stops.

What’s included

• Entry to the coffee factories.
• a cupping class with a coffee expert.
• lunch at Gelani coffee with menu choices.
• coffee tastings at the roastery.
• bottled water.
• transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• all fees and taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to Saturday

AgesAdult (24 to 34 years) · Senior (35 to 89 years) · Youth (18 to 23 years) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Chinese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 17 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by East Africa Tour Operator

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French and two additional languages, so you can follow the cupping class and roastery tour in whichever language works for you. Children are welcome from age 18 onward.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Chinese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (18 to 23 years). Children under 18 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly happens during the coffee cupping class?

The cupping class teaches you to identify different tastes and aromas in brewed coffee. You're tasting samples and learning from a coffee expert how to recognize what makes each one distinct: the hands-on part of the morning before you visit the roastery.

Can I buy coffee beans or roasted packages to take home?

Yes. If you want to buy roasted coffee or beans from the facility, you pay for those yourself at the time of purchase. They're not included in the tour price.

What is Menagesha Suba Forest Park like?

Menagesha Suba Forest Park is a forested area outside Addis Ababa where the artisan roasting facility is located. The park setting gives the roastery its backdrop, and you'll spend the afternoon portion of the tour there touring the facility and tasting the coffee they produce.

Is lunch included, and can I choose what I eat?

Lunch at Gelani coffee is included. The menu has many options, so you choose what you want to eat based on your preferences.

Do I need any coffee experience to join this tour?

No. The tour is built for coffee lovers of all levels. The cupping class teaches you the basics, so you don't need to know anything about coffee tasting before you start.