In the weeks I spent in Ethiopia, I succeeded in sampling some of the best coffee on earth, but also an unexpected cultural connection to coffee. In the West, coffee serves as the drink to fuel and caffeinate our days, but in Ethiopia, it’s the vehicle that lets people pause. Although naturally, I packed in my suitcases as many bags of beans as I could. At least that ritual was something I could only carry home in my heart.

Click here to read Jessie’s article about exploring coffee culture in Ethiopia, on AFKTravel.com.