Capital

Café loitering

The pay per cup (modern) café culture is a distinctly south Mediterranean institution and was first introduced to Ethiopia by the Italians. A few of the original cafes (latteria, gellatia, etc) still exist in the historic and once hip downtown area known as Piassa (Italian for square). Most of them are but shadows of their former lives and their long gone owners would hardly recognize them, if it weren’t for a few surviving art-deco bar counters and vintage Gaggia coffee and espresso machines.
Addis Ababa must have one of the highest densities of coffee houses persquare kilometer among world cities. For instance, the roughly kilometer square area compromising the National Theater to the Wabe Shebelle hotel, across to the Coffee building (seriously) and the Nazareth Bus Terminal, has over 150 cafes of all kinds and standards.
Ethiopians are big on the café culture. It is not at all uncommon for a group of friends to spend up to two hours in one café before changing to another where they may spend sorry, again waste I mean, more time.
The problem of unemployment cannot be the-one-size fits all excuse for such social shortcomings. More likely the prime reason for café loitering is the exceedingly low value we have collectively, for the concept of time (you few workaholics stop muttering already.) I’ll give a revealing example of how this disregard for proper time utilization manifests itself in cafés. Have you noted how long it takes for your order to be taken at typical café? Waiters and waitresses, though they have most probably seen you take a table, do not, as should happen, come over to ask your pleasure. I used to think that it was just more of the usual incompetence of too many service establishments. In fact, it is quite different. The waitress I approached with my question of why they give tardy service told me that as far as the café and the staff are concerned, they would much rather take quick orders, give prompt service and be rid of the customer. The problem, according to the jaded thirty something, is that the young guys and gals that frequent the café are not really interested in the java and cakes –(if they can afford them) and do not desire quick service. The longer the order is delayed (goes loitering 101) the more time the “customer” can hang out.
Some cafes actually have tried to institute a time limit – say, 20 minutes for a coffee (itself too much time to gulp down a thimble sized cup). However, this has not caught on as it is difficult to enforce and it is down right humiliating.
An elderly gentleman I talked to remarked that our deeply ingrained and elaborately ceremonial coffee culture has contributed to the problem of café loitering. It is customary in virtually any Ethiopian household, irrespective of ethnic, religious and other background, including income and status, that coffee is brewed at least twice a day. Each session can take anywhere from one to two hours as the Abol (first brew), Huletgna, Sostegna and the Masaregia (finale) cups (four cups for each person) are sipped slowly amidst lively banter. Whatever the reason for the problem of café loitering, it is an issue that requires discussion. Perhaps, the establishment of alternative entertainment venues such as more theatres, gyms and other options could help. See you at Wisconsin café! …. You don’t know it? Well, that’s because it doesn’t exist … yet. As do others named after a galaxy of cities and states in America and around the world.Kick back and mull this over a cuppa!

What do you feel about hanging out for long hours in café's?

I think spending too much time in cafés is like nothing compared to the several hours one can waste in a beer house or a night club. What’s wrong with having an espresso, and chilling without alcoholic drinks and other harmful stuff. I say lets tell the youth that if they insist on wasting time, they rather do it in cafés than in khat parlors and bars.

Hailu Temesgen
Barber
There should be a clearly defined limit to how long people can occupy café space. The proprietors should not feel that it is wrong to impose time limits. I have a very small café and it can seat only about fifteen customers. There are some who order a 0.75 ETB tea and stay 75 minutes! I have to run a business, pay my taxes, feed and educate my children, so I can’t afford to tolerate such idlers.

Abe .K
Café owner