[4.54..ETHIOPIA] The Java Jaunt: Journeys from Ethiopia to the World with Muna Mohammed

54Lights

WHAT TO EXPECT...WHEN YOU PUSH PLAY

54Lights is committed to illuminating the African experience...one story (bean) at a time.

In the latest episode of 54 Lights, Kondwani converses with Muna Mohammed, the innovative CEO behind Eight50 Coffee. Muna's deep-rooted connection to coffee cultivation, passed down through generations of her family, led her to explore Ethiopia's coffee origins.

From her upbringing, Muna's fascination with coffee bloomed as she listened to her father's vivid stories of his Ethiopian childhood. Determined to honor her coffee heritage, she embarked on a poignant journey to her family's coffee farm in East Hararghe, where the legacy of Harar Coffee lives on.

Kondwani and Muna explore the fusion of heritage and entrepreneurship, uncovering the essence of Eight50 Coffee's rich cultural tapestry.

LEAN IN, LISTEN UP...AND LEARN

Muna Mohammed, the CEO and founder of Eight50 Coffee, has a strong connection to coffee as she comes from a coffee-producing family in Ethiopia. Muna's decision to start the company was driven by a desire to bring diversity to the coffee industry, particularly on the brand end where there is a lack of representation.

The name "Eight50 Coffee" was chosen to connect directly to the origin of coffee, with 850 being the date often associated with the discovery of coffee in Ethiopia or Yemen. Of note is that;

• Muna is intentional about telling the story of coffee accurately and showcasing the different regions and cultures involved in coffee production.
• Muna's journey to launching 850 Coffee involved years of preparation, including learning about the science and process of coffee, commercial roasting training, and immersing herself in the industry. She launched the business during the pandemic in 2020.

BEST MOMENTS...from our guest

• "I wanted a name that connected directly to coffee's origin… I chose to name it 850 because not only does it tell a story of origins and ancient traditions, but it allows me to tell the story of coffee's origins and birthplace."
• “I knew that being on the brand end, which is where we don't see diversity, that's where you're seeing the brands that are packaged, sold in stores, sold on the shelves, the ones that are actually telling the stories of coffee and are putting out the content around coffee online on social, you know, that's the stuff that I felt like, you know, I didn't see a lot of, I didn't see a lot of diversity there."
• "I always try to do as much research and gather as much information as possible so that they are being presented in a way that is accurate."
• "2020 was just like, for me, it was go time. I've been saying I'm going to do this for a long time. And this, it just, it was the right time. And everything kind of just fell into place for me."
• "I'd love to see what my neighbours in Kenya are doing. I think there's a lot of cool stuff happening. And I'd love to hear more about some really inspiring entrepreneurs from Kenyan heritage, whether it's abroad or within Kenya, what they're doing.”

RESOURCE Full

Eight50 Coffee - https://www.eight50coffee.com/

Website - https://54lights.com/

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crowd54/

Email guest referrals, comments and stories to [e-mail] (feedback welcome…complaints and hate, not so much)

ABOUT THE HOST

Kondwani Mwase | Host & Creator

For most of my life, I have been obsessed with relationships. I have worked, watched and wondered about the complex nature of human interaction. Originally, my interest laid in the narrative…more specifically, I was driven to understand what was happening. Increasingly, my curiosity has been inspired by the underlying motivations behind events…why it happens. It is this curiosity that motivates me.

My professional journey led me to the field of marketing and the exercise of selling in the service of brands. Over the years, I’ve learned that the true currency is working in the service of people. Finding ways to understand how to cultivate meaningful relationships with them….and making them “happy”. I leveraged my skills as a mass marketer to reach a different audience with a different message. As such, The Warehouse Magazine became my passion. I founded the publication to try and build a community for the conscientious. It was my first business, my first foray into media and, in some ways, my first love. And its eventual retirement left me wanting. Leaving me with a feeling of unfinished business.