Origin: Ethiopia & Eritrea  |  Prep: 5 minutes  |  Brew: 10 minutes

About This Brew

Spris (or 'spriss') is the Horn of Africa's answer to mixing your drinks: a half-and-half blend of strong coffee and spiced black tea, sometimes layered so the two are visible side by side in a clear glass. It is a popular order in the cafés of Asmara and Addis Ababa, a legacy of Italian colonial coffee culture meeting local tea traditions.

The tea is typically brewed with spices like cinnamon, cloves and cardamom, so the resulting cup is warming and aromatic, the malty tannins of the tea weaving through the deep roast of the coffee. Sweetened generously with sugar, spris is comforting and distinctive, neither fully coffee nor fully tea but a satisfying middle path.

Ingredients

• 120ml strong brewed coffee
• 120ml strong spiced black tea (with cinnamon, clove, cardamom)
• Sugar, to taste

Equipment Needed

• Coffee brewer or jebena
• Teapot
• Clear glass

Instructions

1. Brew strong black tea with whole spices and strain.
2. Brew strong coffee separately.
3. Add sugar to a clear glass.
4. Pour in the tea, then gently layer or mix in an equal amount of coffee.
5. Stir and serve hot.

Tags: Africa · Hot · Easy