Introducing Ethiopian Coffee to Whalsay
Shetland is known for its numerous honesty boxes, which typically offer fresh eggs, homemade baked goods, and even pies. Recently, the approximately 1,000 residents of Whalsay, one of the Shetland Islands, have gained access to a unique addition: hand-roasted Ethiopian coffee.
This coffee is provided by Netsanet Sori, also known as Netsi, who relocated to Whalsay in October 2025 after living in Orkney for nine years. Having been raised on her family’s coffee farm in rural Ethiopia, she has brought a distinctive element of her native culture to her new home, located roughly 4,000 miles (6,400 km) away.
Early Life and Cultural Roots
Netsi’s upbringing was marked by the loss of her mother at a young age. She was subsequently raised by her grandmother and great-grandmother on the family farm, where she had to mature quickly.
"How I was raised there, compared to here, it's completely different,"
she reflected.
Maintaining Connection Through Coffee
Since moving to Scotland, Netsi has used coffee as a means to remain connected to her Ethiopian heritage. She imports coffee beans from the farm where she grew up, emphasizing the importance of this tradition in her life.
"It's very important to me and I will teach my children about it as well,"
she stated.
The Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony
In Ethiopia, preparing and drinking coffee is a significant daily ritual. It involves community members, predominantly women, gathering to participate in a traditional ceremony.
"Neighbours and villagers gather once or twice in a day to share information, good news or bad news, and love,"
Netsi explained.
"It's also about community belonging. If you make a coffee, you can't drink it alone.
"You have to share what you have and help others."
The Roasting Process
Hand roasting coffee beans is a meticulous and slow process. When the beans arrive in Whalsay, they are a pale green color with a subtle, earthy aroma.
They are cleaned and roasted in the same pot. To ensure an even roast, the beans must be continuously shaken as they heat. During roasting, the beans darken to a rich brown and begin to release oils, which Netsi identifies as an indicator of high-quality coffee.
Traditionally, the beans are ground using a tool similar to a mortar and pestle. However, for efficiency, Netsi now employs a small electric grinder.
From Personal Use to Business
While living and working in Orkney, Netsi roasted coffee primarily for herself, friends, and charity events. After relocating to Whalsay, she decided to transform her passion into a business venture.
"After a little research, I realised that nobody else is roasting coffee like this in Shetland,"
she said.
"So, I thought I can do it, and it's worked brilliantly. People seem to really like it."
Community Reception
Ingrid Sutherland, a resident of Whalsay, has been purchasing Netsi’s coffee since discovering it at a Christmas fair.
"I'm a bit of a coffee drinker, I love a good cup of coffee in the morning,"
she said.
"Real coffee, not instant, so I was just blown away with how cool it is.
"It's local as well, so I can just nip along the road and get a bag, rather than going out of the isle.
"We have plenty of egg boxes and cake fridges here in Shetland, but we didn't have a coffee box.
"It's fantastic to have a coffee box here."
