FOCO Black Businesses: Konjo’s: An Ethiopian Woman’s Dream for Community and Unity.
Hirut Crusan moved from Ethiopia to the United States with a dream to share her culture to a community in need of a fresh cup of Joe.
Crusan has always been around coffee and contributes her upbringing to her love of the art of coffee making.
“I grew up in Ethiopia with my parents were we had a coffee farm. You can see in this picture that there is the actual farmer who helps us,” said Crusan. “I used to pick out the coffee beans and help out my parents. I think that’s where are the passion started.”
This passion for coffee making and the roots of service and community from her Ethiopian farm, came with her as she made her journey across the Atlantic.
Crusan’s journey landed her in Fort Collins, Colorado, a place where she saw a community of residents ready to be introduced to Ethiopian culture.
Crusan was ready to express that culture in her business: Konjo’s Ethipoan Coffee Shop
I just l love Fort Collins. I’m happy to be a part of the community here,” said Crusan. “I love the way that people respect, love and are willing to share the culture not only through just drinking the coffee but participating in the culture.”
While coffee is a household beverage that many people enjoy on their way to their daily commutes, Crusan comments on the unknown roots of a lot of people’s favorite drink.
“Coffee originated from Ethiopia where it colluded the name. Some people do know where the coffee came from but it’s not a well known reality. So what I do for my customers is not only roast the coffee, but then do the traditional Ethiopian ceremony for different events so people can see how we roast the coffee while allowing people to have a conversation with each other. The main thing is that it brings people together,” Crusan said.
The traditional Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony-a ceremony in which community members gather around over freshly roasted coffee for bonding-has become a staple in Crusan’s coffee shop.
The ceremony brings people together for the Ethiopian culture they’ve been waiting for.
“They want the good coffee do you want a story and they want the traditional Ethiopian experience,” Crusan said.
Crusan’s experience hasn’t been easy, and while her hardships were immense at times, she believes that it was all the more reason to keep going.
“If you were truly good at something that you love, and you believe in it, then people will follow you anywhere.” Crusan said.
While communities in Fort Collins have been divided by issues of racial injustice among other offences, Crusan wants to move forward with a path of cultural understanding.
“I think the more that we are willing to share our background in our culture The more we all grow,” Crusan said.
In a community that may be too stubborn to look at worldviews different from theirs, Crusan believes that it is possible to create a more diverse society.
We all just needs a good place for the cultural growth to start.
“Every person every culture every size every shape every color has a story to tell. We need to find a way to tell our story. No one will tell our story but us, said Crusan. “When it comes to a persons, food or background or culture, you have to be the storyteller.”
