At Café LiffNa, Saron and Winta roast, pound and pour the coffee right where you sit — just like at home in Asmara. With Eritrean dishes from our own kitchen, on the Bemuurde Weerd. A taste of home, away from home.
Open now
today until 20:00In Eritrea, coffee is more than a drink. A coffee ceremony is a moment of attention, meeting and connection.
At Café LiffNa we introduce you to this special tradition. You get to know not only Eritrean coffee, but also the story, the aromas, the rituals and the meaning behind it.
The ceremony begins with green coffee beans.
The beans are roasted on the spot. As the scent of freshly roasted coffee fills the room, the beans are ground and then brewed in the traditional jebena, the Eritrean coffee pot.
Then the coffee is served, and there is room for conversation, stories and meeting each other.
The process matters at least as much as the coffee itself.
The green beans go over the fire and are roasted until dark and glossy. The pan is passed around the table so everyone can breathe in the smoke.
The warm beans are pounded by hand in a mortar. The sound is as much part of the ceremony as the taste.
The coffee brews in the jebena, the clay pot, with the liff (ሊፍ) as a filter in the spout — the little tool we owe our name to.
Three rounds, poured from a single height. With popcorn on the side, and time to stay seated and talk.
At LiffNa we like to call this coffee to stay.
No rush. No coffee gulped down on the go. Instead: taking time, listening, tasting and being together.
A traditional ceremony takes about 2 to 3 hours. The exact programme can vary depending on the group.
During the ceremony we talk about Eritrean coffee culture and the meaning of the different parts of the ritual.
There is room to ask questions, share stories and meet each other.
That makes the ceremony an introduction not only to Eritrean coffee, but also to a piece of Eritrean culture.
The coffee ceremony is a good fit for:
Coming with a group? Get in touch and we will talk through the options.
Bring Liffna’s unique coffee experience to your event.
We offer a mobile coffee ceremony and event service. For more information and the possibilities, interested parties can contact us.
Would you like to experience the Eritrean coffee ceremony yourself? Or contact us at info@liffna.nl or 06 23454887.
At Café LiffNa, coffee takes centre stage. Not only for its taste, but for everything coffee can mean: tradition, hospitality, memories and connection.
We work with Ethiopian Arabica coffee beans and take care over every step from green bean to cup.
For us, coffee does not start with brewing, but with the bean.
We roast our coffee ourselves. That lets us pay attention to how the flavour and character of the coffee develop.
During the traditional coffee ceremony you can see this process up close.
At LiffNa, different ways of drinking coffee come together.
You can discover the traditional Eritrean coffee ceremony with us, but you are just as welcome for specialty coffee or an ordinary cup of coffee in a relaxed café atmosphere.
That is how we connect tradition with everyday life in Utrecht.
Our coffee invites you to stay.
To sit quietly for a while. To have a conversation. To meet someone. To read a book. Or simply to take some time for yourself.
A bright, smooth coffee with subtle floral and citrus notes — ideal for a refreshing start to the day.
Famous for its deep aromas with notes of berries and citrus. This coffee has a fine acidity and a floral aroma that is loved all over the world.
Rich and balanced, with hints of berries and citrus. The slow ripening of the coffee cherries in southern Ethiopia gives it a complex flavour.
At LiffNa, coffee is never a rushed moment. It is an invitation to stay.
Discover the coffee ceremonyCafé LiffNa is not only about coffee and food. We also want to make room for stories, creativity, culture and meeting each other. That is why we regularly organise activities and events.
Our coffee ceremony can be part of an evening where coffee and stories come together.
With a host to guide them, participants get to know the Eritrean coffee tradition, and there is room to share their own stories too.
A previous edition of Coffee & Stories, for example, combined an Eritrean meal with the coffee ceremony and a conversation about culture and connection.
From creative workshops to cultural activities: we love working with people and organisations who want to share their knowledge, story or talent.
New activities are announced in the calendar below.
LiffNa can also be a special place for:
Want to organise something at LiffNa? Get in touch
Here you will find our upcoming events and activities.
An evening built around the full coffee ceremony, led by Saron. Come early and share whatever Winta is cooking that night. Strangers at one table — and by the end, you know each other.
An evening built around the full coffee ceremony, led by Saron. Come early and share whatever Winta is cooking that night. Strangers at one table — and by the end, you know each other.
An evening built around the full coffee ceremony, led by Saron. Come early and share whatever Winta is cooking that night. Strangers at one table — and by the end, you know each other.
Café LiffNa grew out of friendship, memories and a shared love of Eritrean coffee and culture.
Saron and Winta come from Asmara, Eritrea. Two friends who met again in Utrecht after 11 years. That reunion brought back memories of home, of coffee, of stories and of the way people in Eritrea come together.
Café LiffNa was born from that connection. A place where we can share a piece of that culture with the people of Utrecht and beyond.
The name LiffNa is linked to the traditional Eritrean coffee pot, the jebena. Liff (ሊፍ) refers to the filter in the spout of the jebena. Na means our / ours.
Together, LiffNa stands for something we share. Coffee. Culture. Stories. Connection.
For people with an Eritrean background, LiffNa can be a reminder of home. For others, it can be a first introduction to Eritrean coffee and culture. Both are welcome.
We want to be a place where different people meet and where there is room to learn from each other.
LiffNa is a café, but also a place for cultural exchange. That is why, alongside coffee and food, we also organise activities such as storytelling, workshops and other cultural gatherings.
Because sometimes a good conversation simply starts with a cup of coffee.
A taste of home, away from home.
Two childhood friends, raised with the coffee ceremony as a fixed part of the day.
Far from home, but with the same habit: making coffee for whoever drops by.
On the Bemuurde Weerd Oostzijde. Coffee, community, connection.
Where every sip tells a story. Winta
At Café LiffNa we believe a cup of coffee is more than just a drink — it is an experience, a connection and a celebration of culture. By bringing together the traditional Eritrean coffee ceremony and healing rituals, we offer a warm, inviting space where people can come together, share stories and support each other. We create a place where mental well-being is nurtured and loneliness is countered by fostering social connection.
Our vision is to be a community-driven café where the power of rituals, sharing stories and creative workshops strengthens mental well-being and helps people stay connected. We aim to be a safe haven for anyone looking for inner calm, self-care and a real connection with others, while continuing to celebrate the rich Eritrean culture.
Eritrean coffee, culture & community in Utrecht. You will find Café LiffNa at Bemuurde Weerd Oostzijde 36 in Utrecht. Come in for coffee, breakfast or lunch. Or take your time for an Eritrean coffee ceremony. Everyone is welcome.
Would you like to book a coffee ceremony, come with a group or find out more about an event? Get in touch.
Café LiffNa is in Utrecht, on the Bemuurde Weerd Oostzijde.
An Eritrean coffee ceremony is a traditional ritual in which coffee beans are roasted, ground and brewed in a jebena. The ceremony is not only about coffee, but also about hospitality, conversation and being together.
A full ceremony takes about 2 to 3 hours.
Yes. For groups, teams, friends and other parties you can get in touch with us to discuss the options.
No. You do not need to know anything about Eritrean coffee or culture. The ceremony is an invitation to get acquainted.
Yes. You can also come to LiffNa for coffee and specialty coffee without taking part in a full ceremony.
Yes. We serve breakfast, lunch and Eritrean dishes.
Yes. LiffNa regularly organises cultural activities, workshops, storytelling and coffee events. Take a look at the calendar.
That is possible. Get in touch with us to discuss the options.
Liff refers to the filter in the spout of the jebena, the traditional Eritrean coffee pot. Na means our / ours. So LiffNa refers to something we share together.
Choose what you would like to do, how many of you are coming and when. You will see straight away which times are still free, and you will get the confirmation by email.
