Moyee Coffee

Moyee Coffee describes itself as a company born in Ethiopia that has grown into a multinational coffee business, operating one of the larger roasting facilities in Africa. In Addis Ababa it runs four cafes, and they offer a polished, contemporary alternative to the traditional standing coffee bar. The company has also reinvested in communities through reforestation, women's health programmes and infrastructure projects, which is part of its appeal for travellers who want to know where their money goes.

The Bole Medhanialem branch is the one coffee writers single out. Its design is warm and industrial, with earthy colours, plants, leather sofas, natural light, exposed pipes and steel rafters, and it is comfortable enough for a long stay. Food and drinks are both served, but the coffee is the main reason to come.

The drink to try is the tsom macchiato. Tsom is the Amharic word for fasting, and this version is made with creamer instead of milk, so it can be drunk during the many Orthodox fasting days when animal products are avoided. The result has a richer, nutty finish. Black coffee here has been described as having dark chocolate notes, and the espresso is smooth rather than harsh. Ask the baristas about the origin of the day's beans if you are keen to compare regions.

In Addis Ababa the macchiato arrives in a small glass, with the layers of milk foam and coffee visible from the side, and it is drunk at every hour of the day rather than only at breakfast. Moyee is a comfortable place to try one slowly and compare it with a straight espresso.

Moyee suits remote workers, coffee enthusiasts and anyone who wants a comfortable seat and reliable drinks between meetings or sightseeing. It is also a good introduction to the Ethiopian habit of drinking macchiato throughout the day, with the advantage of a more relaxed setting than the busy standing bars of Piazza. Hours are not published on the company's site, so check locally.

Bole Medhanialem is close to Bole Road and the airport, so the cafe is convenient from the hotels in that part of the city and before or after a flight. Yod Abyssinia's main branch is in the same area for a cultural dinner later in the day.