Buna Talk Café (BTC) is a family-owned and locally-managed coffee house located in D.C.’s Ward 8. Named for the Amharic word for “coffee”, the café was created to bring Ethiopia’s vibrant coffee culture to life by making space for daily ritual and extended conversation.

When the owners, Elias Abubaker and Meryem M Yusuf, moved to the D.C. area, they were keenly aware that there were no local coffee shops where customers could connect and relax the way they’d always loved to in their home country, where coffee was such a big part of every ritual—from daily social gatherings to wedding ceremonies. So they set out to create Buna Talk Cafe, where friends, family members, and colleagues can gather for delicious coffee, fresh fruit juices, and ice cream in a space that feels inviting, inspiring, and filled with life.