Nurturing community and connection with Buunni Coffee

In today’s episode, we're joined by Sarina Prabasi, Co-founder of Buunni Coffee – a business of two community-driven cafés and a wholesale roastery based in New York City.

Sarina has had a remarkable journey from her native Nepal via Ethiopia to New York City. She’s also had impressive career in social justice and sustainability, especially in her role as CEO of WaterAid USA.

She founded Buunni Coffee in 2011 with her partner, Elias Gurmu, Their vision was to share exceptional Ethiopian coffee and hospitality with New Yorkers, while creating spaces that nurture connection, community and joy.

In this conversation, Sarina reflects on the realities of starting a business, the immigrant experience, and what it means to build a meaningful community in a new city. We also unpack her memoir, The Coffeehouse Resistance: Brewing Hope in Desperate Times, highlighting how cafés can become places for connection with a deep sense of belonging.

Credits music: "The Weight" by Eirra in association with The Coffee Music Project and SEB Collective. Tune into the 5THWAVE Playlist on Spotify for more music from the show

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