Coffee Against HIV

While reading this article, you may be sipping your daily cup of coffee… but have you ever wondered where did coffee emerge from? Well, there's an easy answer to this question: in the Kaffa region of Ethiopia. Now a US-based charity is using this 'coffee mania' in the fight against HIV infection and spreading; in Ethiopia, the country that invented the product it got us all addicted to, they're testing coffee-scented condoms.

Even if by now Ethiopia is not amongst the African "champions" of HIV spread, it still has an AIDS rate of 2.1 %, and official data show that in the capital Addis Ababa the number boosts to over 7 %. "The novelty product addresses a serious issue. The aim of the coffee condoms was not to make money, but to make condom-users more comfortable," said Andrew Piller, director of DKT's local chapter, the Washington DC-based charity.

DKT said that people around the world had complained about the latex smell of plain condoms, and has attempted to sell condoms in various countries reflecting the local tastes, like condoms spreading the famous durian foul in Indonesia and sweet-corn scented condoms in China. The new dark brown coffee scented condom was put on sell in Ethiopia in September and was an instant hit: about 300 000 sold in just one week. "Everybody likes the flavor of coffee," said Emebet Abu, a DKT spokeswoman.

A condom pack of three costs 1 birr (75 cents), twice cheaper than a cup of good coffee in one of Addis Ababa's numerous sidewalk cafes, and much less than marketed condoms. The new anti-HIV weapon used the scent of Ethiopia's popular macchiato, an espresso generously creamed and sugared. "It is about time to use an Ethiopian flavor for beautiful Ethiopian girls," said Dereje Alemu, a 19-year-old university student.

Still, the new campaign has not received the support of the dominant Ethiopian Orthodox Church, which has a deep influence in Ethiopia and encourages sexual abstinence outside matrimony. "It's inappropriate. We're proud of our coffee." said Bedilu Assefa, a spokesman for the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.

Still, safe sex is always the wise way; "I hate coffee-flavored condoms. But I use ordinary condoms when I have sex with ladies other than my wife.", said a 37-year-old mechanic Tadesse Teferi.