But First, Coffee
Two Ethiopian millennial women, one raised at home and one in the diaspora, host conversations on culture, creativity, and identity.
A weekly video podcast featuring two co-hosts exploring Ethiopian culture and identity for a millennial audience. Episodes alternate between conversational deep dives on topics like history or folklore, and long-form interviews with Ethiopian artists, entrepreneurs, and thinkers. The show's core mission is to create a 'safe space' to connect Ethiopians at home and abroad.
“The show's primary distinction is its host dynamic, with one host raised in Ethiopia and the other in the American diaspora, which frames every conversation. Its dedicated 'Ethiopia for Dummies' segment makes complex cultural and historical topics accessible.”
Who hosts this show
Hosted by Tigist Amare (TG) and Hawi Negussie, "But First, Coffee" is a podcast for and by Ethiopian millennials. TG, a former radio host in Ethiopia, and Hawi, who grew up in the US before returning, bridge the gap between the diaspora and homeland experience. Through a mix of co-host chats and guest interviews, they explore Ethiopian culture, creativity, and the nuances of navigating life between two worlds.
Credentials & credits
- Tigist Amare: Former host of 'The Hype' on Afro FM for ~5 years.
Other ventures
- Awaze x Balchut (Production Company)
When new episodes drop
- 01Creative Friends with @Dagymusic |S0215Jun 21, 2026 · 33 min
- 02Ethiopia For Dummies |S02E14Jun 13, 2026 · 53 min
- 03Why You Should Never Go Everywhere You're Invited | S02E13Jun 5, 2026 · 41 min
- 04The Episode ELPA didn't want you to see | S02E12May 29, 2026 · 48 min
- 05Capturing Cultural Memories with Gabriel Balcha |S02E11May 22, 2026 · 51 min
- 06
- 07Guess where @istheBruce| S02E09May 7, 2026 · 16 min
- 08But First, Coffee | S02E08: HomecomingMay 1, 2026 · 55 min
Notable episodes
- 01Ethiopia For Dummies |S02E14
Introduces their signature segment for exploring Ethiopian history and culture, encapsulating the show's mission to educate and connect.
- 02Creative Friends with @Dagymusic |S0215
A prime example of their interview style, showing their warm rapport and insightful questions with a popular Ethiopian artist.
- 03Why You Should Never Go Everywhere You're Invited | S02E13
Showcases the hosts' conversational chemistry and ability to adapt, as they tell personal ghost stories by candlelight during a power outage.
- 04Meet the Hosts
The first episode, where the hosts introduce themselves, their backstories, and the premise of the show.
What you'll be asked on this show
The hosts conduct interviews as a team, adopting a celebratory and supportive tone. They come prepared, demonstrating deep familiarity with the guest's work and career. The conversation flows informally, often starting with the hosts and guest sharing a laugh or singing together. They build on each other's questions, probing the guest's origin story, creative process, and the personal impact of their career without being confrontational.
The format alternates between two-person chats and guest interviews. The hosts have a warm, sisterly rapport, often finishing each other's sentences. Episodes are informal and often begin with a personal check-in before diving into the main topic.
Questions the host keeps coming back to
10 cataloguedIf you're going on this show as a guest, expect some version of each of these. Each note explains when the host reaches for it.
personal
2- Q.01
“How are you feeling about the reception to your new work?”
Asked early in the conversation to gauge the guest's current emotional state about their recent success.
- Q.02
“What is the most unexplained or spooky thing that has ever happened to you?”
A personal question used in more informal chats to elicit surprising personal anecdotes.
origin
2- Q.01
“Can you walk us through how [a specific project] came to be?”
Used to uncover the origin story and creative sparks behind a notable piece of work.
- Q.02
“How old were you when you first started getting into your craft?”
A go-to question to establish the guest's backstory and lifelong connection to their field.
process
2- Q.01
“How do you know when a creative work is truly finished?”
This question probes the artist's internal criteria and philosophy on completing a project.
- Q.02
“How has your process changed now that you have a manager/team?”
Explores the shift in dynamics from being a solo artist to working within a more structured team.
future
1- Q.01
“Is there a genre or style you haven't tried yet but want to?”
This question looks forward, revealing the guest's future ambitions and creative curiosities.
controversy
1- Q.01
“How do you feel about your early fans trying to 'gatekeep' your work?”
A specific question for newly famous guests, addressing the complex relationship with their original fanbase.
industry
1- Q.01
“Who would be on your 'Mount Rushmore' of Ethiopian artists?”
A recurring hypothetical used to understand a guest's key influences and who they revere in their field.
mindset
1- Q.01
“Do you have to disconnect from your last project to create something new?”
Dives into the guest's mental and creative mindset when starting a new piece of work.
Signature segments
- · But first, Coffee (Opening greeting)
- · Ethiopia for Dummies (Segment)
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
Guests are typically Ethiopian or diaspora creatives, entrepreneurs, and community leaders. The show books musicians, media figures, and wellness advocates who often have a story of personal transformation or a unique connection to Ethiopia.
- Daggyon Creative Friends with @Dagymusic |S0215
- Damienon The Episode ELPA didn't want you to see | S02E12
- Gabriel Balchaon Capturing Cultural Memories with Gabriel Balcha |S02E11
- Crystal Hadnotton The EDTF Philanthropy Head Who Ran 150+ Marathons After Being Told She’d Never Walk |S02E10
- Bruce (@isthebruce)on Guess where @istheBruce| S02E09
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
No sponsors or ads were detected in the reviewed episodes. Based on the audience, estimated potential sponsors would include brands targeting millennial consumers, diaspora services, coffee companies, and Ethiopian-owned businesses.
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
Pitch this show
People also ask
- What are the hosts' real names?
- The hosts are Tigist Amare (TG) and Hawi Negussie. Their collective nickname on the show is "Awaze and Balchut".
- What is the podcast's format?
- It's a weekly video podcast that alternates between two main formats: conversational chats between the two hosts on a theme, and long-form interviews with guests.
- Who is the show for?
- The show is created for Ethiopian millennials, both those living in Ethiopia and those in the diaspora, who are interested in conversations about culture, creativity, and identity.
- Is the podcast still running?
- Yes, based on recent episode dates from June 2026, the podcast is actively releasing new episodes.
- Where can I watch or listen?
- The primary platform for the podcast is its YouTube channel, "But First, Coffee".
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence
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