Honoring

Sarin Prabasi &
Elias Gurmu

Founders of Buunni Coffee

Elias Gurmu and Sarina Prabasi moved from Addis Ababa, Ephiopia to Washington Heights, where they founded Buunni Coffee in 2012. 

Buunni is deeply rooted in, and has grown from, the soil of the Northern Manhattan community.

With their distinct and complementary skill sets they have nurtured Buunni into one of Upper Manhattan’s most beloved brands, and a hub for community conversation and the arts.

Prior to Buunni, Sarina Prabasi had a career in international development, including serving as CEO of WaterAid America, and Deputy Chief of Programs for Orbis International.

Sarina's book, The Coffeehouse Resistance, delves into the history of coffee houses as sites of resistance, and charts her family’s move from Ethiopia to New York, and building a community-focused coffee business from the ground up.

Elias Gurmu is a serial entrepreneur with a proven track record in launching and growing new businesses. Over his career, Elias has successfully built and grown a pharmaceutical distribution company, a transportation service, and an Ethiopian restaurant. Elias’s roots and his heart are in hospitality and in coffee.