Sarina Prabasi

Sarina Prabasi is a prominent figure in the coffee industry as the Co-Founder of Buunni Coffee, a specialty coffee company based in New York City. She has played a significant role in establishing Buunni Coffee, which began as an Ethiopian coffee-focused online shop and expanded to multiple locations in Washington Heights and Inwood, NYC. The first physical store opened in 2012, and the company has since grown to four locations while emphasizing community engagement and quality sourcing of coffee beans from Ethiopia and other regions.12

Background and Education

Prabasi has a diverse background, having been born in the Netherlands and raised in various countries including India, China, and Nepal. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics from Smith College and a Master's degree in Development Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London.15

Career Highlights

Before co-founding Buunni Coffee, Sarina Prabasi held several leadership positions:

• Chief Executive Officer at WaterAid America (2014-2019), where she oversaw operations and strategy for the organization.
• Deputy Chief of Programs at ORBIS (2011-2014), providing strategic leadership for international programs.
• Country Representative for WaterAid in Ethiopia (2006-2011) and various roles at Pact Inc. earlier in her career.12

Contributions to Buunni Coffee

At Buunni Coffee, Prabasi focuses on coffee sourcing, marketing, and developing partnerships. The company is known for its commitment to reflecting Ethiopian coffee culture, which emphasizes community connections through coffee. Under her guidance, Buunni Coffee has also expanded into e-commerce and wholesale sales, making their products available at various retailers including Trader Joe's.23

Personal Life

Sarina Prabasi is married to Elias Gurmu, with whom she co-founded Buunni Coffee. Together, they have navigated the challenges of entrepreneurship while raising two children.24