Ethiopian Ingenuity: Turning Mortar Shells Into Coffee Makers

There’s an interesting story on the BBC about an Ethiopian gentleman who is taking war’s leftovers and converting them into coffee machines.

He uses old mortar shells, which stand about one metre high, to make his coffee machines.

He cuts off the pointed ends, seals them and puts holes into the aluminium cylinder. The cylinder channels the water, coffee and milk.

Read the rest of the story

Making Coffee Machines from Old Mortar Shells

(hat tip Elizabeth)

15 comments for this post.

Comment from Noli Irritare Leones » Blog Archive » Africa blogwatch
2 November 2006 - 6:09 am - :

[...] A fun story from Ethiopia about Turning Mortar Shells Into Coffee Makers. [...]

Comment from don't eat alone
3 November 2006 - 4:39 am - :

site. My friend Doug bought my lunch at our Pastoral Spouse Support Group meeting today. While I was drinking my coffee, I came upon a wonderful web site called AfriGadet, which says it’s “solving everyday problems with African ingenuity.” [IMG ] The first story was about a man in Ethiopia who builds coffee makers out of old mortar shells from the war between Ethiopia and Eritrea. “These shells have all been used.” says Azmeraw Zeleke, the creator of these wonderful things. “We all need peace and we don’t

site. My friend Doug bought my lunch at our Pastoral Spouse Support Group meeting today. While I was drinking my coffee, I came upon a wonderful web site called AfriGadet, which says it’s “solving everyday problems with African ingenuity.” [IMG ] The first story was about a man in Ethiopia who builds coffee makers out of old mortar shells from the war between Ethiopia and Eritrea. “These shells have all been used.” says Azmeraw Zeleke, the creator of these wonderful things. “We all need peace and we don’t

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Comment from ehmbee
7 November 2006 - 3:39 pm - :

NICE! This same bit of ingenuity is how Honda Motor Co. stayed afloat during and after WWII, using discarded Allied bomber belly tanks to make more motors and vehicles. Another example of the indomitable Human Spirit.

Comment from Ethiopian Ingenuity: Turning Mortar Shells Into Coffee Makers « Sociolingo’s Africa blog
6 March 2007 - 3:45 am - :

[...] Ethiopian Ingenuity: Turning Mortar Shells Into Coffee Makers [...]

Comment from Sociolingo’s Africa blog
7 March 2007 - 4:11 pm - :

Ethiopian Ingenuity: Turning Mortar Shells Into Coffee Makers By ErikThere’s an interesting story on the BBC about an Ethiopian gentleman who is taking war’s leftovers and converting them into coffee machines. He uses old mortar shells, which stand about one metre high, to make his coffee machines.

Ethiopian Ingenuity: Turning Mortar Shells Into Coffee Makers By ErikThere’s an interesting story on the BBC about an Ethiopian gentleman who is taking war’s leftovers and converting them into coffee machines. He uses old mortar shells, which stand about one metre high, to make his coffee machines.

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Comment from Chris
13 April 2007 - 1:49 pm - :

Now that’s true ingenuity for you! We should have more people like that here in the states.

Comment from Africa Rising? at EcoPunk.info
26 May 2007 - 10:50 am - :

[...] stories of African ingenuity and the unique opportunities the continent offers all of us, tales of espresso machines made from old mortar shells and “$100″ laptops for the masses, but this post is frankly long enough already. [...]

Comment from Signal vs. Noise
16 May 2008 - 2:14 am - :

home made welding machine from Nairobi. Kids forced to make their own toys show off their ingenuity. In Kenya they’ve developed bio gas generator that turns methane from a manure pit into cooking gas. And this guyturns mortar shellsinto coffee makers. And this one will blow you away: A homemade windmill from very spare parts. Includes a video of the creator at the TED conference. So much from so little. Impressive.

home made welding machine from Nairobi. Kids forced to make their own toys show off their ingenuity. In Kenya they’ve developed bio gas generator that turns methane from a manure pit into cooking gas. And this guyturns mortar shellsinto coffee makers. And this one will blow you away: A homemade windmill from very spare parts. Includes a video of the creator at the TED conference. So much from so little. Impressive.

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Comment from Atmósfera
16 May 2008 - 2:14 am - :

home made welding machine from Nairobi. Kids forced to make their own toys show off their ingenuity. In Kenya they’ve developed bio gas generator that turns methane from a manure pit into cooking gas. And this guyturns mortar shellsinto coffee makers. And this one will blow you away: A homemade windmill from very spare parts. Includes a video of the creator at the TED conference. So much from so little. Impressive.

home made welding machine from Nairobi. Kids forced to make their own toys show off their ingenuity. In Kenya they’ve developed bio gas generator that turns methane from a manure pit into cooking gas. And this guyturns mortar shellsinto coffee makers. And this one will blow you away: A homemade windmill from very spare parts. Includes a video of the creator at the TED conference. So much from so little. Impressive.

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Comment from dvice.ru - гаджеты, высокие технологии, портативная техника, новейшие изобретения
16 May 2008 - 8:51 pm - :

. В Кении создали генератор биогаза, который перерабатывает метан из навозной ямы в газ для готовки еды. А этот человек делаеткофемашины из останков военных снарядов. Ну а вот это должно просто впечатлить всех и каждого до глубины души: этот молодой человек, имя которого Уильям Камкуамба

. В Кении создали генератор биогаза, который перерабатывает метан из навозной ямы в газ для готовки еды. А этот человек делаеткофемашины из останков военных снарядов. Ну а вот это должно просто впечатлить всех и каждого до глубины души: этот молодой человек, имя которого Уильям Камкуамба

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Comment from RSS Каталог | No Nofollow
17 May 2008 - 12:02 am - :

. В Кении создали генератор биогаза, который перерабатывает метан из навозной ямы в газ для готовки еды. А этот человек делаеткофемашины из останков военных снарядов. Ну а то, что должно просто впечатлить всех и каждого до глубины души: этот молодой человек, имя которого Уильям Камкуамба

. В Кении создали генератор биогаза, который перерабатывает метан из навозной ямы в газ для готовки еды. А этот человек делаеткофемашины из останков военных снарядов. Ну а то, что должно просто впечатлить всех и каждого до глубины души: этот молодой человек, имя которого Уильям Камкуамба

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Comment from Quicken Loans Blog - THE DIFF
23 May 2008 - 9:46 pm - :

and doesn’t have a fraction of the resources that we do in the U.S. What I love about the creations featured on AfriGadget is that they go beyond basic living implements. Heck, sometimes just living is a challenge in Africa. I love the Ethiopiancoffee maker made from mortar shells

and doesn’t have a fraction of the resources that we do in the U.S. What I love about the creations featured on AfriGadget is that they go beyond basic living implements. Heck, sometimes just living is a challenge in Africa. I love the Ethiopiancoffee maker made from mortar shells

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Comment from Problem-Solving: Made in Africa
10 July 2008 - 10:45 am - :

[...] materials, and turning bad things into good things, are both common themes. Take this story: Ethiopian Ingenuity: Turning Mortar Shells Into Coffee Makers. Fair Trade latte, eat your heart out. That’s a cup of coffee with a [...]

Comment from Problem-Solving: Made in Africa : TerraCurve.com - Green travel news, places, people and events.
10 July 2008 - 2:26 pm - :

[...] materials, and turning bad things into good things, are both common themes. Take this story: Ethiopian Ingenuity: Turning Mortar Shells Into Coffee Makers. Fair Trade latte, eat your heart out. That’s a cup of coffee with a [...]

Comment from geelongbusiness.net » Blog Archive » Problem-Solving: Made in Africa
14 July 2008 - 5:25 am - :

[...] materials, and turning bad things into good things, are both common themes. Take this story: Ethiopian Ingenuity: Turning Mortar Shells Into Coffee Makers. Fair Trade latte, eat your heart out. That’s a cup of coffee with a [...]

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