Kaffa, Or Kafa, a country of E. Africa, lying S. of Abyssinia and W. of Somauli. It consists of an extensive table land, between two branches of the river Gojeb or Godafo, at an elevation of about 5,000 ft. above the sea. The country is under the sway of an absolute king, or tata, who it is said can raise 10,000 horsemen, and who is frequently at war with his neighbors. The inhabitants are of an Abyssinian type, and profess to be Christians; their language belongs to the Hamitic group of tongues. They cultivate the soil, which is fertile in palms, cotton, and coffee. The staple food of the people is the ensete, a plant resembling the banana. The cereals are not raised, and the appellation of "grain-eater" is used as a term of contempt. Trade is carried on with the merchants of Enarea, who exchange rock salt, copper, horses, cattle, and silks for coffee, cotton, and slaves. Coffee, which is supposed to have received its name (Turk, kahve) from this country, is indigenous, as is a species of tea plant called khat. The brothers Abbadie, in 1843, were the first Europeans who penetrated into the country.

The chief town is Bonga, lat. 7° 12' 30" N, lon. 36° 4' E.; it contains 6,000 or 7,000 inhabitants.