Alo Village

The story

Alo Coffee was founded by Tamiru Tadesse, a former electrical engineer and university teacher, alongside his wife, Messi. Inspired by the success of a friend in the 2020 Ethiopia Cup of Excellence, the couple established the company to address the industry's failure to properly reward the labor and quality of smallholder farmers in their home village of Alo, Bensa. Their first submission to the 2021 Cup of Excellence won first place, validating their mission to elevate Sidama's coffee production.

Challenges

The founder identified significant industry challenges, specifically the lack of fair pricing for producers and the systemic undervaluation of high-quality coffee labor.

Innovations

The farm is recognized for its focus on micro-lot development and precise processing techniques, including experimental methods like submerged fermentation and white honey processing to enhance cup quality.