Cerro Azul Java

Alo Estate is the flagship project of Alo Coffee, a company founded by Tamiru Tadesse, a passionate coffee producer from Sidama Bensa, Ethiopia. After six years of working in the coffee industry, Tamiru became deeply aware of the disconnect between the outstanding quality of coffee from his hometown and the way it was undervalued in the global market. Witnessing this gap, and inspired by a friend’s win at the 2020 Ethiopia Cup of Excellence, Tamiru took a leap to start his own company with the aim of bridging this divide and uplifting smallholder farmers in the region.Alo Coffee rose to prominence when Tamiru won 1st place at the 2021 Ethiopia Cup of Excellence, bringing global recognition to Bensa's coffee-growing potential.

His work has since expanded opportunities for smallholder farmers by helping them process their meticulously cultivated, naturally organic coffee cherries into high-quality, traceable lots. Through Alo Coffee, these lots are matched with specialty buyers who value their flavor complexity and are willing to properly compensate the farmers.In 2020, Tamiru made a bold investment in a washing station located in Alo Kebele, situated at an altitude of over 2400 meters—one of the highest elevations in the region. This risky move has proven to be a game-changer. The station not only processes coffees from his own farm but also serves as a hub for surrounding local farmers, creating a powerful network aimed at showcasing the world-class potential of Sidama Bensa coffee.

Tamiru is known for his innovative approach to coffee processing. Beyond traditional methods, he continues to experiment with unique fermentation techniques, many of which have earned his coffees a place in high-level competitions and on international stages. The Alo Estate nano lots, in particular, are naturally processed, slowly fermented, and sun-dried on raised mesh wire beds. The high elevation contributes to slower cherry maturation and smaller bean sizes—referred to as Alo’s signature "mini beans"—resulting in incredibly vibrant, fruit-forward cup profiles.Now in their second year of collaboration, Tamiru has entrusted a wider range of his exceptional coffees to his international partners, including microlots and competition-level offerings. Each lot highlights the distinctive terroir of Sidama Bensa and reflects the meticulous craftsmanship and dedication behind Alo Coffee.