Tamiru Tadesse

Alo Coffee began with a big idea and a brave step forward. After years working in coffee as a university teacher and electrical engineer, Tamiru Tadesse saw firsthand how often quality and producer effort went unrewarded. Inspired by Ethiopia’s first Cup of Excellence in 2020, he and his wife, Messi, decided it was time to bet on excellence and build something of their own in their home village of Alo, in Bensa.

That belief paid off pretty fast. In 2021, Tamiru’s very first Cup of Excellence submission won Ethiopia’s top honour, a moment that confirmed what he already knew Sidama’s coffees could stand confidently among the world’s best. Alo Coffee quickly earned a reputation for meticulous processing and an unwavering commitment to pushing quality forward.

Today, Tamiru is known for leading-edge approaches to washed coffees, especially when it comes to drying. This extended dry washed lot uses a careful two-phase process, partially dried, rested in cool conditions, then slowly finished. The resulting coffee has remarkable structure, lifted florals, and a quiet complexity.

The Monogram Special™

Relationship Coffee

We value long-lasting relationships with our coffee producers, where we work together to build quality, flavour innovation, and sustainability.

Sweet Spot Roasting

Our signature technique hits the perfect point where flavour shines and the coffee’s smooth. Not under-roasted, mild and acidic, or over-roasted, burned and bitter. Each coffee roasted with precision to the Sweet Spot.

Award Winning Lineup

Thanks to our long-term relationships with award-winning producers , we bring in coffees that set the benchmark for flavour, for every taste. Let our Flavour Moods guide you, and discover coffees you can’t find anywhere else.

Learn how to brew this coffee.

Great coffee starts here. Explore our simple, approachable brew guides to bring your favourite flavours to life.

Pour over

Aeropress

Espresso