Ethiopia ALO Bombe

Alo Coffee was born from a dream—and a leap of faith. For years, former university teacher and electrical engineer Tamiru worked in coffee, witnessing firsthand the challenges of an industry where quality was often overlooked and producers were struggling. Despite his experience, the frustrations of unfair pricing and undervalued labor left him hesitant to start his own venture. That changed in 2020, when Ethiopia held its first-ever Cup of Excellence (CoE) competition a revelation that proved exceptional coffee could be celebrated and rewarded. Together with his wife, Messi, Tamiru set out with a singular mission: to prove that Sidama’s finest coffees could stand among the world’s best. In 2021, against all odds, their very first submission—a meticulously processed lot from their home village of Alo in Bensa—won Ethiopia’s Cup of Excellence, cementing their belief that dedication, not just tradition, shapes greatness.