Ethiopia Safo Station

Safo Station

In 2021, during the second edition of the Ethiopia Cup of Excellence, first place went to a coffee from Tamiru Tadesse of Bensa, Sidama.

Even before then, Tamiru had been looking ahead. As climate change continued to push suitable coffee-growing areas to higher elevations, he established a station in Alo Kebele, a small village sitting at around 2,400 meters above sea level. At the time, growing coffee at such an elevation seemed almost too ambitious.

One of the first things he established was a clear standard for cherry selection. Pickers who brought in cherries that met the standard were paid a fair premium, while cherries that fell short were turned away. Tamiru believed that sustainable quality begins with people taking pride in their work.

That station is now called Safo, a word meaning “foundation” in the Sidama language. The name reflects ALO Coffee’s philosophy: a great cup of coffee can only be built on a strong foundation.