Ethiopia Alo Faficho Red Honey

What We Love

The Alo Faficho Village Red Honey Process coffee is a wildly captivating experience for the senses. You will immediately taste syrupy fruit tones of raspberry and effervescent blood orange, which transform into luscious layers of red flame grape and finish with the florality of elderflower. Thoroughly sugary, juicy, and perfectly crafted, this red honey selection displays a brilliance found in few coffees. 

About the Producer 

Tamiru's journey to becoming a legend in Ethiopian coffee began in Bensa Woreda, a district in the Sidama region where coffee was more than just a crop—it was a way of life. Growing up in a community of smallholder farmers, many of whom depended on coffee for their livelihoods, Tamiru saw the struggles they faced firsthand. Despite producing exceptional coffee, these farmers had little access to markets that could truly reward the quality of their work. The lack of connection to high-value supply chains left them with limited prospects for improving their lives.

Determined to change this, Tamiru took a bold step in 2020 and founded his coffee washing station and export company, Alo. He began by purchasing coffee cherries from his neighbors and exporting them to high-end specialty markets in Southeast Asia. Over time, his business expanded into Europe, bringing Sidama's exceptional coffee to new audiences.

Tamiru’s gamble paid off in 2021 when his coffee took first place in the prestigious Cup of Excellence, a remarkable achievement in an incredibly competitive field.

Today, Tamiru is recognized both in Ethiopia and around the world as a visionary leader. The farmers who once had little hope for a stable future are now receiving higher wages and recognition for their craft. Thanks to Tamiru, coffee from Sidama is enjoyed by enthusiasts in cities from Tokyo to Shanghai, Berlin to London—and even in our hometown of Viroqua, Wisconsin.

About the Coffee

Historically, Ethiopia has often leaned on traditional coffee production techniques—methods steeped in history but slow to evolve or change. While these time-honored processes have certainly produced incredible coffees, they can also cap the potential for groundbreaking flavor profiles. Enter Tamiru Tadesse and the Alo team, whose innovative approach is rewriting the narrative of Ethiopian coffee. Through forward-thinking methods, they’re pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, elevating Ethiopian coffee to an entirely new level.

At Alo, coffee production is personal. Most of their selections range from just sixty to five hundred pounds, what we call true nano-lots. Nearly all coffees are made to order, with the vast majority being pre-sold to elite coffee roasters across the globe. Knowing this, we secured our selections well ahead of harvest by working closely with Tamiru, ensuring we could bring these exceptional coffees exclusively to Wonderstate.

This exceptional selection from Faficho village is processed using the traditional "honey" method. Originally developed in Costa Rica, the coffee cherries are sorted for ripeness and then depulped—removing the fruit skins in a way similar to the washed process—but are then dried on raised beds for 13-17 days. Honey-processed coffees typically have more fruit-forward flavors than washed coffees, though they’re generally more restrained than natural processed varieties. We find this selection strikes a captivating balance between fruitiness and florality, with notes of tropical fruit, berries, and an array of floral aromatics and tea-like flavors.

Meticulous cherry selection, expert drying, and proper storage all play a crucial role in the rich flavors of this coffee. Tamiru and the Alo team have once again shown how even the smallest details can have a profound impact. This honey processed lot from Faficho Village embodies an extraordinary balance, combining the clarity and structure of a washed coffee with the fruitiness and complexity of a natural. Sweet, lively, and beautifully balanced, it invites you to discover a vibrant spectrum of fruited and floral notes in a truly one-of-a-kind coffee experience.