Our Story

Daniel Seyoum grew up in the village of Ageyo, in the province of Jimma, Ethiopia. His family has been growing coffee for forty-five years, so his passion for single-origin coffee is generations deep. As soon as Daniel could walk, he was planting coffee with his father and helping out at the farm. 

Daniel moved to Melbourne as a kid and has since spent close to a decade working in Melbourne’s restaurant scene where he worked closely with wine as a Sommelier. 

Despite his love for wine and the hospitality industry, his roots wouldn’t let him go, and in 2016, Daniel and his wife Soliana returned to Ageyo, Ethiopia with their six-month-old son Ezra in tow. 

It was their goal to learn and absorb as much knowledge as they could about the traditional Ethiopian agricultural practices which had sustained Daniel’s family for many generations. During their three years living in Ethiopia, they met many amazing farmers who shared their passion and values, who are now part of Ageyo.

After three fulfilling years, Daniel and Soliana decided to return to Melbourne, as they struggled to connect Ageyo with Melbourne through direct trade, as most coffee roasters had suppliers based in Melbourne. 

To be honest, roasting coffee was never part of our plan, however, pressure does amazing things! Our first batch of beans arrived in late January 2020, and with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, we decided to roast for ourselves to cover costs. We have experienced such a supportive response, so for us, there was no looking back!

Through our relationships with growers, we strive to pay homage to our family and provide a legacy honoring what our parents have built-in Ethiopia. We are passionate about working closely with individual farmers, paying ethically, and bringing true direct trade, exceptional specialty coffee to the Australian market. 

From our family to yours, thank you for supporting Ageyo.

Daniel, Soliana & Co.