Bury St Edmunds coffee shop, Alema, sends some of its profits direct to a farm in Ecuador

A coffee shop with a difference has opened in Bury St Edmunds.

Alema Coffee threw open its doors in High Baxter Street yesterday.

It’s a dream come true for founder Fabian Macas, 32, who has been working on the project for three years.

A portion of the profits from shop will be sent back to his family farm, called Alema, in Loja, Ecuador, which produces the beans.

There, it will be used to support the farm, run by his dad, also called Fabian, and employ local people during the coffee growing season.

Fabian said: “Our motto is from farm to cup.

“Having a farm in Ecuador, means we can cut out the middle man and offer quality coffee at fair price, in an organic fashion.

”My grandad started the farm 80 years ago. We also employ local people and the money will help with things like renting trucks, paying wages, families and the community.

“I really believe in this project which helps provide a fair price for the hard work people do, in a transparent fashion.”

A chef by trade, Fabian previously ran a restaurant in Littleport, Cambridgeshire.

He decided to follow his dream with partner, Cinta, an engineer, after moving to Bury with their four-year-old son.

“Bury is a lovely town and a great place children to grow up, and we loved it straight away,” he said.

“We will have three tables inside and will be offering a customised service for customers to sample coffee and also choose how they would like their coffee.

”It’s exciting to be open. Our coffee is fresh and at three years after I first had the idea for the project, at peak ripeness.”

Alema is at the site of former desserts shop Crumbs, which has moved to The Traverse.

Fabian has also launched a website to sell his coffee and hopes to find other outlets.

“The beans are hand-picked at 1904 metres, and at peak ripeness,” added Fabian.

“We then do all the processing to unlock their exquisite flavour.”

Two current coffee offerings include Alema Nirvana, with notes of sweet honey, delicate florals, and a hint of toasted nuts. There is also Alema Elixir which has notes of dark chocolate, caramel, and a hint of citrus, all roasted to unlock a captivating aroma.

Fabian said: “I hope everyone in town can enjoy the freshly brewed coffee directly from Ecuador.

“Every sip is a journey to coffee's heart, crafted with dedication and savoured with pure joy.”

Visit: www.alemacoffee.com