Meet the Founder

Hiwot Tessema — Co-Founder of Nu Coffee

Co-Founder & COO

Hiwot Tessema

"I wanted the world to taste what I grew up with — the coffee of Ethiopia — and to understand that every cup carries a story worth knowing."

About the Founders

Built Together. From the Ground Up.

Nu Coffee was born from two people who never forgot where they came from. Hiwot Tessema and Dr. Admasu Gizachew grew up in Ethiopia -- a country where coffee isn't just a drink. It's a ceremony, a greeting, a language all its own. When they came to America, they brought that reverence with them.

Hiwot is the operational heart of Nu Coffee. A registered nurse by training, she brings the same precision and care to coffee operations that she brings to patient care -- overseeing sourcing, logistics, and the day-to-day relationships that keep everything running. Her standard is simple: if it doesn't meet the bar, it doesn't ship. Her warmth, discipline, and relentless work ethic are woven into every bag that leaves the warehouse.

Dr. Gizachew brings the vision. A practicing oral surgeon and serial entrepreneur, he built NU Dental into a multi-location practice across New Jersey and Staten Island before turning his lifelong love of coffee into Nu Coffee. He saw a gap -- premium Ethiopian coffee, direct-sourced, fresh-roasted, and delivered without compromise -- and he built it.

Together, they are more than business partners. They are a team in every sense -- raising four children, building two companies, and carrying forward a legacy that started long before Nu Coffee existed. Their dream is simple: to share Ethiopia's finest coffees with the world exactly as they should be. Fresh. Honest. Exceptional.

Dr. Admasu Gizachew — personally sourcing green coffee beans

Personally selecting every lot — no middleman.

The Founder

Oral Surgeon.
Entrepreneur.
Coffee Pioneer.

When Dr. Gizachew isn't in the operating room, he's at the source — personally visiting green coffee warehouses, inspecting every lot before it's approved for roasting.

He built Nu Coffee the same way he built his surgical practice: with precision, patience, and an uncompromising standard for quality.

The Craft

Small Batch.
Roast to Order.
Every Time.

Nu Coffee roasts on the Stronghold S9X — one of the most advanced commercial roasters in the world — inside a fully temperature-controlled roasting lab.

Every roast profile is dialed in personally by Dr. Gizachew. Nothing ships until it meets his standard.

Nu Coffee — Stronghold S9X Roasting Lab

The Roasting Lab — Stronghold S9X

Co-Founder

Hiwot Tessema

Hiwot is the operational backbone of Nu Coffee. A registered nurse by training, she brings clinical precision to everything she touches — from fulfillment to quality control to daily operations.

Behind every perfectly packed bag is Hiwot's standard. She came from Ethiopia in 2006, earned her nursing degree from Long Island University, and has been building this company alongside Dr. Gizachew from day one.

Hiwot Tessema, Co-Founder — Nu Coffee warehouse

The Team

A True Family Business

Every bag is packed by real hands, in a real warehouse, by a real family. This isn't a corporation. This is a calling.

The family at work Nu Coffee warehouse operations Every generation
Every generation, all in Nu Coffee Ethiopia bags packed for retail
Nu Coffee fulfillment Walmart retail order packed Production run — bags ready to seal

Every generation, all in — and every order, packed with pride.

We Show Up

On the Floor,
In the Market

Nu Coffee doesn't just ship from a warehouse — the team shows up at trade shows, industry events, and buyer meetings to put the product in people's hands.

From specialty food expos to buyer meetings with Walmart, Whole Foods, and Costco — Nu Coffee is building relationships the right way.

Nu Coffee at Booth #49

Booth #49 — RangeMe Verified

Craft in Motion — Small Batch, Every Time

Craft in Motion

Small Batch. Every Time.

Taste the Story

The Story Is in Every Bag

From Addis Ababa to your morning cup — a mission, a family, and a legacy.

Shop Coffee Our Heritage