Kenya
Handege

Washed process SL28, Ruiru 11

Flavour: yellow peach, berries, port

Body: Acidity:

Handege is a relatively small factory in the Kiambu region, with an annual production of about 150 metric tons. The name comes from the Swahili word Ndege, which means aeroplane.

At the factory cherries are pulped, fermented and washed, before being sun-dried on raised African drying tables. The dry parchment is then taken to a dry mill for hulling and grading after which it is taken to a secure warehouse prior to Auction.

The Handege Coffee Mill or ‘factory’, is part of a larger producer cooperative known as Ritho Society.

Founded in 1972, Ritho works with coffee factories throughout Kiambu county, and also works with Wamaguma factory.

The soil around the Kiambu region are rich with red volcanic rock, black cotton and patches of loam – perfect for coffee production. Annual rainfall of around 100cm each year ensures the soil is well saturated.

Similarly to other factories and estates in the same area, there is a wide range of native shade trees and the area hosts all sorts of wild animals such as antelopes, hyenas, porcupines, squirrels, anteaters, monkeys and many others.

Learn everything about this coffee:

Ethical, traceable sourcing

This page has all the sourcing information (variety, process, region, story, importer, and more) that our importers share with us, and give us permission to use.

The transparency helps us talk confidently about the quality and background of our product, and it helps you know exactly what you’re buying.

Learn more:
Coffee page transparency legend
Our coffee philosophy
Our business approach

Fresh harvest coffee

We only source and roast coffee from each country’s latest harvest season (so the green coffee is never older than 1 year from the time of picking, processing and packing). This ensures the sensory qualities are always at their peak and unaffected by excessive ageing.

Roasted for espresso and filter (best enjoyed black)

Roast style: omni. Omni roasts are designed to brew and taste great both as espresso and filter. Our omni single origins generally sit on Agtron values in the ~70-60 value range. So, technically, they are somewhere in the lighter side of the medium spectrum.

Designed for espresso and filter brewing. Best enjoyed black.

Learn more:
Our Loring Kestrel S35 roaster
Our roasting style and approach

Best brewed within days 15-49 post-roast

The ‘fresh is best’ saying doesn’t apply to coffee (contrary to popular belief). Waiting before opening and brewing your bag of whole coffee beans helps develop peak flavour and acidity.

But heads up: if you buy pre-ground coffee, brew it as soon as possible.

Learn more:
Our recommended brewing window

Try our custom brewing recipes

Our recipes and ratios are tailored to our coffee sourcing and roasting styles, bringing the best flavour and feel out of each coffee.

For pour over, immersion, and other filter brewing styles, check our brew guides.
For our espresso single origins, we recommend a coffee:yield ratio of 1:3:

Dose: 20g ground coffee
Yield: 60g espresso
Total brew time: ~24-28 seconds

This is just a starting point! We encourage you to experiment, taste, and adjust to find the recipe that you enjoy the most.

Learn more:
Our espresso brew guide (single origin)
Brewing ratio calculator

Packaging and sustainability

Bags: ABA-certified home compostable (AS 5810-2010)
Labels: recyclable
Valves (only on +250g bags): general waste
Box and tape (online orders): recyclable

Learn more:
Our packaging

Producer: Handege Coffee Factory
Country: Kenya
Region: Kiambu County
Altitude: 1600-1800m above sea level
Varieties: SL28, Ruiru 11
Process: washed
Harvested: December 2018
Importer: Condesa Co.Lab
Body: Medium
Acidity: Bright
Tasting notes: Yellow peach, berries, port
Roast style: Omni (filter + espresso)

Varieties

Ruiru 11 variety

Released in 1985, Ruiru 11 is a disease resistant varietal developed in Kenya

SL28 variety

SL28 was developed in 1931 by Scott Laboratories to suit the growing conditions in Kenya. The varietal is known for its exceptional cup quality

The location

Coffee from Kenya

Alongside Ethiopia and Colombia, Kenya is one of the origins we get most excited about at the roastery. It exports some of the most vibrant, bright, and unique coffees in the world.

Farm processes

Washed process

Machines are used to remove the flesh from the coffee cherry before being fermented in water, washed again, and finally sun dried. This process tends to result in more distinct, cleaner flavours.