Vergel Estate, Guava Banana

Handpickers Coffee was founded in 2017 by Alexandros Foukis, Dimitris Papaioannou, and Natali Dimou in the Tavros district of Athens, growing out of a concept the team had developed since 2015. The name pays tribute to the coffee pickers who harvest the ripest cherries by hand, an appreciation Alexandros deepened during a visit to Kenya in late 2016. The roastery is built around a Loring 35 paired with a Sovda Pearl Mini colour sorter, enabling precise roasting and exceptional bean purity across their single origin and blend offerings. Sourcing is driven by direct relationships with small scale farmers, with the team visiting farms and tasting coffees on site before committing to a lot. Weekly cuppings and strict quality protocols ensure every batch meets specialty standards, and monthly roastery tours invite the public to experience the process firsthand.