Rooted in Tradition, Brewing the Future of Coffee
Agnep Heritage Coffee is a family-run coffee farm located in Balili, Mankayan, Benguet, at an elevation of 1,620 meters above sea level in the Cordillera Mountain Range of the Philippines. We are owned and managed by Agnep Agri-products Corp., a company built on the shared vision of restoring ancestral land through sustainable, high-quality coffee cultivation.
Our story began in January 2018 with a simple question: “What if we could grow coffee using our great-grandmother’s land?”
This question brought us back to our roots—literally. As we explored our ancestral property in Benguet, we realized it had all the natural elements ideal for coffee: elevation, volcanic soil, and a forest-like environment with shade from Benguet pine, Kalasan, and Alnus trees. In fact, our great-great-grandmother Agnep, a Bontoc native, once grew Typica coffee as early as 1906 in her backyard under that same canopy.
Years earlier, our grandmother Purita Hora-Dado and uncle Sean Luke Dado had planted Typica, Granica, and Red Bourbon trees on this land. The trees survived with little attention—and still bore cherries. That gave us the push to begin our coffee journey.
What We Grow
Today, we cultivate 9,967 Arabica trees across five hectares of forested ancestral land. Our focus varietals include Typica, Granica (Orange Bourbon), Catimor and Red Bourbon. Grown under shade using biodiverse agroforestry systems, our coffee benefits from natural soil health, pest resistance, and slow cherry maturation.
We produce small, traceable micro-lots using a combination of washed and anaerobic fermentation processes. Each batch is carefully sorted and processed to highlight varietal character and terroir. Our flavor profiles feature notes of milk tea, bergamot, raisin, jasmine, and caramel. We’re also conducting experimental lots—testing fermentation times, microbial activity, and drying conditions to refine our post-harvest practices and explore new expressions of Benguet-grown coffee.
How We Farm
We are proudly chemical-free. Inspired by Korean Natural Farming (JADAM), we use fermented plant extracts, compost, and local microbes to nourish the soil. Pest control is supported by a rich canopy of shade trees and native birdlife. All our work is done by hand by our team of 27 seasonal local workers, from planting to pulping. Every tree is individually tended, and every harvest is handled with care, because for us, coffee is not just a crop. It’s our connection to the land and to the future of the Cordillera.
We have a few coffee berry borer traps in Phase 1 and 3.
Our Community Commitment
In 2023, we co-founded the Kabatangan Coffee Growers, a community-based initiative to extend shade-grown, sustainable coffee practices to neighboring smallholder farmers. Together, we’ve planted over 3,000 additional trees and offered training in planting, processing, and cooperative marketing.
We envision a future where Benguet coffee farmers earn fair prices for exceptional work, and where young people see a future in coffee, not just as laborers, but as innovators and entrepreneurs.
Where You’ll Find Us
Agnep Heritage Coffee is now available in select cafés such as Angkan Coffee Company and The Giving Café in Metro Manila. Our roasted beans can be ordered online through The Vault.ph and Shopee, and we sell green beans to roasters seeking distinctive highland profiles.
In 2022, our work was recognized internationally with a Bronze Medal at the Global Coffee Championships – Signature Coffee Award—a proud milestone for our young farm.
READ: Our coffee wins Bronze in the Signature Coffee Award: Brewing at the Global Coffee Championships
Why We Exist
Our dream has always been to offer Philippine specialty coffee to the world, while creating lasting benefits for our community. We farm not just to produce, but to preserve, learn, share, and build something meaningful.
At Agnep Heritage Coffee, every cup tells a story of forest, family, and the future we’re growing in the highlands of Benguet.
(originally written by Lauren and Marielle in 2018 but edited by Noemi Dado in 2025 to update the latest news)
Our Mission
To be among Benguet’s leading producers of specialty coffee that grows sustainable, high-quality Arabica. We aim to be cost-competitive and aligned with global quality standards, while following environment-friendly growing processes. Through our farm, we want to provide sustainable benefits to farmers, processors, traders, exporters and consumers.
Core Values
- Environmental responsibility. We value the environment where we grow our coffee. We will only use sustainable agricultural practices that preserve our forest system and maintain the productivity of the land over time.
- Commitment to the community. We are committed to giving fair compensation for the work of our coffee farmers. We aim to educate and empower the next generation of coffee farmers in Benguet, so they can grow along with us and develop sustainable livelihoods of their own.
- Continuous improvement. We strive to maintain high standards in everything we do, while improving our methods with practice. Through our culture of constant education, research, and growth, we aim to constantly refine our methods as we strive to make our Benguet arabica meet global standards.
Meet our lead farmers
And at least 27 farmers and helpers since 2018.
The Dado Family
October 20, 2022
We are grateful to Joey and Tess Dado, who paved the way to get our coffee seedlings from the Bureau of Plant Industry, Department of Agriculture, Regional Field Office of the Cordillera Administrative Region (DA-RFO CAR) through Joan Dimas-Bacbac.