Vélo Espresso is a brand new coffee concept from Solberg & Hansen, inspired by the passion for cycling and espresso. A concept that celebrates the rhythm of pedalling, community and pure taste experiences. "Vélo" is French for bicycle, and in this concept, two worlds meet in perfect harmony: the feeling of speed and freedom, and the pleasure of a pure, juicy and energising espresso.
Now Volume 1 is here, with coffee beans from Rwanda's lush mountainsides and a story that stretches from the World Road Cycling Championships to Norwegian espresso cups.
The idea was born out of a desire to create a coffee that is just as suitable for a break at the top of a climb as it is for a quiet morning before the first meeting of the day. Whether you're a pro in tights or an everyday rider on your way to work, Vélo Espresso is made for you.
Volume 01 - a taste of Rwanda
The first edition, Vélo Espresso Volume 1, is made with coffee beans from the Tumba washing station in the Rulindo district of Rwanda. Here, at an altitude of over 2,000 metres, hand-picked beans are delivered from more than 1,600 small farmers. The result is an espresso with a flavour profile that is both elegant and powerful:
- Flavour: Citrus, dried fruit and warm spices
- Process: Wet-processed for extra purity and sweetness
- Bean type: 100 % Bourbon
This isn't a dark, heavy espresso - it's a light, fruity and juicy coffee that lets the origin of the raw material shine through.
The espresso can be brewed in an espresso machine or mocha pot, but is also suitable for press pots and funnels if you like a darker cup of coffee.
Why Rwanda?
It's no coincidence that coffee from Rwanda was chosen for the first volume of Vélo Espresso. In September 2025, the World Road Cycling Championships will be held amidst the coffee plantations of Kigali. This is the very first time a cycling world championship has been organised in an African country. For Solberg & Hansen, this was the starting point for bringing coffee and cycling culture closer together.
The coffee was harvested from our good friends at Tumba washing station, who work closely with small-scale farmers who grow coffee with a love for sustainable agriculture. Together with coffee buyer Morten Sletten and purchasing manager Tina Karslen, former professional cyclist Carl Fredrik Hagen went on an unforgettable trip to Tumba and Kigali. There they tested the World Cup trails, climbed many metres of altitude on two wheels and visited the washing station that processes Vélo Espresso's coffee beans.
Grand launch in Mathallen
On Monday 16 June, we launched Vélo Espresso Volume 01, which was marked with a live recording of the podcast Sykkel - a podcast by coffee enthusiast and professional cyclist Carl Fredrik Hagen and football commentator and cycling lover Eivind Bisgaard. Together with guests such as coffee buyer Morten Sletten from Solberg & Hansen, Felix Muhigana from the Urukundo Rwandan organisation and national road cycling team manager Kai Lexberg, they talked about cycling life, caffeine breaks, Rwanda's incredible history and the journey to the perfect espresso.
This combination of communication and community really emphasises the concept of Vélo Espresso: it's not just about coffee - it's about what happens between the stages.
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Vélo Espresso is a declaration of love for both cycling and coffee culture. An invitation to slow down, taste, listen and feel the rhythm of both cycling and taste buds. It's coffee with a purpose, made for those who love both precision and enjoyment.
Volume 1 takes you up the steep hillsides of Rwanda. Are you ready for the next stage?
