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SL28

Coffea arabica (Scott Labs selection)

1 min read
Key facts
Parent Variety
Bourbon
Origin
Kenya's Scott Agricultural Laboratories, 1931
Key Traits
Drought tolerance, deep-rooted, hardy
Flavor Profile
Blackcurrant, grapefruit, intense juicy acidity
Aroma
Blackcurrant, citrus
Disease Resistance
Low, susceptible to leaf rust
Cup Potential
Exceptional
Beans we stock
43 SL28 coffees
SL28
Photo: U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Northeast Region / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

SL28 is a Bourbon-derived selection chosen at Kenya's Scott Agricultural Laboratories in 1931 for drought tolerance and quality. Deep-rooted and remarkably hardy, it can survive decades with minimal inputs, and it is responsible for the iconic blackcurrant-and-grapefruit acidity that defines great Kenyan coffee. Despite susceptibility to leaf rust, its extraordinary cup keeps it in demand wherever it has been planted, from Kenya to Latin America.

At a glance

  • Scientific name: Coffea arabica (Scott Labs selection)
  • Parent varieties: Bourbon
  • Identified: 1931
  • Flavor: Blackcurrant, grapefruit, intense juicy acidity.
  • Aroma: Blackcurrant, citrus.
  • Disease resistance: Low
  • Cup potential: Exceptional

Coffees demonstrating this

From our catalog of in-stock beans.

See also

Sources & further reading