Borderlands Microlot

Last week’s single origin subscription featured a coffee from the Borderlands project—an initiative that united coffee producers in Nariño, Colombia, to enhance their livelihoods and build enduring relationships with quality-driven buyers. Over time, these groups have invested in variety-specific plots to better understand how high-quality cultivars perform in their unique soil and climate. 

This subscriber-exclusive microlot is sourced from plots growing SL-28 and Gesha––two prized African varieties. Grown in the Colombian Andes, they offer a unique tasting experience: the bright citrus and floral quality of these varieties are beautifully complemented by the sweet chocolate and stone fruit characteristics that define Nariño’s typical cup.

The Borderlands Microlot, sourced by Counter Culture Coffee, represents a unique intersection of high-quality genetics and regional terroir. Cultivated in the Colombia · Nariño region, this selection features a blend of SL-28 and Gesha varietals. While Gesha is often prized for its distinct floral and tea-like clarity, SL-28 is frequently noted for its vibrant acidity and complex structure. Together, these varietals contribute to a profile defined by bright citrus, floral aromatics, sweet chocolate, and stone fruit.

When evaluating such complex profiles, tasters often find it helpful to reference the flavor wheel to better categorize the nuanced interplay between the fruit-forward characteristics and the underlying sweetness. This microlot highlights the potential of Nariño’s specific growing conditions to produce coffees that balance delicate floral notes with a rich, chocolatey foundation, offering a sophisticated experience for those exploring the diverse output of Colombian coffee production.