SL28 Natural

This rich, juicy cup opens with aromas of berry jam, honey, and cream cheese danish. Notes of dark chocolate, blackberry pie, and hibiscus are lifted by crisp Concord grape acidity, resolving into an herbal finish reminiscent of black tea and marjoram.

Details

Producer: Nando Diaz Farm: Finca Santa Ana Region: Santa Rosa Department Altitude: 1,650-1,800 masl Varietal: SL28 Process: Natural Roast: Light Notes: Blackberry Jam, Dark Chocolate, Black Tea

The Story

This limited offering comes from two separate "gardens" of SL28, spanning 1,650-1,800 meters above sea level. From its origins in Kenya in the 1930s, SL28 spread through Africa and is commonly grown in Latin America today. A relative of Bourbon, it is known for its exceptional cup quality and high yield.

Finca Santa Ana has set aside 5.4 hectares of its land as a forest reserve. From this area, rainwater is collected throughout the year as a reserve supply for harvest season. Unused pulp from coffee cherries is composted to be used as fertilizer on the trees in the coming year.

Direct Trade

Fernando Diaz is a longtime Direct Trade partner of our sister company, Bird Rock Coffee Roasters. Finca Santa Ana has had multiple Cup of Excellence appearances, including #4 in 2010 and #16 in 2015. The carefully supervised quality control at the farm is evident in the cup.

Finca Santa Ana has partnered with local organizations to invest in the community of Pueblo Nuevo de Viñas, including improving the fiscal infrastructure of the pre-school, elementary school, and the county health center building and maternity room. The farm also provides a "coffee Kindergarten" during harvest season—a certified day care dedicated to the children of the temporary employees on the farm.

As part of our Direct Trade buying philosophy at PT's and Bird Rock, we always look for ways to invest in our farming partners in addition to paying a good price for the coffee. In 2015 Bird Rock shared an investment with Fernando to plant new seed stock at the farm with about 15 new varietals, including Mokka and Gesha. In a few years, these shrubs will give Finca Santa Ana more varietals to sell to specialty roasters and add another dimension to this already great farm.

This SL28 lot from producer Nando Diaz highlights the intersection of specific botanical heritage and regional terroir in the Santa Rosa Department of Guatemala. While the SL28 varietal is historically celebrated for its distinct acidity and complex profile, its expression here is shaped by the natural processing method. Generally, natural-processed coffees are known for their heavier body and intensified fruit-forward characteristics, often resulting in a syrupy mouthfeel.

Roasted by PT's Coffee Roasting, this selection presents a profile defined by blackberry jam, dark chocolate, and black tea. These descriptors align with the broader flavor wheel categories often associated with high-quality, high-elevation coffees. By utilizing the natural method, the producer allows the coffee cherry to impart deeper sweetness into the bean during drying, creating a cup that balances the inherent brightness of the varietal with the rich, jammy depth typical of this processing style.