Among the many coffee varieties cultivated in Specialty Coffee today, SL28 has achieved an almost legendary status. For many baristas, roasters, and coffee professionals, this variety is one of the most fascinating coffees in the world.

SL28 Coffee – From Kenya to the Colombian Andes

The variety was selected in the 1930s in Kenya by the Scott Agricultural Laboratories. The goal was to find coffee varieties that possessed both good agricultural characteristics and exceptional sensory quality. SL28 quickly stood out — not for high yields, but for its extraordinary cup quality.

SL28 coffees are known for their precise acidity structure, intense fruitiness, and aromatic clarity. In Kenya, this often results in coffees with notes of blackcurrant, citrus, and floral nuances. This characteristic aroma has made SL28 famous worldwide.

SL28 in Colombia – A New Form of Expression

Although SL28 originally comes from East Africa, the variety is now also cultivated in other countries of origin, including Colombia. There, it often shows a slightly different, but equally exciting profile.

The combination of high altitudes, volcanic soils, and the diverse microclimate of the Colombian Andes means that SL28 often develops a somewhat rounder sweetness here, while retaining its elegant acidity.

Typical sensory impressions of Colombian SL28:

• red fruits
• cherry
• floral sweetness
• an elegant, juicy acidity

This balance makes the variety particularly interesting for filter coffee and high-quality microlots.

Finca Quebraditas – Precision Work by Edinson Argote

The SL28 from Garza Coffee comes from Edinson Argote, a Colombian coffee farmer who produces coffee on Finca Quebraditas in Huila.

On this farm, coffee is cultivated and processed with great care. The altitude and local microclimate allow for a slow maturation of the coffee cherries, which enables complex sugar structures and aromatic precursors to develop.

About SL28

"Varieties like SL28 are not planted for their productivity. They are grown because they have the potential to produce exceptional cup profiles."

— Philosophy behind microlots like Quebraditas

For producers like Edinson Argote, this means a lot of manual labor and a precise understanding of the cherries' ripeness levels and subsequent processing. Exactly this combination of experience, care, and willingness to experiment makes microlots like this possible.

Why SL28 is so valued among Coffee Professionals

What makes SL28 special is the ability of this variety to show terroir and processing exceptionally transparently in the cup.

When the coffee is carefully cultivated, precisely processed, and gently roasted, a cup with remarkable clarity and depth is created. Especially with lighter roasts for filter methods, SL28 can develop impressive aromatic complexity.

For this reason, this variety is often found in high-quality microlots and even in coffees used in competitions.

SL28 Quebraditas at Garza Coffee

The Cherry SL-28 from Garza Coffee shows the elegant side of this exceptional variety. In the cup, notes of cherry and red fruits unfold, accompanied by a fine sweetness and a clearly structured acidity.

Especially with filter methods such as V60, Origami, or Chemex, this coffee can fully develop its aromatic precision and transparency.

For many coffee enthusiasts, SL28 is one of the most exciting ways to discover the diversity of coffee varieties — and this microlot from Edinson Argote from Finca Quebraditas is an impressive example of that.