Costa Rica Cerro San Luis SL-28 Yellow Honey
Costa Rica | West Valley
A unique Costa Rican expression of the famous Kenyan SL-28 variety.
Grown at high elevation in the renowned West Valley region and processed using the traditional Yellow Honey method, this coffee combines vibrant fruit character, juicy acidity, and exceptional sweetness in a beautifully balanced cup.
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Flavour Profile
Cooked berry, Brown sugar, Oolong tea and a clean, juicy finish.
Coffee Details
Origin: West Valley, Costa Rica
Farm: Finca El Venado, El Plan
Micromill: Cerro San Luis
Producer: Alexander & Magali Delgado Family
Variety: SL-28
Elevation: 1,200–1,900 MASL
Process: Yellow Honey
Harvest: December – April
Roast: Filter Roast
Origin Story
This coffee comes from Cerro San Luis Micromill, a family-owned operation run by siblings Alexander and Magali Delgado in Costa Rica's celebrated West Valley.
Unlike large commercial farms, Cerro San Luis controls every stage of production, from growing and harvesting to processing and drying. This level of control allows the family to focus on quality and traceability while producing distinctive microlots that showcase individual varieties and processing styles.
The West Valley is one of Costa Rica's most respected coffee-growing regions and home to numerous Cup of Excellence-winning farms. Cool temperatures, volcanic soils, and significant day-to-night temperature variation allow coffee cherries to mature slowly, developing higher sugar concentration and greater flavour complexity.
Coffee Lineage
SL-28 is one of the most famous coffee varieties ever developed.
Originally selected by Scott Laboratories in Kenya during the 1930s, SL-28 is believed to have genetic links to drought-resistant Ethiopian and Yemeni coffee populations. It became renowned for producing exceptional cup quality, vibrant acidity, and intense fruit character.
While traditionally associated with Kenya, a small number of producers in Costa Rica have successfully cultivated SL-28 at high elevations, revealing a unique expression that combines Kenyan-style brightness with Costa Rica's characteristic sweetness and balance.
Process Story
At Cerro San Luis, freshly harvested cherries are carefully sorted before being depulped.
For this Yellow Honey process, a portion of the sticky fruit mucilage is intentionally left attached to the parchment during drying. The retained sugars slowly interact with the seed as moisture is removed, increasing sweetness, body, and complexity.
The coffee is then dried slowly on raised beds under carefully controlled conditions until the ideal moisture content is reached.
The result is a cup that sits beautifully between washed and natural coffees — offering the clarity and structure of a washed coffee with the sweetness and texture that honey processing is known for.
Why We Love This Coffee
SL-28 is already celebrated as one of the world's most expressive coffee varieties. Combined with Costa Rica's renowned honey processing expertise, this lot delivers remarkable sweetness, vibrant fruit character, and elegant complexity while remaining clean and approachable.
A rare opportunity to experience one of coffee's most iconic varieties through a uniquely Costa Rican lens.