El Salvador San Andres SL28

About This Coffee

FINALLY, THE NEW HARVEST FROM THE MAGANÀ FAMILY IS HERE! This is an incredibly soft, berry-dried microlot from the Magaña family and the SL28 variety; it originally comes from Kenya and was planted on their San Andres farm 5 years ago. The trees are now yielding their big harvest for the first time. The coffee has been hand-picked over two days, the first time in March and the second in April. The coffee has then been allowed to dry in its own berry under the open sun for three days, before being moved to the shade for a three-week slow drying. The method gives a coffee with soft fruit and chocolate sweetness in character. There are also fine tones of dried tropical fruit. The Magaña family has their farms in the Apaneca region and takes care of them with great care and feeling. We have known Angel and his family for more than 15 years and buy their entire harvest. The family has a great commitment to both the environment and quality, they always strive to be a little better every year. The philosophy is about growing and producing coffee in harmony with nature, a deep care for the balance in the soil and the ecosystem. Their farm is home to a variety of birds and other animals. MORE ABOUT THE SL 28 VARIETY SL28 is one of Africa's most famous and appreciated coffee varieties. It was originally developed in Kenya in the 1930s and has since spread to other parts of the continent – especially to the Arabica areas in Uganda – and now also to Latin America. The variety thrives best at medium to high altitudes and can develop outstanding quality when the terroir meets its requirements. SL28 is resistant to drought but sensitive to the most common coffee diseases. It is also known for its rusticity – a trait that allows the plant to be left unattended for years, even decades, and still return to productive cultivation. Genetic tests have recently confirmed that SL28 is related to the Bourbon group. The trees can get very old – in many parts of Kenya there are still productive SL28 plants that are between 60 and 80 years old.