Guatemala SL28 Natural Process from Plan del Guayabo Estate

In recent years, specialty coffee lovers have become far more curious about the origins and processing behind their beans—especially when it comes to rare varieties like SL28 grown outside Kenya. But finding a truly traceable, high-altitude SL28 processed as a natural with clear origin details? That’s still uncommon. This Guatemalan lot changes that.

The Plan del Guayabo estate’s 2024 SL28 natural offers distinct wine-like notes, a rare SL28 expression from Guatemala’s underappreciated New Oriente region, grown at 1675 metres above sea level. Fermented as a natural with careful attention to turning and drying schedules, it shows remarkable clarity and complexity for the variety.

Why This Guatemalan SL28 Is Different

The New Oriente region of Guatemala has long been overlooked, often lumped into bulk SHB shipments with no traceability. That began to shift in the 1990s, when the Donado family founded Plan del Guayabo estate near Volcán de Suchitán—locally known as “Platanillo Plain” due to its abundance of guava trees. Since then, the estate has focused on high-elevation, variety-specific lots with defined processing methods. Their SL28 natural is part of that transformation.

This particular lot was produced in collaboration with an international green coffee buyer, who worked directly with the farm on both harvest standards and natural processing protocols—including daily turn frequency and exact drying duration. The goal: to highlight SL28’s potential when grown at altitude and processed thoughtfully outside East Africa.

Why SL28 Is Rare in Central America

SL28 is not commonly grown in Central America. Originally developed in the 1930s by the Scott Laboratories in Kenya from a mix of French Mission, Ethiopian, and Yemeni genetics, it was bred specifically to resist drought and disease while yielding high-quality cup profiles. Its large, copper-coloured seeds became iconic in Kenyan coffee, famed for their bright acidity, complex citrus, and deep blackcurrant tones.

While it thrives in high-altitude, phosphorous-rich soils like those in Kenya, only a few estates in Central America have taken on the challenge of growing it. Plan del Guayabo is one of them—and at 1675m, the conditions are comparable to Kenya’s best coffee zones. The result is a cup with surprising structure and balance for the region.

Natural Processing: From Harvest to Drying

This SL28 was processed using the natural (dry) method, where ripe coffee cherries are picked fully red and laid out to dry in the sun with the fruit still intact. According to the producer, the coffee was carefully handpicked to remove underripe or damaged fruit before being placed on raised African beds. It was turned regularly to ensure even drying and protected from rain and nighttime dew. The total drying period lasted several days under controlled conditions.

The extended skin contact allows the beans to absorb more of the fruit’s sugars and acids, leading to the winey, fermented undertones that define this lot. This method requires precise management to avoid over-fermentation or mould—but when done right, it amplifies sweetness, complexity, and body.

What’s in the Cup: Flavour Profile

The Plan del Guayabo SL28 natural delivers an aromatic and flavour profile that includes tropical elements alongside dried fruit and wine-like characteristics. Expect notes of pineapple, dried apricot, preserved lemon peel, muscatel, and hints of Bordeaux-style wine. There are also subtle green tea and cinnamon spice notes running through the cup, along with a smoky dark plum richness. Overall, it’s sweet, layered, and expressive—with a lingering fruity and winey finish.

The winey natural SL28 flavour is highlighted by descriptors such as: pineapple, cantaloupe, dried apricot, candied lemon peel, Bordeaux wine, green tea, cinnamon spice, and a full-bodied smokiness with dark plum.

Guatemala Plan del Guayabo Estate SL28 – Technical Details

Country: Guatemala
Region: New Oriente
Farm: Plan del Guayabo Estate (also referred to as “” or Guava Plain Estate)
Producer: Mr. Benjamin Donado
Processing Method: Natural (winey/dry process)
Variety: SL28
Altitude: 1675 metres
Flavour Notes: Pineapple, dried apricot, red wine

Frequently Asked Questions

What is special about the SL28 coffee variety?

SL28 is a rare coffee variety originally developed in Kenya in the 1930s by Scott Laboratories. It was bred to be drought- and disease-resistant while producing high-quality cups with bright acidity, complex citrus, and deep fruity tones. It’s known for its large, copper-coloured beans and exceptional cup quality, especially at high altitudes. It’s rarely grown outside East Africa, making its appearance in Central America notable.

Where is the Plan del Guayabo estate located?

Plan del Guayabo estate is located near Volcán de Suchitán in Guatemala’s New Oriente region. In Spanish, the area is nicknamed “Platanillo Plain” because of the many guava trees grown there. The farm sits at 1675 metres above sea level and has been managed by the Donado family since the 1990s.

How is natural (winey) process coffee different from washed coffee?

Natural or dry process coffee involves drying coffee cherries with the fruit still on the bean, allowing the sugars and acids from the fruit to ferment into the seed. This creates richer, fruitier, and often wine-like or sweeter flavours. Washed coffee removes the fruit before drying, resulting in a cleaner, brighter cup with more pronounced acidity and less fruitiness.

Why is altitude important for coffee flavour?

Higher altitude generally means cooler temperatures, which slows coffee cherry ripening. This slower development allows more complex sugars to develop, leading to greater sweetness, acidity, and overall cup complexity. Plan del Guayabo’s 1675m elevation contributes to the bright yet balanced profile of its SL28.

What does “New Oriente” mean in Guatemalan coffee?

New Oriente is a lesser-known coffee-growing region in eastern Guatemala. It has historically been overlooked in favour of more famous regions like Antigua or Huehuetenango. Many lots from here were previously blended without traceability, but newer farms like Plan del Guayabo are changing that by producing traceable, high-quality, variety-specific coffees.

Is this SL28 lot suitable for filter or espresso?

While the article does not specify brew methods, this SL28 natural’s profile—fruity, winey, with good sweetness and body—would work well for both filter and espresso. Its complexity makes it especially appealing for pour-over methods that highlight fruit and fermentation notes, but it could also shine as a single-origin espresso with milk.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans with Natural Process & Complex Fruit

For fans of winey, fruit-forward naturals like the Plan del Guayabo SL28, try FrontStreet’s Ethiopia Huakui —a bright, floral Ethiopian with heavy fruit and fermentation notes. Also consider the Colombia Sidra (Sidra), which features bold tropical fruit and a layered, double-fermented profile. Both showcase the kind of complexity and sweetness that natural processing can achieve. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.