Guatemalan SL28 Natural Process Coffee from Guava Plain Estate

If you've tasted a Guatemalan coffee labeled 'New Oriente' and found it dull or indistinct, you're not alone. For years, beans from this remote eastern region were bulked, blended, and sold without traceability—until now. A small group of forward-thinking farms, including Plan del Guayabo, are rewriting the script by producing traceable, high-quality microlots with unique processing methods. This shift is turning one of Guatemala’s least-known regions into a rising star for specialty coffee.

The coffee you’re looking for is an SL28 variety, grown at 1675 metres in Guatemala’s New Oriente region, processed as a winey natural by Guava Plain Estate. It offers notes of pineapple, apricot, dried peach, citrus zest, Bordeaux wine, green tea, and cinnamon spice—with a profile built on rich sweetness and smoky black plum depth.

What Is the New Oriente Coffee Region in Guatemala?

The New Oriente is Guatemala’s easternmost coffee-growing zone, bordering Honduras. Unlike famous regions such as Antigua, which sits close to Guatemala City, New Oriente requires a full drive to the country’s far east. Historically, coffee from here was bought up by intermediaries, blended in Esquipulas, and sold under the generic ‘New Oriente’ label with no farm or processing details. That’s changing, thanks to dedicated farms like Guava Plain Estate, which now produce traceable, microlot coffees tailored to international roasters’ quality goals.

Who Is Guava Plain Estate and What Is Their Story?

Guava Plain Estate—'Plan del Guayabo' in Spanish—is located near the Volcán de Suchitán and named for the abundance of guava trees in the area. The farm has been managed by the Donado family since 1990, led by Mr. Benjamin Donado. They focus on cultivating high-quality coffee using diverse varieties and processing methods. Previously, high-altitude, steep terrain coffee farming was considered impractical in the region, but the Donados have proven otherwise, producing award-worthy lots with distinct profiles.

Why SL28 in Central America? And Why Now?

SL28 is a rare coffee variety in Central America, originally discovered in 1931 near Lake Tanganyika in East Africa. Bred by researchers at the Scottish Laboratory in Kenya, it was selected for its drought resistance, high yield potential, and exceptional cup quality. The 'SL' stands for Scott Laboratories, and '28' is its selection number. Though initially intended for Kenya, it became famous there for its vibrant acidity and complex fruit flavours. Today, only a few skilled farms in Central America grow it—Guava Plain Estate being one of them. Its wide, slightly red-tinged leaves suit high altitudes, and it shows outstanding performance in both washed and natural processes.

How Is This Winey Natural Process SL28 Different?

This particular SL28 lot from Guava Plain Estate is processed as a winey (or 'fermented') natural. The farm worked closely with importers to refine details like harvest ripeness, turn frequency during drying, and total drying duration—all to enhance wine-like characteristics. The result is a coffee with intense tropical and wine notes: think pineapple, dried apricot, peach, sugar-lime zest, Bordeaux wine tones, green tea, and hints of cinnamon. There’s also a deep, smoky black plum richness and a strong sweet profile throughout.

Guava Plain Estate Coffee Details at a Glance

• Country: Guatemala
• Region: New Oriente
• Farm: Guava Plain Estate (Plan del Guayabo)
• Producer: Mr. Benjamin Donado
• Variety: SL28
• Processing Method: Winey Natural (Natural with extended fermentation/drying for wine-like character)
• Altitude: 1675 metres
• Flavour Notes: Pineapple, apricot, dried peach, citrus peel, Bordeaux wine, green tea, cinnamon, sweet and smoky black plum

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the SL28 coffee variety and where does it come from?

SL28 is a coffee variety discovered in 1931 near Lake Tanganyika in East Africa and developed by researchers at the Scottish Laboratory in Kenya. It was selected for high altitudes, drought resistance, disease tolerance, and exceptional cup quality. The 'SL' stands for Scott Laboratories and '28' is its selection number. It became famous in Kenya for its vibrant acidity and complex fruit flavours, and is now also grown by select farms in Central America, including Guatemala’s Guava Plain Estate.

What is winey natural coffee processing?

Winey natural processing, sometimes called 'fermented natural', is a method where coffee cherries are dried with the fruit still attached, often with careful control over fermentation and drying conditions to enhance wine-like flavours. This can include managing turn frequency, drying time, and harvest ripeness. The goal is to boost fruity, fermented, and sometimes tart or vinous notes in the cup, as seen in this SL28 from Guatemala.

Where is the New Oriente coffee region in Guatemala?

The New Oriente is the easternmost coffee region of Guatemala, bordering Honduras. It is much less accessible than more central regions like Antigua or Huehuetenango, often requiring a long drive to reach. Historically, its coffee was blended and sold without traceability, but farms like Guava Plain Estate are now producing traceable microlots with distinct processing and high quality.

What makes the Donado family and Guava Plain Estate notable?

The Donado family has managed Guava Plain Estate since 1990. Located near the Volcán de Suchitán, the farm focuses on high-quality production using various coffee varieties and processing techniques. They’ve succeeded in growing coffee at high altitudes on steep terrain—a challenge many previously thought impractical—and produce microlots tailored to specialty roasters worldwide.

What does this Guava Plain SL28 taste like?

This SL28 is processed as a winey natural and exhibits flavours of pineapple, apricot, dried peach, citrus zest, Bordeaux wine, green tea, and cinnamon. It has a rich sweetness and a deep, smoky black plum note, offering complexity and a bold fruit-forward profile typical of well-executed natural processing.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans with Natural or Complex Profiles

For fans of complex, fruit-driven naturals like this Guava Plain SL28, try FrontStreet’s Ethiopia Huakui (Huakui), known for its jasmine, bergamot, blueberry, and grapefruit. Alternatively, the Colombia Sidra shows tropical fruits, brown sugar, and fermented richness. Both are single-origin beans with distinctive processing and vibrant profiles. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.