Guatemala SHB SHB SL28 Natural Process from Guava Plain Estate

When you taste a coffee that smells like ripe pineapple and dried apricots with a hint of vinous depth, you’re likely drinking something special—and traceable. But how do producers in remote high-altitude regions like Guatemala’s New Oriente create such distinctive single-origin lots? This is the story of one estate doing just that.

The SHB (Strictly Hard Bean) SL28 natural-process coffee from Guatemala’s Guava Plain Estate delivers bold tropical fruit and wine-like complexity. Grown at 1675 metres above sea level by Mr. Benjamin Donado using the SL28 variety and fermented as a natural (sun-dried) coffee, this lot offers distinct notes of pineapple, dried apricot, and red wine.

Where Is the Guava Plain Estate?

The Guava Plain Estate—known in Spanish as Plan del Guayabo—lies near the Volcán de Suchitán in Guatemala’s New Oriente region. Its name comes from the abundance of guava trees in the area. The farm sits at a lofty 1675m and benefits from volcanic soils, stable rainfall, and a subtropical highland climate ideal for coffee cultivation. This micro-region was once overshadowed by bulk SHB blends, but today it’s home to carefully managed, traceable specialty lots.

Who Produces the Coffee and How?

The estate is owned and managed by Mr. Benjamin Donado, whose family has been dedicated to coffee production since 1990. Before their involvement, local farmers had little experience growing coffee at such high altitudes and on steep terrain. Donado shifted focus to cultivating distinct varieties with varied processing methods. Today, the estate produces premium SHB-grade coffees, including this standout SL28 lot.

What Makes This Natural Process Coffee Different?

This coffee is processed using the natural (or sun-dried) method, meaning ripe cherries are laid out to dry in the sun with their skins and pulp intact. This technique typically enhances body and amplifies fruity and fermented flavours. In this case, the SL28 beans were dried carefully to highlight winey, tropical notes. Natural processing requires precise weather conditions and careful turning to avoid mould—but when done right, it yields coffees like this one: complex, sweet, and fruit-forward.

Natural processing is one of the oldest and most widespread methods. Typically, cherries are spread on raised beds for 27–30 days until they reach the ideal moisture level. At FrontStreet Coffee, other natural-processed coffees like the Yirgacheffe Red Cherry or Colombia Sidra also showcase how this method can emphasize fermentation profiles and fruit character—though each origin brings its own expression.

Why the Focus on Traceability and Quality in New Oriente?

Historically, the New Oriente region saw intermediaries buying unsorted coffee cherries, blending them, and selling them under vague regional labels—like 'New Oriente SHB'—with no farm-level traceability. This damaged the reputation of high-quality lots. In response, progressive farms like Guava Plain Estate and ethical buyers are working to change the narrative. By producing traceable, high-scoring microlots with distinct profiles, they help restore confidence in the region’s potential for specialty coffee.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Guava Plain Estate?

The Guava Plain Estate, or Plan del Guayabo, is a coffee farm located near the Volcán de Suchitán in Guatemala’s New Oriente region, at 1675 metres above sea level. It is owned by Mr. Benjamin Donado, whose family has produced coffee there since 1990.

What coffee variety is used at Guava Plain Estate?

The estate grows the SL28 coffee variety, a renowned Ethiopian-origin cultivar prized for its high cup quality and ability to express complex flavours at high altitudes. It is well-suited to the volcanic soils and cool climate of the region.

How is the coffee processed?

This coffee is processed using the natural (sun-dried) method. Ripe cherries are dried in the sun with their skins and pulp intact, which enhances sweetness, body, and fruit flavours—including notes of pineapple, dried apricot, and red wine in this particular lot.

What does SHB mean in Guatemalan coffee?

SHB stands for Strictly Hard Bean, a classification indicating that the coffee was grown at elevations above 1350 metres. These beans are denser and typically have a more complex flavour profile compared to lower-grown beans.

What flavours can you expect from this coffee?

This Guava Plain Estate SL28 natural coffee features prominent tasting notes of pineapple, dried apricot, and red wine. These vibrant, fruity, and slightly sweet characteristics come from both the SL28 variety and the natural processing method.

Who is Benjamin Donado?

Benjamin Donado is the producer behind the Guava Plain Estate. Since 1990, he and his family have focused on cultivating high-quality, traceable specialty coffee using diverse varieties and processing methods, transforming local coffee production in the region.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans with Natural Process Notes

For fans of the Guava Plain Estate’s winey, fruity profile, try FrontStreet Coffee’s Yirgacheffe Red Cherry—bright with tropical fruit and fermented sweetness—or the Colombia Sidra, which highlights complex tropical and stone fruit notes through a double anaerobic natural process. Both are excellent examples of how natural processing can enhance sweetness and complexity in single-origin coffees. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.