Guatemala’s New Oriente: SL28 Wine Process Coffee from Guayabo Estate

When you’re hunting for a single-origin coffee with distinct personality—something beyond the usual washed Yirgacheffe or generic SHB—you might wonder where to look. The answer lies in Guatemala’s lesser-known but rapidly evolving New Oriente region, where altitude, volcanic soil, and innovative processing are creating coffees that rival the country’s most famous zones. One standout comes from Plandel Guayabo Estate, home to a rare SL28 variety processed as a wine natural. This isn’t just another Central American cup.

New Oriente’s standout? Plandel Guayabo Estate’s SL28, processed as a wine natural at 1675 metres, offering pineapple, apricot, and wine flavours in a balanced, full-bodied cup.

What Is the New Oriente Coffee Region?

The New Oriente (Nuevo Oriente) is one of Guatemala’s eight recognised highland coffee regions, located near the Volcán de Suchitán. Once one of the country’s most remote and impoverished areas, it has transformed into a dynamic coffee-producing zone over recent decades. Historically overshadowed by more famous regions like Antigua or Huehuetenango, New Oriente is now gaining attention for its unique microclimates, diverse farms, and distinctive cup profiles.

Why Is Plandel Guayabo Estate Different?

Plandel Guayabo, whose name means "Guava Plain" in Spanish due to the abundance of guava trees, sits at the foot of Volcán de Suchitán. The estate has been managed by Mr. Benjamin Donado and his family since 1990. Unlike many neighbours who historically sold their cherries to intermediaries for blending, Donado focused on producing traceable, high-quality lots with varied processing methods. The estate’s location on former volcanic ridges, combined with metamorphic soils rich in balanced minerals, contributes to its distinctive cup character.

Meet the Coffee: SL28 Wine Process

The featured coffee from Plandel Guayabo is the SL28 variety, grown at 1675 metres above sea level and processed using a wine natural (or winey natural) method. This lot was cupped as showing flavours of pineapple, dried apricot, and red wine. The wine natural process typically involves drying ripe coffee cherries with some fruit left intact, enhancing fruity and ferment-like notes while maintaining a full body. This particular SL28 exhibits a well-balanced cup with notable fruitiness and complexity.

The Evolution of New Oriente Coffee Production

In the 1950s, coffee production in New Oriente was limited and mostly carried out by smallholder farms. Over time, many of these evolved into independent operations. Early marketing of New Oriente coffee often involved middlemen consolidating cherries from various farms into large, untraceable SHB blends sold under the New Oriente name. Today, producers like Donado are working with international buyers to change that, focusing on origin transparency, unique varieties, and specialised processing—all of which elevate the region’s profile in the global specialty market.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the New Oriente coffee region in Guatemala?

New Oriente is located in eastern Guatemala, near the Volcán de Suchitán. It is one of the country’s eight recognised coffee-growing regions, sitting at high altitudes on former volcanic ridges.

What makes Plandel Guayabo Estate unique?

Plandel Guayabo Estate, managed by Benjamin Donado since 1990, focuses on producing traceable, high-quality coffee using various processing methods. It grows coffee on volcanic soils at high elevation and avoids selling cherries through anonymous middlemen.

What is wine process coffee?

Wine process, or wine natural, involves drying coffee cherries with some fruit left on the bean, enhancing fermentation-like flavours such as winey notes, fruitiness, and body. It’s distinct from traditional natural or washed processes.

What does SL28 taste like in this coffee?

In this cup from Plandel Guayabo, SL28 shows flavours of pineapple, dried apricot, and red wine, with a full body and balanced acidity typical of high-altitude, well-processed lots.

How high is Plandel Guayabo Estate?

The estate grows coffee at 1675 metres above sea level, a factor contributing to the bright acidity, complex fruit notes, and full body in its coffees.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans from New Oriente-Style Regions

For fans of the New Oriente profile, try FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Guji Shakiso Benti (wild honey) for tropical fruit depth, or Colombia Huila Popayan Honey for balanced sweetness and winey tones. Both showcase complex fruit and process-driven complexity akin to Plandel Guayabo’s SL28. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.