Guatemala’s New Oriental SL28: Natural & Washed from Guava Plain Estate

If you’ve been searching for a Guatemalan SL28 that breaks the usual mould—something beyond the familiar Antigua profiles—you’re not alone. The challenge isn’t finding Guatemalan coffee, it’s finding rare varieties grown in less-exported regions, processed with precision, and curated through direct partnerships. That’s exactly what this lot from Guava Plain Estate delivers.

FrontStreet Coffee has partnered directly with Guava Plain Estate in Guatemala’s remote New Oriental region to produce two microlots of SL28: one washed, one natural (sun-dried). These are not commercial blends, but custom microlots developed in collaboration with the farm, with guaranteed purchase pricing and pre-harvest processing discussions to hit specific flavour goals.

Where Is New Oriental, Guatemala?

The New Oriental region is literally the farthest east in Guatemala, bordering Honduras—not the more accessible Antigua area, which sits just an hour from Guatemala City. This isolation means fewer exported lots, but also greater potential for unique microlots with distinct character due to varied microclimates and lower production pressure.

The SL28 Microlots from Guava Plain Estate

This year, FrontStreet worked with the estate to import two SL28 microlots: a washed version (offered previously in small quantities) and a brand-new natural process batch with pronounced winey tones. The natural lot is the standout—a rare sight for SL28 in Central America, where the variety is still uncommon. These beans were processed under mutually agreed standards, including controlled harvest ripeness and detailed conversations about sun-drying techniques such as daily rotation and exact drying duration.

The estate’s location in New Oriental, near the Honduran border, gives it an isolated growing context that likely contributes to the clean, vibrant cup profiles free from over-familiar fermentation trends.

Flavour Profile: Natural Process Sun-Dried SL28

The natural (sun-dried) SL28 from Guava Plain Estate presents a complex, wine-like cup: think pineapple, cantaloupe, dried apricot, candied lemon peel, Bordeaux wine, green tea, cinnamon spice, and a base of rich smoky black plum. Across the board, tasters noted intense sweetness balanced with layered fruitiness and a satisfying aromatic weight. This is not your average Central American profile.

About the Natural Process Method

Natural processing—also called dry processing—is one of the oldest methods of preparing coffee. In this method, ripe coffee cherries are harvested and laid out to dry in the sun with the fruit and mucilage still intact. Only once the coffee reaches the ideal moisture level is the outer skin and pulp removed to reveal the bean inside. Because the coffee fruit dries around the seed, natural processing often results in heavier body and more intense fruit or fermented flavours.

At FrontStreet, other natural-processed coffees—like the Yirgacheffe Red Cherry or Ethiopian Huakui—show how this method can highlight tropical fruit, fermentation brightness, and a syrupy mouthfeel when handled with care. The Guava Plain SL28 follows that tradition while adding winey depth and smoky undertones rarely achieved with SL28.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the New Oriental coffee region in Guatemala?

New Oriental is the easternmost part of Guatemala, bordering Honduras. Unlike the well-known Antigua region, which is close to Guatemala City, New Oriental is remote and less developed for coffee exports, offering more unique and less-commercialised microlots.

What is the SL28 coffee variety?

SL28 is a high-quality, drought-resistant coffee variety originally developed in Kenya. It’s known for its bright acidity and complex fruit flavours but is relatively rare in Central America, making its appearance in Guatemala’s New Oriental region notable.

What is the difference between washed and natural process coffee?

Washed (or wet) process removes the coffee cherry’s skin and pulp before drying the bean, leading to a cleaner, more acidic cup. Natural (or dry) process dries the coffee cherry with the fruit still on the bean, often resulting in richer sweetness, heavier body, and more pronounced fruit or fermented notes.

What makes Guava Plain Estate’s SL28 microlots unique?

These SL28 microlots are custom-processed in collaboration with FrontStreet Coffee. The estate used specific harvest standards and drying protocols (like turning the cherries frequently during sun drying) to achieve targeted flavours. The natural version especially stands out for its winey, tropical profile, rare for SL28 in Central America.

How did FrontStreet develop these microlots?

FrontStreet partnered directly with the Guava Plain Estate farmers, guaranteeing purchase prices and discussing processing methods in advance—including harvest ripeness and sun-drying techniques—to achieve specific flavour profiles like fruity sweetness and wine-like complexity.

Recommended FrontStreet Coffee for Fruit-Forward Single Origins

Try FrontStreet’s Ethiopia Huakui for bright floral and citrus notes, or their Yirgacheffe Red Cherry for intense tropical fruit and sweet fermentation—both natural-processed Ethiopian coffees that share the vibrant fruit profile of the Guava Plain SL28. For another dry-processed option, the Brazil Queen Manor brings caramelized sugar and bold nuttiness with stability. All three showcase how natural processing can amplify sweetness and complexity. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.