Filter Coffee
Diego Robelo
SL28 Red Honey

Coffee from Diego Robelo - unlike any other

We have featured many different coffees from Diego Robelo but none has tasted anything like the SL28 Red Honey yet. Aquiares is not a high altitude farm, the highest part sits at 1400 masl, where this lot was grown. Yet, the lot shows incredible floral, juicy and sweet notes similar to Kenyan coffee. All due to the selection of SL28 seeds from Kenya. 

Why choose the SL28 Red Honey

• 
  A rare varietal: Taken from Kenya and planted at Aquiares it was selected to deliver a distinctly juicy cup profile.
• 
  
  Masterful honey Processing: The honey process add a 'Costa Rican' layer to the coffee. Increasing sweetness and boy.
• 
  Sustainable Innovation: Aquiares is always at the forefront of innovation on all fields, agriculturally, socially and of course in quality.

From Farm to Cup

The SL28 cultivar originates from Scottish Laboratories (SL) in Kenya, where it was developed in the 1930s. Initially, the goal of the lab was to breed varieties well adapted to Kenya's dry growing climate. Different Typica and Bourbon varieties were studied and then selected for their drought resistance, yield, and cup quality. This process was repeated over decades to stabilize the genetics.

With the rise of specialty coffee, Kenyan coffee became very popular, known for its juicy and berry-like flavor profile. It was clear that the SL28 variety had an important role in this surging popularity. It was introduced through informal channels, such as traveling coffee buyers, and quickly gained recognition.

The red honey process uses no water and gently depulpes the ripe cherries to preserve coffee cherry mucilage. Afterwards coffee is laid to dry and ferment on raise beds inside Aquiares' climate controlled greenhouse. 

Inside Aquiares Estate:

Discover the story of Diego Robelo and how his family transformed one of the oldest estates in Costa Rica.

Read the Story ➔

Coffee Roasting Details

The coffee is roasted fast and light to highlight the floral notes.

• ➔ Roast Profile: Ultra Light Roast • 198°C in 8:30 minutes • 15s Development Time

Ethical & Sustainable Practices

At Aquiares, sustainability goes beyond farming:

• ➔ The farm is Rain Forest Alliance and Carbon Neutral certified.
• ➔ Education, health care and child care is offered to all farm-workers.
• ➔ Coffee is shade-grown and forms a natural habitat for wild life.