THE CUP

Juicy and refreshing. Blackberry, green apple, and limeade drive the profile, with mouthwatering acidity and ripe fruit sweetness that showcase the best of SL-28’s character.

THE ORIGIN

• Producers: Esnaider Ortega Gómez & Augusto Ortega

• Farms: Villa María & family plots, San Agustín, Huila, Colombia

• Variety: SL-28

• Altitude: ~1,800–1,900 masl

• Harvest: January 2025

• Process: Washed (36h dry fermentation, 20 days shade drying)

THE PRODUCERS

A small group of San Agustín farmers planted SL-28 a few years ago, and this is the first year their harvests are large enough to stand alone as microlots rather than being blended into community lots. Esnaider, for example, is tending just 250 trees of this Kenyan variety on his family’s farm, Villa María.

THE PROCESS

Cherries are hand-picked every 21 days at peak ripeness, floated to remove defects, and depulped. Seeds undergo 36 hours of dry fermentation in oak tanks, are rinsed four times, drained for 10 hours, and then dried on shaded raised beds for 20 days.

WHY ILSE LOVE IT

A rare Colombian-grown SL-28 that delivers the acidity and fruit expression Isle loves from its Kenyan roots. Bright, layered, and the beginning of something exciting from the Monkaaba project.

What is the roast recency?

Ilse doesn't advertise a roast preference to Filter or Espresso, instead they are roasted for the best amongst both - often called Omniroast. That being said, Ilse typically roast light.

We recommend brewing with beans that are at least two weeks off roast. All beans are roasted to peak flavour at around 8-12 weeks. We have the option to either purchase standard beans (at least 2 weeks but no longer than 6 weeks off roast), or rested beans (at least 7 weeks off roast, no longer than 12). For peak flavour, if you are looking to use immediately, we recommend purchasing the rested beans. If you are adding to your rotation of beans, we recommend purchasing the standard and allowing the beans to naturally rest and mature whilst you rotate through other beans.