Costa Rica – Hacienda Sonora SL28, Natural
Origin: Costa Rica
Region: Central Valley
Producer: Hacienda Sonora / Alberto & Diego Guardia
Variety: SL28
Process: Natural
Elevation: 1,300–1,825 MASL
Roasted for: Filter
Tastes Like
🍓 Red Fruits – juicy and ripe, enhanced by natural processing
🍯 Caramelised Sweetness – deep, round sweetness with balance
🌸 Floral Notes – delicate, elegant aromatics
In the Cup
Swerl's third harvest from Hacienda Sonora’s SL28 — and one of their best yet. This year’s Costa Rican harvests have been exceptional, and this lot showcases everything we love about Sonora’s work: clarity, structure, and vibrant sweetness. Expect a cup full of ripe fruit, gentle florals, and a honeyed, lingering finish.
About the Producer
Hacienda Sonora has been in the Guardia family for over a century, nestled at the foot of Costa Rica’s Poás Volcano. When Alberto Guardia took over the farm in the 1970s, he transformed it into a coffee estate, pioneering innovative processing methods and varietal experimentation long before it became the norm. His focus on quality and sustainability led him to build an on-site mill in 1999, allowing full control over every step of production.
In 2011, Alberto’s son Diego Guardia joined the operation, continuing the family’s tradition of curiosity and innovation. Today, Hacienda Sonora cultivates over 20 coffee varieties across 80 hectares of farmland and 20 hectares of forest reserve, with SL28 standing out as one of their most expressive and complex offerings.
Processing
Cherries are hand-picked at peak ripeness, then dried naturally on patios for 9 days before a 3-day rest in the warehouse. Afterward, the coffee is mechanically dried for uniformity and rested in parchment for 2 months to stabilise and develop its depth of flavour. The result is a clean, fruit-forward cup that perfectly expresses the SL28’s Kenyan lineage through the lens of Costa Rican terroir.
Why we Love It
Hacienda Sonora’s SL28 bridges the elegance of Kenyan acidity with the lush sweetness of Costa Rican naturals. It’s refined yet vibrant, with a complexity that unfolds sip after sip — a testament to decades of innovation and the Guardias’ relentless pursuit of excellence.
Swerl sourced this in collaboration with 88 Graines.