Costa Rica - SL28 Anaerobic
Costa Rica - SL28 Anaerobic
Costa Rica - SL28 Anaerobic
Costa Rica - SL28 Anaerobic
Costa Rica - SL28 Anaerobic
Costa Rica - SL28 Anaerobic
Costa Rica - SL28 Anaerobic
Costa Rica - SL28 Anaerobic
Costa Rica - SL28 Anaerobic
Costa Rica - SL28 Anaerobic
Costa Rica - SL28 Anaerobic
Costa Rica - SL28 Anaerobic

Costa Rica - SL28 Anaerobic

110.00 Sale Save

blackberries, red plum, grapefruit, brown sugar

Weight 250 grams
Roast Profile Filter
Grind Size Whole Beans

Producer: Alejo Castro Kahle / Volcan Azul
Farm: Volcan Azul

Location: Alajuela Province, Grecia
Variety: SL28
Process: Natural, Anaerobic
Altitude: 1,500 - 1,700 masl

Fermentation ▪▪▪▫▫
Sweetness ▪▪▪
Acidity ▪▪▪▪▫
Roast ▪▪▫▫▫

Alejo Castro Kahle is a descendant of coffee pioneers in Costa Rica. He is committed to honoring the legacy of his ancestors through the continued pursuit of their aim — producing excellent coffees and making the family's name known for it worldwide.

To ensure consistent quality and make way for improvement every year, he is involved in every step of production, from the establishment of the coffee plants, cherry harvest, fermentation and drying, until dry milling and loading the greens into containers for export.

With 200 years of heritage knowledge in coffee, Alejo is vocal about soil health as the cornerstone of cultivating coffee trees that yield cherries with well-developed beans having the potential for complex flavors. He implements only processing innovations that preserve the integrity of variety while highlighting its most desirable attributes and reflecting its provenance.

Volcan Azul is the flagship estate of the Castro Kahle family. It spans 300 hectares on the slopes of the Poas Volcano, of which 60 hectares are planted, and 200 hectares are dedicated to conservation. There are 40+ varieties grown on the farm, of which Geisha, Typica, SL 28, Caturra, and San Isidro have won at the COE.

SL 28 is among the better known varieties that originated in East Africa and is most notably regarded for its characteristic bright, bold, and heavy-bodied cup profile. The SL 28 grown at Volcan Azul has taken 4th place at the Cup of Excellence and has also been featured by World Barista and World Brewers Cup competitors.

Quality production starts with ensuring nutrient-rich soil and protection from diseases that will allow healthy coffee trees to grow. This is a cyclical exercise carried out consistently to maintain and build on the gains from the previous years. At the time of harvest, only cherries at peak ripeness are hand-picked. These are cherries whose mucilage registers at least 22% on the Brix meter, indicating optimal sugar content and allowing Alejo the flexibility to select the most suitable fermentation and drying techniques to produce the desired cup attributes.

To anchor the vibrant and complex acidity of SL 28 in a rich sweetness, a Natural Anaerobic process was used. The cherries were placed in sealed tanks with a valve allowing oxygen to exit and be replaced by CO2. Time, temperature, and acidity and sugar content of the mucilage were monitored until the intended levels were achieved.

brewing guide

- Ready your brewing tools ahead.
- Keep your coffee gear and containers clean.
- Decide and adjust your grind size based on:
— Your coffee’s roast date
— Your brewing method
- Be consistent with water quality and measuring weight, ratios, and time.
- Remember!
— Let your palate help you personalize the best recipe for you.
— Brew often and have fun!

More about Brewing here.

FOR FILTER

  • COFFEE-TO-WATER RATIO: 1:15
  • COFFEE GRIND SIZE: Medium fine
  • (like table salt; 21-28 clicks in Comandante MK4 and 14-18 clicks in Timemore C2)
  • COFFEE AGE: 7-14 days, ideally
  • COFFEE DOSE: 17 grams
  • WATER WEIGHT: 255 mL
  • WATER TEMPERATURE: 90°C-93°C
  • TARGET BREW TIME: 02:30 - 03:00

1. Heat water to 90°C-93°C

2. Arrange your brewing set-up.

— Place your dripper on the carafe & filter paper in the dripper.

— Rinse the filter paper with hot water & remove the rinsing water from the carafe.

3. Switch on your scale.

4. Measure out 17 g of coffee & grind to Medium Fine.

5. Place the carafe and dripper with the rinsed filter paper onto the scale, & tare.

6. Transfer the ground coffee to the dripper; then, tare.

7. Start the timer!

First pour to bloom, 55ml for 30 seconds.

Second pour, 100 ml at 00:30.

Third pour, the final 100ml at 01:15

8. Target to finish the brew within 02:30 to 03:00 minutes.

9. Serve & enjoy!