Jose Lizardo Cuellar - SL-28
Our first year working with Jose Cuellar, and we're grateful to have purchased not one but two special coffees, including this unique Natural SL-28 offering. In the cup we get vibrant acidity like lemonade, red currant, red berries like raspberry and a bright, sweet finish.
200G
- Variety: SL-28
- Country: Colombia
- Region: Pitalito , Huila
- Process: Natural
- Altitude: 1700 MASL
- Harvest: Late 2024
- Producer: Jose Lizardo Cuellar
- Farm: Finca El Pariaso
- Roast Level: Light
In the cup
We get a bright and sweet profile of red currant and lemonade. This cup is clean, especially considering how it's been processed, with a bright acidity and a long finish. It reminds us of some of our favourite Kenyans, yet with a sweet Colombia profile.
Funky
Process
About The Producer
Finca el Paraíso is located at 1700m in the south of Huila. Jose was a traditional coffee (commodity) farmer until 2012, when he became fascinated with the complexity of Specialty coffee and coffee varieties. This lead Jose to decide to transform his farm where he started to plant different varieties and learn processing. It took many years for the farm to be transformed but he is now enjoying the labours of his work and new coffee passion. El Paraíso is 8 hectares and has planted Sidra, Geisha, Pink Bourbon, Bourbon Ají and more.
Variety
SL28 is among the most well-known and well-regarded varieties of Africa. It has consequently spread from Kenya, where it was originally selected in the 1930s, to other parts of Africa (it is important in Arabica-growing regions of Uganda, in particular) and now to Latin America. The variety is suited for medium to high altitudes and shows resistance to drought, but is susceptible to the major diseases of coffee. SL28 is notable for its rusticity—a quality meaning that it can be left untended for years or even decades at a time, and then return to successful production. There are SL28 trees in many parts of Kenya that are 60-80 years old and still productive.
Transparency
We Paid
Roasted Costs