INTELLIGENTSIA COFFEE

August 2015

MALACARA SL-28 LIMITED RELEASE

EL SALVADOR Direct Trade

In 2014, Intelligentsia Coffee

released the very first harvest of the
SL-28 variety from Finca Malacara,
and we are proud to offer again this
year a coffee that is still somewhat
rare and exotic to Central America.
The five bags that make up this
micro-lot are the end result of a
collaborative exploration of coffee
variety and processing by Finca
Malacara, the El Borbollon mill, and
Intelligentsia Coffee. This second
harvest by Guillermo Epe Alvarez
continues his exploration into
growing the traditionally Kenyan SL28 variety in the Santa Ana region
of El Salvador.

worth of tradition, branch out and

attempt to cultivate more boutique
varieties. While initially growing
SL-28 began as an experiment to
increase coffee quality at Finca
Malacara, Epe soon realized that
this variety was a bit more tolerant
of the Roya (Leaf Rust) fungus that
has plagued nearly all coffee farms
in El Salvador and Central America.

In conversations with Epe, one

quickly realizes how motivated he is
by the pride and tradition of Finca
Malacara, a farm that has been in his
family for well over 100 years. Pride
in tradition has led many producers
in El Salvador to remain stagnant
Often referred to in El Salvador as in an ever changing specialty
simply Kenya, the SL-28 variety coffee climate; however, many of
is a direct relative to the heirloom Intelligentsias partners, like Epe,
variety Bourbon that is traditionally take immense pride in innovation
grown throughout the country. Only and experimentation. In an effort
recently have farm owners begun to explore quality options, diversify
to move away from over a centurys Finca Malacara, and give younger

coffee plants the ability to fight off

the Roya fungus, Epe has re-planted
the highest parts of Malacara with
fresh Bourbon, additional SL-28, as
well as Pacamara and Geisha plants,
while much of El Salvador continues
to grow only the traditional Bourbon
variety.
Due in large part to the remarkably
low harvest yields that much of El
Salvador continues to face due
to the relentless Roya fungus,
Intelligentsia was unable to secure
the 100% Bourbon coffees from
Finca Malacara that are typically
the anchor of our Los Inmortales
project from year to year. That
said, Intelligentsia Coffee was very
fortunate to acquire Epes entire
harvest of the SL-28 from Finca
Malacara this year and immensely
proud to be the exclusive roaster of
this singular coffee for 2015.

Written by ANDY ATKINSON | Assistant Director of Retail Operations/Green Coffee Buyer

Guillermo Epe Alvarez / Finca Malacara

Santa Ana

SL-28

15001800 masl

January - February 2015

PRODUCER / FARM

REGION

CULTIVAR

ELEVATION

HARVEST

TOP RIGHT: Ripe SL-28 ready to harvest. BOTTOM RIGHT: Guillermo Epe Alvarez.