Costa Rica: Don Joel, Finca Carmela, Kenya [125g]

*Please note this coffee is part of our Special Reserve range and sold in 125g bags, not 220g*

Back in 2017, when we first started purchasing coffee from Allan Oviedo, we began with his Villa Sarchi lots for our In My Mug subscription. As time has passed, we've enjoyed a range of coffees from Allan, and his meticulously processed tiny lots of Kenya from Finca Carmela have become a huge favourite whenever they're available. We're not the only ones who love this coffee; it won third place at the 2024 Costa Rican Cup of Excellence competition in the Traditional Semi-Washed, Honey & Natural Processes category!

Properly called San Roque Kenya, and also sometimes written as Kenia (the Spanish spelling of Kenya), the history of the Kenya varietal is somewhat uncertain, but it is believed to be one of the famous Kenyan SLs: SL28 or SL34. These two varietals are often associated with the unique, bright yet juicy cup profile of Kenyan coffee, typically showcasing lots of citrus or blackcurrant flavours. In this respect, the Costa Rican Kenya seems to deliver similar characteristics. It's a flavour mashup between classic Kenyan and Costa Rican profiles, with more intense acidity than the Villa Sarchi from the farm, while still maintaining the intense sweetness and silky body that Costa Rican coffee is famous for.

Regardless of the varietal's history, SR Kenya has become popular among some of the top Costa Rican coffee producers. It's not the easiest or most productive plant to grow, but it's not as difficult as the notorious Geisha. Kenya seems to thrive at the medium altitudes in Costa Rica’s Western Valley, and lots from this region have placed among the top spots in numerous competitions over the last five years.

In particular, the Kenya from Allan at Don Joel micromill has consistently earned him praise (and high prices!) at auctions and competitions, as we mentioned earlier. It's exactly the kind of cup profile that Allan prefers, with crisp and bright citrus elegantly showcased by super clean honey processing, which he has refined year after year.

This super juicy cup is a massive mugful of nectarine. A hint of red grape runs alongside, shifting into raspberry on the finish. There's a gentle dark chocolate note on the finish which linger, with the raspberry, into the aftertaste.

• Country: Costa Rica
• Region: Western Valley
• Province: Alajuela
• Canton: San Luis de Grecia
• Farm: Finca Carmela
• Micromill: Don Joel
• Producer: Allan Oviedo
• Elevation: 1,600 m.a.s.l.
• Processing method: Red Honey
• Varietal: Kenya

Tasting notes: Nectarine, red grape, raspberry, dark chocolate.

Cup of Excellence Cupping Scores

• Clean cup: (1–8): 7
• Sweetness: (1–8): 7
• Acidity: (1–8): 6.5
• Mouthfeel: (1–8): 6
• Flavour: (1–8): 6.5
• Aftertaste: (1–8): 6.5
• Balance: (1–8): 6.5
• Overall: (1–8): 7
• Correction:(+36): +36
• Total (max. 100): 89

Roast Information
Medium: somewhere between the end of first crack and just before second will help this fruity sweetness shine to best effect.