Caballero SL28 - Honduras

Few producers have done more to elevate Honduran specialty coffee than Marysabel Caballero and Moises Herrera. As second and third-generation coffee producers, the couple have spent decades refining their craft, earning multiple Cup of Excellence accolades and international recognition for their commitment to quality.

Based in Marcala, La Paz, they manage almost 200 hectares across 17 farms, all centred around their own wet mill, Xinacla. This centralised processing facility allows them to carefully control every stage of production, while each farm is managed according to its unique microclimate, elevation and varietal mix. Every aspect of cultivation is meticulously documented, reflecting the Caballeros' philosophy of continual improvement through careful observation, innovation and investment.

Environmental stewardship is equally important. The farms produce their own organic fertiliser using coffee pulp, animal manure and composted organic matter, while fruit trees and native vegetation encourage biodiversity, improve soil health and provide natural shade for the coffee trees.

This coffee showcases one of the world's most celebrated cultivars, SL28, rarely encountered as a single-variety lot outside Kenya, making coffees like this increasingly special. 

For this washed lot, fully ripe cherries are selectively harvested before undergoing careful wet processing and slow drying in parchment until the ideal moisture content is reached. The restrained approach preserves the coffee's natural elegance, clarity and complexity.

In the cup expect delicate floral aromatics leading to notes of green tea, caramel, dried berries and soft herbs, complemented by a subtle hint of chocolate.

This coffee demonstrates that exceptional quality doesn't always come from more intervention, it can also come from selecting the right cultivar for the right place and allowing it to express itself naturally.

• Region: Marcala
  
• Country: Honduras
• Elevation: 1,400 - 1,600 masl
• Variety: SL28
• Process: Dried in Clean Parchment