COSTA RICA, Federico Castro Khale, Finca Colima Reserve, Valle Centrale

Producer: Federico & Alejo Castro-Kahle. 

Growing altitude: 1400masl. 

Botanical variety: SL28.

Process: Washed.

Tasting notes: Caramel, lime zest, yellow plum, vanilla, pomelo, lemongrass fruit flavours.

Roast date: 5 November, 2026. 

Some coffees don’t simply enter a competition, they arrive with a story, a lineage, and a level of craftsmanship that announces itself in the cup long before the scores are revealed. Hacienda Colima’s SL28 Washed did exactly that, earning an extraordinary second place in the 2025 Cup of Excellence, one of the most coveted accolades in the world of specialty coffee.

This achievement is more than a medal. It represents the culmination of years of intentional farming, disciplined processing, and relentless refinement and it places Hacienda Colima among the world’s most consistent producers of exceptional, competition-level lots.

The Cup of Excellence is widely regarded as the most rigorous and prestigious coffee competition globally. Coffees are scored blind by national and international juries through multiple elimination rounds, and only those that score above 87 points even qualify for the final stage  a threshold incredibly difficult for most coffees to cross.

To finish second is to stand at the very upper edge of global quality. It means this lot not only impressed but captivated a panel of judges known for their unyielding standards and experienced palates. It is confirmation that Hacienda Colima’s SL28 is not simply good; it is one of the world’s best coffees of the year.

The SL28 varietal, originally from Kenya, has long been celebrated for its expressive clarity and its ability to translate terroir with remarkable fidelity. At Hacienda Colima, this potential meets intentional cultivation, optimal elevation, rich volcanic soil, and a processing philosophy centred on purity.

The flavour profile is both classic and elevated: bright citrus notes layered over stone fruit sweetness, lifted by elegant florals and finishing with the kind of balance and length that only the finest washed SL28s can achieve. It is a coffee that feels both familiar and revelatory, rooted in tradition yet unmistakably shaped by its Costa Rican terroir.

For coffee lovers, this SL28 washed lot is a rare experience, one of those limited-auction coffees that remind us just how emotionally expressive and terroir-driven coffee can be. Whether brewed as a pour-over to reveal its high-tone clarity, or as a delicate, fruit-forward espresso, it offers a sensory journey that honours the farm, the variety, the soil, and the hands that shaped it.

In an industry often consumed by novelty, Hacienda Colima’s achievement stands as a reminder of what truly endures: mastery, patience, and devotion to craft. This SL28 Washed is not merely a competition coffee, it is a reflection of a farm at its peak, a celebration of origin, and a symbol of what is possible when passion and precision meet.

“Quality coffee and conservation go hand in hand—this is the future we’re cultivating, one harvest at a time.”

— Alejo Castro Kahle