Kmen Coffee Roasters in České Budějovice is back with another coffee from the Bonita Springs farm—this time featuring a naturally processed SL28 variety. In this complex cup, you’ll first encounter the juiciness of grape lemonade, followed by the exotic sweetness of dragon fruit, and the experience concludes with a delicate and clean note of green tea with jasmine. The result is a distinctly fruity yet refreshing and very drinkable filter coffee that’s perfect for warm summer days.
The beans come from the Finca Bonita Springs farm in the Boquete Valley in Panama’s Chiriquí Province. The Miró family has been farming this land for more than 80 years, and in 2017, Arturo and Olmedo Miró transformed the traditional farm into a modern operation focused on specialty coffee, complete with its own drying facility and processing plant. Two rivers and four streams flow through the property, which also features five natural springs and two waterfalls. Together with high rainfall, cool winds from the Atlantic, and warmer air from the Pacific, these elements create a diverse range of microclimates. The African SL28 variety was originally bred in Kenya for its exceptional flavor potential. Although it is more susceptible to disease, it has gradually made its way to Latin America, where it takes on a new character due to the different growing conditions.
The coffee was processed using the natural method. The harvested cherries are dried whole at the farm’s own facility, allowing producers to carefully monitor the entire process. Drying with the pulp generally enhances the sweetness, fruitiness, and fuller body of the resulting beverage. In this case, these qualities combine with the character of the SL28 variety and the specific conditions of the Chiriquí region, resulting in a juicy and complex filter coffee with a clean floral aftertaste.