Don Joel – Costa Rica

Allan Oviedo, a second-generation coffee farmer, inherited half of his father's land about 20 years ago. Initially, he sold his cherries to a local mill at a low price. At the same time, he worked as a taxi driver in San José to save money to improve his farm. Over time, he invested in processing his own coffee and built a micromill, which he named Don Joel in honor of his father.

Don Joel is located in the picturesque West Valley. It covers only 12 hectares, but produces a respectable quantity of coffee. Allan has owned Don Joel for about 10 years. The SL-28 variety was bred in the 1930s in Kenya for its drought resistance, but it has also proven its hardiness, high yield, and exceptional tasting quality. It has since spread to Central and South American countries.

For this batch, the cherries are pulped and mechanically washed. After processing, the coffee is transferred to a new drum dryer that allows for efficient and rapid drying, which is becoming increasingly difficult due to the effects of climate change.

This coffee has plenty of jammy, stone fruit aromas and a sweet, crisp profile.