{"product_id":"marcos-herrera-sl28","title":"MARCOS HERRERA SL28","description":"\u003ch2\u003eMarcos Herrera - Peru Natural SL28\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA super sweet SL28 from Mamaruntu, a Peruvian farm owned by Marcos Herrera, with flavours akin to summer berries.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSuitable for:\u003c\/strong\u003e Espresso \u0026amp; Filter Brewing\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBest As:\u003c\/strong\u003e Filter (Black), Espresso (Black \/ Milk)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFlavour Characteristics\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBlueberry Juice, Cape Gooseberry, Cacao, Chewy Body\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eOrigin \u0026amp; Producer Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProducer:\u003c\/strong\u003e Marcos Herrera\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFarm:\u003c\/strong\u003e Mamaruntu\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRegion:\u003c\/strong\u003e Lonya Grande, \u003ca title=\"Link to coffee origin guide to Peru\" href=\"https:\/\/www.harmonycoffee.co.uk\/blogs\/coffee-origins\/peru-coffee\"\u003ePeru\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVariety:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca title=\"Link to SL28 coffee variety guide\" href=\"https:\/\/www.harmonycoffee.co.uk\/blogs\/coffee-varieties\/sl-28\"\u003eSL28\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProcess:\u003c\/strong\u003e Extended Anaerobic Natural\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSourced via:\u003c\/strong\u003e Khipu\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eRecommended Rest\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor the best tasting brew, we recommend enjoying this coffee between \u003cstrong\u003e24–40 days off roast\u003c\/strong\u003e. You can read more about resting coffee \u003ca rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Link to Blog on Resting Coffee\" href=\"https:\/\/www.harmonycoffee.co.uk\/blogs\/blog\/resting-coffee\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ehere\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAbout This Coffee\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMarcos Herrera is a producer from the village of Rodríguez Tafur, located at 1,700 masl in the district of Lonya Grande, Amazonas. Known locally and nationally as one of Peru’s most skilled specialty coffee growers, he placed 2nd at the Lonya Grande regional competition in 2023 and has been cultivating coffee since childhood.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSince 2014, Marcos has invested heavily in planting Geisha, Bourbon, and the exceptionally rare SL28 variety. In 2024, he achieved 14th place at the Cup of Excellence with his Natural Geisha.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAbout Peruvian Coffee Cultivation\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePeru is often still treated as an underdog within the specialty coffee scene, despite being the 11th-largest producer of coffee and the 5th-largest producer of Arabica in the world. The country is home to a wide range of landscapes, elevations and microclimates, creating diverse and distinctive flavour profiles.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMost coffee in Peru is grown by smallholder farmers at elevations between 1,000–2,000 metres above sea level. At higher elevations around 1,800 MASL and above, cooler temperatures slow cherry maturation, resulting in denser beans with greater complexity, acidity and sweetness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNorthern Peru, which borders Ecuador and Colombia, is often associated with brighter profiles featuring tropical fruit, citrus and floral characteristics. Peru is also increasingly becoming known for producing exceptional lots from exotic varieties such as Gesha, Sidra, SL28 and SL-09.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne of the major challenges facing Peruvian coffee producers is heavy and unpredictable rainfall, which can encourage fungal diseases such as coffee leaf rust. For this reason, much of Peru’s coffee is shade-grown and cultivated using organic farming methods, with Peru now considered one of the world’s leading producers of organic-certified coffee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you'd like to learn much more about Peruvian coffee cultivation, check out our \u003ca title=\"Link to guide on Peruvian coffee cultivation\" href=\"https:\/\/www.harmonycoffee.co.uk\/blogs\/coffee-origins\/peru-coffee\"\u003eguide on Peru\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAbout the SL-28 Coffee Variety\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSL28 is a high-quality Arabica coffee variety most commonly associated with Kenya. Today, it is known for producing cups of exceptional quality, which has led to it being grown in a wide range of countries, especially in Latin America.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMuch like \u003ca title=\"Link to Gesha coffee guide\" href=\"https:\/\/www.harmonycoffee.co.uk\/blogs\/coffee-varieties\/what-is-gesha-coffee\"\u003eGesha\u003c\/a\u003e, SL28 is one of those varieties that carries a recognisable hallmark regardless of where it is grown. In the case of SL28, that hallmark is often plump, juicy notes of blackcurrant, blackberry, strawberry and bright citrus notes of lemon or lime. It tends to be a well-structured cup with a fuller, sometimes syrupy, mouthfeel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBecause of its potential to deliver high cup quality, SL28 is now grown in many other countries, including Costa Rica, Guatemala and Peru, where it is more commonly available as a single-variety lot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSL28 grows best at high altitudes between 1,500 and 2,200 metres above sea level. Growing this variety in a cool climate allows the cherries to have a longer maturation time, which helps the coffee build sugars and develop more complex flavours.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo learn more about SL-28, check out \u003ca title=\"Link to SL28 coffee variety guide\" href=\"https:\/\/www.harmonycoffee.co.uk\/blogs\/coffee-varieties\/sl-28\"\u003eour in-depth guide to this coffee variety\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAbout Marcos and Mamaruntu\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMarcos inherited his father’s farm, originally called Oso Perdido (“Lost Bear”), a nickname given to his father who would walk the countryside alone tending to the land. Today, Marcos runs the farm with his wife, Kary Yoany Guevara Guevara, and their son, Marko Aurelio, continuing a family lineage rooted in coffee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe farm is now known as Mamaruntu, named after a legendary Chachapoyas princess who captured the heart of Inca Tupac Yupanqui — a fitting symbol for a farm whose coffees often stand out with elegance and strength.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis SL28 lot comes from the west side of the property, near the farm’s entrance, producing 120 kg of green coffee in 2025 from approximately 0.5 hectares planted with 1,600 SL28 trees.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow was this SL28 coffee processed?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHarvesting begins with strict selective picking of red and wine-red cherries. After sorting by size and removing defects through flotation and manual selection, the cherries are washed and fermented in sealed containers fitted with CO₂-release valves for 60 hours.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFermentation temperature:\u003c\/strong\u003e 15°C (day), 8°C (night)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003epH change:\u003c\/strong\u003e from 6.0 → 4.0–3.5\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe coffee is then dried in solar tents for 25+ days until reaching 10–11% moisture, at temperatures of 20–30°C. After drying, parchment is rested for 20+ days in GrainPro or Ecotac bags inside polypropylene sacks to stabilise and integrate the final cup profile.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow Marcos acquired this SL28\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSL28 is exceptionally rare in Peru. Marcos obtained his seed through a unique opportunity: in 2016, a representative from Mercanta visited his farm and proposed bringing SL28 from Kenya, calling it one of the world’s greatest varieties. He returned in 2017 with the seed, and Marcos began cultivating a small number of plants. After seeing how well they adapted — and recognising the remarkable cup quality — he expanded the plot and began reproducing more trees.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMarcos describes this SL28 as a robust, well-adapted tree that produces uniform, high-quality cherries with excellent physical performance. Cuppers locally consistently praise its complexity and distinctiveness, and Marcos views it as one of the most exciting coffees on his farm. When we cupped it, we also found it vibrant, structured, and unusually expressive, a standout example of what SL28 can become in the Peruvian Andes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to Brew This Coffee\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDial in with accuracy\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBecause this coffee is expressive and fruit-forward, accurate \u003cem\u003edose\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eyield\u003c\/em\u003e help you hit the sweet spot. We strongly recommend using a reliable scale — see our guide, \u003ca rel=\"noopener\" title=\"The Best Coffee Scales\" href=\"https:\/\/www.harmonycoffee.co.uk\/blogs\/blog\/the-best-coffee-scales-2025\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eThe Best Coffee Scales\u003c\/a\u003e, and our bench favourite, the \u003ca rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Felicita Parallel\" href=\"https:\/\/www.harmonycoffee.co.uk\/products\/felicita-parallel-white\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eFelicita Parallel\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eBrewing tips\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRest window:\u003c\/strong\u003e Follow the recommended \u003cstrong\u003e24–40 days\u003c\/strong\u003e off roast for best clarity and balance.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFilter brewing:\u003c\/strong\u003e Start with a 1:16–1:17 ratio and a medium-fine grind, adjusting to balance florals and citrus intensity.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEspresso:\u003c\/strong\u003e Start with a longer ratio, such as 1:2.2–1:2.4, to showcase tropical characteristics.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBest recipe:\u003c\/strong\u003e Orea v4, 15.5g coffee, 250g water, 2:20 brew time.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eExplore More Recipes\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo try out more recipes from world-class coffee brewers, we've compiled \u003ca title=\"Best pourover recipes of 2026\" href=\"https:\/\/www.harmonycoffee.co.uk\/blogs\/blog\/best-pourover-recipes\"\u003ethis blog\u003c\/a\u003e, featuring the best filter coffee recipes of 2026 from some of the world's best filter coffee brewers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eExplore other coffees\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca title=\"Link to Hatuhei\" href=\"https:\/\/www.harmonycoffee.co.uk\/products\/hatuhei\"\u003eHatuhei\u003c\/a\u003e - Gorgeous East Timor washed coffee with white grape, red apple and milk chocolate notes. Perfect for espresso and filter brewing.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Link to El Vergel Decaf\" href=\"https:\/\/www.harmonycoffee.co.uk\/products\/el-vergel-decaf\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eEl Vergel Decaf\u003c\/a\u003e - Quite possibly the best decaf coffee we've ever found. It's called 'Really good decaf' for a reason. World class flavour, without the buzz.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Kibaya\" href=\"https:\/\/www.harmonycoffee.co.uk\/products\/kibaya\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eKibaya\u003c\/a\u003e - Rwanda washed Red Bourbon. A very high-clarity washed lot with citrusy and black tea characteristics.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Link to Consuelo Rubio Sidra coffee product\" href=\"https:\/\/www.harmonycoffee.co.uk\/products\/consuelo-rubio-sidra\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eConsuelo Rubio Sidra\u003c\/a\u003e - A high clarity anaerobic washed Sidra coffee from \u003ca title=\"Link to Harmony coffee blog post on Peru\" href=\"https:\/\/www.harmonycoffee.co.uk\/blogs\/coffee-origins\/peru-coffee\"\u003ePeru\u003c\/a\u003e. Herbaceous and exceptionally interesting.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Link to Musaza Lot 3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.harmonycoffee.co.uk\/products\/musaza-lot-3\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eMusaza Lot 3\u003c\/a\u003e - A bright and fruit-forward Rwanda natural Red Bourbon from Rwamatamu, offering layered citrus and stone fruit complexity. Tangerine, apricot and grapefruit notes are complemented by honeyed sweetness and a clean black tea finish, making it versatile for both filter and espresso.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca title=\"Link to El Diamante Peru Coffee Beans\" href=\"https:\/\/www.harmonycoffee.co.uk\/products\/el-diamente-2026\"\u003eEl Diamante\u003c\/a\u003e - Elegant Peruvian coffee with Silver Needle tea, red berries, and maple sweetness. High altitude growth delivers clarity, structure, and refined acidity.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Link to Beatriz Guimares Coffee Beans\" href=\"https:\/\/www.harmonycoffee.co.uk\/products\/beatriz-guimares\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eBeatriz Guimares\u003c\/a\u003e - A vibrant anaerobic natural Red Bourbon from Fazenda Lavrinha in Minas Gerais, Brazil, with notes of honeydew melon, pear drops, macadamia and milk chocolate.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Browse single-origin coffees\" href=\"https:\/\/www.harmonycoffee.co.uk\/collections\/our-coffee\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eBrowse our single-origin coffees\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCheck out more of our collections\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Espresso Coffee Beans Collection\" href=\"https:\/\/www.harmonycoffee.co.uk\/collections\/great-espresso-coffees\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eEspresso coffee beans collection\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca title=\"Filter Coffee Beans collection\" href=\"https:\/\/www.harmonycoffee.co.uk\/collections\/filter-coffee\"\u003eFilter coffee beans collection\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca title=\"Coffee subscriptions collection\" href=\"https:\/\/www.harmonycoffee.co.uk\/collections\/coffee-subscriptions\"\u003eCoffee Subscriptions\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCheck out some of our guides\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Link to guide on Coffee processing\" href=\"https:\/\/www.harmonycoffee.co.uk\/blogs\/blog\/coffee-processing-guide\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eA complete beginner's guide to coffee processing methods\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Harmony Coffee Roaster","offers":[{"title":"200g \/ Whole Bean","offer_id":55573801206136,"sku":"M-HERRERA200","price":16.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"200g \/ Ground (Stovetop \/ Mokapot)","offer_id":55573801238904,"sku":"M-HERRERA201","price":16.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"200g \/ Ground (Aeropress)","offer_id":55573801271672,"sku":"M-HERRERA202","price":16.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"200g \/ Ground (Filter)","offer_id":55573801304440,"sku":"M-HERRERA203","price":16.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"200g \/ Ground (Cafetière \/ French Press)","offer_id":55573801337208,"sku":"M-HERRERA204","price":16.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"1kg \/ Whole Bean","offer_id":55573801369976,"sku":"M-HERRERA205","price":69.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"1kg \/ Ground (Stovetop \/ Mokapot)","offer_id":55573801402744,"sku":"M-HERRERA206","price":69.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"1kg \/ Ground (Aeropress)","offer_id":55573801435512,"sku":"M-HERRERA207","price":69.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"1kg \/ Ground (Filter)","offer_id":55573801468280,"sku":"M-HERRERA208","price":69.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"1kg \/ Ground (Cafetière \/ French Press)","offer_id":55573801501048,"sku":"M-HERRERA209","price":69.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0614\/4878\/1993\/files\/Marcos_Herrera_Wild_complex_1.png?v=1780423967","url":"https:\/\/www.harmonycoffee.co.uk\/products\/marcos-herrera-sl28","provider":"Harmony","version":"1.0","type":"link"}