What is the San Roque coffee varietal?

San Roque - also called San Roque Kenia or simply Kenia - is a natural mutation of SL-28 identified in Costa Rica. The mutation was first observed at a farm in San Roque, where SL-28 plants had been introduced, and has since spread among specialty-focused producers in several Costa Rican growing regions.

San Roque shares SL-28's genetic foundation - the distinctive fruit complexity, blackcurrant-like acidity, and brightness that make SL-28 one of specialty coffee's most celebrated cultivars - adapted to Costa Rican conditions over time.

At its best, well-grown San Roque lots show the red fruit and vibrant acidity associated with the SL-28 parent, in a Costa Rican production context. It's relatively rare and primarily found in specialty-focused farms. For buyers interested in varietal curiosities that carry genuine cup identity, San Roque is one worth seeking out.