A tall, drought-tolerant Kenyan selection with exceptional cup potential at altitude, but low yield and disease susceptibility.
SL28 was selected at Scott Agricultural Laboratories in Kenya from Tanganyika Drought Resistant stock, with a Bourbon-like genetic background. It is drought tolerant with large beans and exceptional cup potential at altitude, but yields little and is susceptible to leaf rust, berry disease and nematodes.
Field notes
- i
Kenya's SL28 traces to a drought-tolerant tree that a Scott Laboratories officer noticed in Tanzania's Moduli district in 1931. It was selected in 1935.
- ii
Some SL28 trees in Kenya are 60-80 years old and still productive.
- iii
It has spread to Uganda, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Latin America.
Family tree
Grown in
- Kenyaorigin
Sources · 1 Every sentence here was checked against a source we read. Taste notes are what guides describe, not promises about your bag. Last revised 2026-11-11.
- WCR Arabica Varieties Catalog: SL28 · World Coffee Research