Scott Laboratories selection from 1930s Kenya, never distributed for its rust and berry disease weakness. Peru's 'Inca Gesha' has been DNA-linked to it.
SL9 was selected at Kenya's Scott Agricultural Laboratories in the 1930s. A 1956 Coffee Board of Kenya bulletin describes it as coming from a block of unknown origin, with copper-coloured young leaves and heavy crops of good quality at middle altitudes. It lacks rust resistance and is susceptible to coffee berry disease, so historical records say it was never distributed.
DNA testing has linked Peruvian trees sold as 'Inca Gesha' to SL9 reference material, but no documented seed trail connects the two, so the link is unproven. Peruvian lots are described as floral, with jasmine, honeysuckle and bergamot, often with a light, tea-like body.
Field notes
- i
Kenyan records say SL9 was never distributed, yet DNA links Peru's 'Inca Gesha' to it, and no documented seed trail explains how it got there.
- ii
The 'SL' prefix marks individual tree selections made at Scott Laboratories in the late 1930s, the same program that gave SL28 and SL34.
Grown in
- Kenyaorigin
Sources · 2 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.
- What is SL9 coffee? · Ozone Coffee Roasters
- WCR Arabica Varieties Catalog: SL28 · World Coffee Research