Emerson Narváez SL-28

Another must-try coffee! Our Emerson Felipe Narváez SL-28 is velvety and complex with tasting notes of strawberry sauce, honeycrisp apple, candied orange, and white florals. A single origin lot comprised solely of the SL-28 variety, this coffee displays the coveted flavors of the SL-28 variety (originally from Kenya-think fruity, berry forward, currant and wine-like), the terroir of Colombia which often produces ultra sweet, fruity, and floral coffees, and the unique flavors that result from growing practices that are hyper-focused on quality. We don’t know what’s in the air in Colombia but farmers there are knocking it out of the park in terms of innovation and quality in coffee. This coffee is another shining example of what happens when a special coffee variety meets a quality focused grower in a region meant for producing high end coffees.

Emerson Felipe Narváez is a coffee producer from Cumbitara, Nariño, and a second-generation farmer who’s chosen a somewhat challenging path: producing high-quality specialty coffee in a region often dominated by illegal crops. While many pursue coca for fast and large returns, Emerson is proving that coffee—done right—can be both sustainable and transformative. When Emerson first started, he had only 3.5 hectares of land and almost no resources. People told him growing specialty varieties like Geisha, Sidra, or SL-28 was a waste of time but he saw potential and set about building his coffee farm.

Over time, his coffees began to shine. He placed 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in the “Mi Nariño” competition through out the years which helped him connect with the specialty market and gave him the confidence to buy a second farm, higher up, with no road and no electricity. Today, Finca El Turpial stands as an example of what’s possible with vision and dedication. Emerson’s work is not just about coffee—it’s about reclaiming land, inspiring his community, and proving that high quality and honesty can thrive, even in places where most people said it couldn’t be done.