San Sebastian SL09

Peru SL-09 (also known as “Inca Gesha” or “Gesha Inca”) is a rare, highly floral, and complex coffee varietal grown in Peru. Despite its physical resemblance to Panama Gesha, genetic testing confirms it is actually a distinct Ethiopian Legacy lineage closely tied to historical Scott Agricultural Laboratories selections. “SL” is in reference to single tree selections made by Scott Agricultural Laboratories in 1935-1939, and slight genetic variations from ancient, less well-identified references are scientifically acceptable. While SL28, SL34, and Mibirizi are the most widely grown cultivars from the SL selections, SL09—and by extension, SL9—remains uncommon in cultivation today.

Julio established his farm in 2014 to tackle the severe impact of coffee leaf rust, choosing to plant more resistant coffee varieties in high-altitude areas. He successfully achieved his goal as a coffee grower, producing exquisite Geisha and SL-09 coffee varieties. In 2022, he won second place in the Peru Cup of Excellence competition.