[Light Roast]

Region: Alejo Castro, West Valley

Farm: Volcan Azul

Processing: Anaerobic Natural

Variety: SL34

Altitude: 1400 - 1700 Masl

About Qunqana:

Volcán Azul is a world-renowned specialty coffee estate on the fertile volcanic slopes of Costa Rica's West Valley, managed by Alejo Castro Kahle — a sixth-generation coffee producer carrying forward over 200 years of family heritage. The story begins in the mid-1800s, when two pioneers on opposite ends of the Americas — Alejo C. Jiménez in Costa Rica and Wilhelm Kahle in southern Mexico — independently shared the same dream: to produce the best coffee in the world for Europe's demanding gourmet market. Their descendants eventually merged that vision into one family, and today Alejo runs the Volcán Azul micro-mill alongside his father Fernando Castro Jiménez and mother Vivian Kahle.

The estate sits at 1,400–1,700 masl on rich volcanic soil, in a unique microclimate where Pacific and Atlantic winds converge. Volcán Azul grows an ever-expanding selection of varieties — including SL34, SL28, Gesha, Caturra, Typica, and Sudan Rume — and Alejo is known for relentlessly experimenting with processing methods to unlock new sensory possibilities from each cultivar. The farm is a frequent winner and finalist in the Costa Rica Cup of Excellence. Beyond quality, conservation runs deep in the family's DNA: since the 1980s, the Castro-Kahle family has acquired over 1,500 hectares of Costa Rican rainforest for ecological preservation, including land in the Osa Peninsula — a region home to 2.5% of the Earth's biodiversity.

Why We Sourced This Coffee:

SL34 is a variety rarely seen from Costa Rica, and in the hands of a producer like Alejo Castro, it becomes something truly special. Originally selected in Kenya's Scott Laboratories in the 1930s and prized for its drought resistance and exceptional cup potential, SL34 takes on a completely different character when grown on Volcán Azul's volcanic slopes and processed through anaerobic natural fermentation. The result is unlike anything conventional: dates, tangerine, guava, and red currant — deep, lush, and intensely fruity.
This lot is roasted to a "No Crack" light profile at Agtron #108, preserving every nuance the anaerobic process and variety have to offer. It's a coffee that rewards adventurous palates — the kind of cup that challenges what you think Costa Rican coffee can be. With six generations of expertise, a proven competition track record, and a genuine commitment to environmental stewardship, Volcán Azul represents the intersection of tradition and innovation at the highest level. This lot is a perfect example of what happens when deep knowledge meets fearless experimentation.

Notes: Dates, Tangerine, Guava, Red Currant