SL-14 Coffee Beans – Medium Altitude Hybrid Coffee From Kenya

SL-14 is a popular type of coffee variety not only in the African continent but around the world. They are a sub-variety of Typica coffee beans which are a variety of Arabica beans themselves. These beans are commonly grown in the medium to high altitude locations of Kenya and Uganda compared to the exclusively high-altitudes of SL-28 and SL-34. These locations seem to have a perfect environment for SL-14 with enough rainfall and shadow to produce high-quality products, appreciated by a lot of coffee lovers.

The main reason why SL-14 coffee beans are popular is the fact that they are a high-yielding tall variety. Additionally, this one is cold and drought tolerant, making it pretty comfortable for farmers to take care of it in a simple manner. As we already mentioned, SL-14 can mostly be found in Kenya and Uganda. SL in the name of the coffee stands for Scott Labs, which is the organization that first selected these beans.

In this guide, we are going to talk about everything you need to know about SL-14 coffee, including its history and the products that might catch your attention. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy the process of discovering the new and unique type of Kenyan coffee that will change your coffee drinking experience.

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The History Of SL-14 Coffee Beans

Scott’s Laboratories identified the SL variety in the early 1900s. The SL varietals are widely regarded as a revolution in the Kenyan coffee industry. Scott’s Laboratories is reported to have discovered a drought-resistant type in Tanzania while looking for a more tolerant variety, which was then transported into Kenya for testing.

SL14 was created about the same time in the 1930s (as it was in the case of SL28 and SL34). Although no historical records exist for SL14, the seedlings were grown in Kabete and disseminated throughout Kenya. The cup profile of the SL14 is decent, although not as good as that of the SL28.

From what is known to us, Drought tolerance is a notable feature of SL14, which was chosen in 1936 from a single tree designated Drought Resistant II. Historical documents tracing the origins of D.R. II have been lost, although seedlings were planted in Kabete in 1933 and thereafter extensively dispersed in Kenyan locations east of the Rift Valley. Recent genetic studies have revealed that SL14 is genetically linked to the Typica group. It has a significant economic impact on both Kenya and Uganda.

Top 5 SL-14 Coffee Brands on Amazon

If you are someone who is looking for SL-14 coffee beans, then we have got you covered. Getting the beans directly from Kenya or Uganda is pretty hard and additionally, it is related to a lot of headaches including logistics, payments, etc.

It is always a better idea to order your coffee from Amazon, which offers a pretty comfortable process – You can get your product with a single click in less than 24 hours which is pretty exciting. For this article, we already did our research on SL-14 coffee brands to save your time. Unfortunately, there are no SL-14 options available online, but below, we have gathered the best SL-28 and SL-34 brands which are really good varieties.

How We Rated Them

We pay attention to the following:

• Price

• Company Background

• Taste

• Shelf-life

• Additives

For more detailed information on how exactly we rate the coffee products we suggest in our guides, click here.

Individual Overviews of Our Top Choices

In order to make the best possible choice, we decided to do individual overviews of our top choices, reviewing all important facts about each of them. That way, you will be able to make sure whether a specific product is worth your time, attention, and money. So, make sure to check out the products that we have listed below.

Kenya AA SL-34 & SL-28 Blend

The first on our list is Kenya AA SL-34 and SL-28 blend that shares characteristics of both high-quality varietals. The coffee comes directly from Kenya, specifically Bungoma country. Bungoma County is gradually becoming a significant coffee-producing region in Kenya. Because of its closeness to Mt Elgon, the region provides ideal growth conditions for coffee.

Within your cup of coffee, you are going to discover the sweet, balanced, and bright flavors with notes of black tea and peach blossom. What I love about this product is the fact that it is super fresh! Due to the fact that it uses advanced roasting technology, they are delivered in a fresh manner. You are going to feel a strong aroma of the beans the second you open the package.

The freshness is maintained by packaging which is high quality. The bags are resealable and include a one-way valve to suck out excess air. To avoid exposing freshly ground coffee to flavor-stealing oxygen, single-serve coffee pods are filled utilizing nitrogen insufflation. A 32-ounce package of this coffee costs $29.95 – this might seem a little expensive to some. If that’s the case, you can check out other low-budget options that we have listed below.

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Unroasted Kenya AA SL-34

The next one on our list is Unroasted Kenya AA SL-34. The interesting fact is that this product mostly comes with positive reviews and that’s why we wanted to taste it ourselves. From my personal experience, I can say that this product comes at a very good price. For 5 pound version, you have to pay $44.35 which is good considering the quality you get.

These SL-34 coffee beans have chocolate, black currant, and savory flavor notes. I was surprised as I could feel all of these within my first cup which is not very common with coffee products I have tasted before. As for the brewing method, I myself used French Press, however, it does not mean that you have to stick with one technique. It is always a good idea to experiment as it will help you produce a taste that suits your interests the best.

One important fact about this product is the company behind it which is pretty reputable and trustworthy. Smokin Beans is an award-winning coffee supplier – coffee is cultivated by farmers who practice sustainable farming and support biodiversity. Additionally, these beans are completely safe to consume as they do not include any artificial ingredients.

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Kenya AA Gourmet SL-28

If you are someone who is looking for a high-quality product that is not only good tasting but also looks good, then it might be a good idea to stick with Kenya AA Gourmet SL-28. There are just two people working for this firm, Nick and Dan Hunnewell, who established it in May 2019. With their aim, they hope to improve coffee quality on Amazon and it all reflects into their product.

I was actually pretty surprised by the fact that the packaging looks so good! It has all the necessary information on it including roast level, origin, and taste profiles. The bag comes with a degassing valve to help the coffee off-gas properly. Additionally, it is roasted in small batches making sure that every time you place an order, you will receive the same high-quality coffee.

As for the taste itself, this one has tastes of chocolate, lemon, and sugary plum. The good news is that you can brew these beans with any brewing method including French Press, Pour over, Espresso Machine, etc – It all depends on your personal preferences.

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Kenya AA Grade Single Origin

Kenya AA Grade Single Origin is a coffee that can be characterized as intensely flavorful, fresh, and clean. Due to the fact that the beans are unroasted, you will have to roast them yourself which might be a little bit tricky but you will be able to perfect it after several tries.

As a result of their size, they cook more evenly than other beans I’ve tested. It’s also possible to reduce the roasting time for your coffee from french press to espresso and still obtain a good smooth, flavorful cup of coffee. As for the taste, this one copies all the flavors that are typical of Kenyan coffee, so when taking a sip, you will be able to feel the authentic taste that SL-28, SL-34, and SL-14 coffee beans are famous for.

One of the best things about this product is its price. A 5-pound package costs $36.95 which is a pretty competitive price considering the size of the bag and the overall quality. It is also possible to choose another version of a package that is 3 pounds and naturally, costs less. All in all, I believe that this is one of the best alternatives to SL-14 coffee that is available on Amazon right now and therefore, is definitely worth giving a try.

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Kenya AAA Koffee Kult Limited

We are happy to end our list with Kenya AA Koffee Kult Limited. This one might be even better than you expect due to several important reasons. The product description mentions that these beans are great for Pour over or Espresso, so I decided to try it. I usually only drink dark roast coffee but this one actually surprised me. The coffee has a deep, rich flavor that I didn’t expect from a blonde roast, which I usually find a little weak.

So, this one is a great option for people that are not fans of coffees that are available in grocery stores. Compared to them, this will give you a unique experience that is life-changing. The flavors you get are very well-balanced and offer a nice smooth aroma.

This one is a little expensive compared to other products that we have listed above. This can be justified by the fact that this is a premium coffee that is not similar to any other product. However, if you are looking for low-budget versions, you can always go for other options from our list.

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Frequently Asked Questions on SL-14 Coffee Beans