Armando Hurtado’s SL-9 is a testament to the extraordinary quality of coffee coming out of Peru. His farm, Los Pinos, sits on the slopes of a mountain in Cusco’s Inkawasi valley. Most of his coffee is SL-9, an Ethiopian Legacy Variety locally known as “Inca Gesha” that is cultivated across the Inkawasi valley and southern Peru. Its complete genetic picture is still emerging, but its floral, sparkling, fruited cup profiles bear a resemblance to those of both Gesha and certain Ethiopian and Kenyan profiles. Armando’s coffee is crisp and structured with satisfying depth and a velvety mouthfeel. We taste citrusy florals, sweet and ripe tropical fruit, and soft, articulated acidities.
