Hawaii Kona Farm Direct SL34 Washed

An anaerobic washed SL34 from Kraig and Leslie Lee in Kona, Hawaii, with nectarine, lemon zest and liquorice.

Coffee Expression
White nectarine and lemon zest, a little sugarcane and sweet cream, and liquorice at the end. Silky body, bright and jammy finish.

Producer
Grown by Kraig and Leslie Lee at Kona Farm Direct, on the slopes of Hualālai, Kona, Hawaii.

Coffee Details
Producer: Kraig and Leslie Lee
Farm: Kona Farm Direct
Region: Kona, Hawaii
Varietal: SL34
Process: Anaerobic washed, 72 hour fermentation

The Story
Kraig and Leslie have grown traditional Kona coffee for over 25 years. In 2017 they planted new varieties on their 4.7 acre farm, among them SL34, a variety best known from Kenya. This is the first harvest they have offered.

The cherries were sealed in tanks with selected yeasts for 72 hours, then washed. The fermentation adds fruit and aromatics. The washing keeps it clean.

We bought this SL34 at the first DMCC specialty coffee auction in Dubai, in February 2025, at US$910 a kilo. It was the highest price ever paid for a coffee grown in the United States, and it came home to Dubai.