Photo of a bag of Finca Planada
Photo of a bag of Finca Planada

Costa Rica Finca Planada

The Finca Planada mill mainly produces honey processed coffees, so the natural we’re sharing is unusual for them. Carlos also likes to experiment with different varieties: he was the first producer in Costa Rica to get his hands on the SL-28 varietal which we’re showcasing.

Sorry, sold out!

Variety: SL28
Process: natural

Flavour: winey, juicy berries and plum with soft florals

Body:   Acidity:

Roast: Omni (filter + espresso)

Producer: Carlos & Diana Barrantes

Region: Cirri Sur, Naranjo, West Valley, Costa Rica

Altitude: 1500m above sea level

We’re excited to be sharing a pretty unique coffee from Costa Rica as part of Brew Crew VS.

VERY SPECIAL

Why unique? It’s from a Costa Rican farm growing SL28, a varietal developed originally in Kenya, processed using a natural method. Kenyan coffees are typically washed, so this is a rare chance where two unexpected factors meet to produce an interesting flavour profile. Fusion!

It’s the result of the consistent work of Carlos Barrantes and his wife, Diana, who established La Perla Del Cafe Mill in 2011. They’re the third generation in their family in coffee. Their obsession with quality and precision is evident from the mill to the drying greenhouse to the bodega—not a single bean is out of place, and everything is kept exceptionally clean.

In a further nod to quality, the Barrantes family hires the same pickers every year, regardless of the size of the harvest. These workers are so exceptional that the station doesn’t have a float tank at the mill—Carlos and Diana trust their keen eyes and swift hands to only select the perfectly ripe cherry.

The mill mainly produces honey processed coffees, so the natural we’re sharing is also unusual for them. Carlos also likes to experiment with different varieties: he was the first producer in Costa Rica to get his hands on the SL-28 varietal which we’re showcasing.

BREW, SHARE AND ENJOY

Now you know a bit more about the background it’s time to enjoy this awesome coffee! If you don’t know where to start, you can use Reuben’s brewing recipe (coming soon, see below).

You can also try your favourite method and play around with some settings to get the best of it. Don’t forget to tell us how it went, adding your recipe here, via email or on Instagram at @samplecoffee.

We look forward to hearing about your experience with this VS coffee!

Washed process coffee

Explanation here.

SL28 variety

SL28 was developed in 1931 by Scott Laboratories to suit the growing conditions in Kenya. The varietal is known for its exceptional cup quality

100% SL28 coffee beans, roasted by us on Gadigal land / Sydney.

Country grade: Unknown ?

Bag: ABA Certified home compostable
Label: Recyclable
Valve (on bags larger than 250g): General waste
Coffee ordered online is shipped in a recyclable cardboard box

Brewing this coffee

We recommend brewing this coffee 15–49 days post-roast. If pre-ground, brew as soon as possible. Our advice on storing coffee.

1:3
dose:yield
ratio

To brew on espresso, we recommend using 20g of beans (dose) to get 60g of espresso out (yield), during 24-28 seconds.

g dose
g yield
View the how to brew espresso (single origin) guide.

1:16.7
beans:water
ratio

To brew in infusion/fed brewers (V60, Chemex) use a ratio of 1:16.7 ratio of beans:water.

g beans
g water
View full recipes and videos in our brewguides

1:14.3
beans:water
ratio

To brew in immersion brewers (plunger, AeroPress, Kalita, batch brewer) we recommend using a 1:14.3 ratio of beans:water

g beans
g water
View full recipes and videos in our brewguides

1:12
beans:water
ratio

To brew as cold brew we recommend using a 1:12 ratio of beans:water

g beans
g water
View full recipes and videos in our brewguides

We’re excited to be sharing a pretty unique coffee from Costa Rica as part of Brew Crew VS.

VERY SPECIAL

Why unique? It’s from a Costa Rican farm growing SL28, a varietal developed originally in Kenya, processed using a natural method. Kenyan coffees are typically washed, so this is a rare chance where two unexpected factors meet to produce an interesting flavour profile. Fusion!

It’s the result of the consistent work of Carlos Barrantes and his wife, Diana, who established La Perla Del Cafe Mill in 2011. They’re the third generation in their family in coffee. Their obsession with quality and precision is evident from the mill to the drying greenhouse to the bodega—not a single bean is out of place, and everything is kept exceptionally clean.

In a further nod to quality, the Barrantes family hires the same pickers every year, regardless of the size of the harvest. These workers are so exceptional that the station doesn’t have a float tank at the mill—Carlos and Diana trust their keen eyes and swift hands to only select the perfectly ripe cherry.

The mill mainly produces honey processed coffees, so the natural we’re sharing is also unusual for them. Carlos also likes to experiment with different varieties: he was the first producer in Costa Rica to get his hands on the SL-28 varietal which we’re showcasing.

BREW, SHARE AND ENJOY

Now you know a bit more about the background it’s time to enjoy this awesome coffee! If you don’t know where to start, you can use Reuben’s brewing recipe (coming soon, see below).

You can also try your favourite method and play around with some settings to get the best of it. Don’t forget to tell us how it went, adding your recipe here, via email or on Instagram at @samplecoffee.

We look forward to hearing about your experience with this VS coffee!

Region

Cirri Sur, Naranjo, West Valley

Altitude

1500m above sea level

Producer

Carlos & Diana Barrantes

Roast style

Omni (filter + espresso)

Map showing location of Costa Rica Finca Planada

FAQs

Do you ship Australia-wide?

Yes! We deliver freshly roasted coffee beans anywhere in Australia, with fast dispatch and eco-friendly packaging.

Do you ship internationally?

We ship beans to select international countries.

Can I buy pre-ground coffee?

Yes. You’ll see our pre-ground options during checkout.

We offer pre-ground options for different methods:
- Ground for domestic espresso (home espresso machine)
- Ground for stovetop (Bialetti)
- Ground for AeroPress / Kalita / Cold Brew / Moccamaster / Plunger / French Press (immersion style)
- Ground for V60/Chemex (pour over style)

How is your coffee ethically sourced?

We source our coffee from small producers through responsible importing companies. 95% of our green coffee beans are supplied by Caravela Coffee, Cafe Imports, and Melbourne Coffee Merchants (certified B Corporations) plus Condesa Co Lab and more.

We transparently share all the information about each coffee lot (territory of origin, producer, variety, processing method, importer, quality grade) on each coffee page. This includes blend components for our espresso blends.

We take quality sourcing very seriously, so being fully transparent about our coffee is a way to honour everyone’s efforts along the production and gain the trust of ethical-minded consumers.

Learn more about our coffee and business philosophy.

Do you roast dark or light?

We roast our single origins using omni medium/light profiles. (This means you can use it for pour over and espresso brewing, no need to buy different bean bags with specific roast styles.)

We roast our espresso blends using darker profiles.

What is “specialty coffee”?

The definitions and references to specialty coffee are changing.

Historically, and as most people think of it these days, specialty coffee is Arabica beans that score over 80 in the old Specialty Coffee Association point scale. Today, the SCA refers to specialty coffee as “a coffee or coffee experience that is recognized for its distinctive attributes, resulting in a higher value within the marketplace.”

Can I subscribe?

Absolutely. Our coffee subscription lets you get your favourite beans (for filter and espresso, black or milk drinks) delivered regularly for free and with no lock-in periods.

With love, from Sample

We’re an independent coffee roasting company based in Gadigal land / Sydney, Australia

We’ve been sharing exceptional coffees since 2011, with a particular focus on rotating single origins, ethical sourcing, and homebrewing accessibility.

Our daily work is driven by quality, consistency, transparency, and fun. This approach has slowly and organically connected us with a community of homebrewers and professionals who value how we do business and, above all, love delicious coffee beyond the hype.

Learn about us

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