Sweet and balanced with caramel richness and gentle floral notes, this decaf coffee is sourced from the Meseta de Popayán in Cauca, Colombia. Grown at altitudes between 1,500 and 2,070 metres in volcanic ash soils, it delivers a rounded cup with soft sweetness and reassuring depth. The profile leans into caramelised sugars and delicate florals, supported by a smooth mouthfeel. Made from Colombia, Castillo, and Caturra varieties by approximately 65 smallholder growers, it uses a natural sugar cane ethyl acetate decaffination process that preserves natural sweetness and flavour clarity while removing caffeine.
Formative opened in Victoria, London, in March 2019, founded by Ian Kissick. It started as a multi roaster café working with guest roasters like La Cabra before Ian began roasting Formative's own coffee in 2022 at PLOT Roasting's facilities in South London. Ian won the UK Barista Championship in 2023 and placed sixth at the World Barista Championship in 2024. The café still rotates its menu roughly every two weeks, blending its own roasts with guest selections. Sprudge named it runner up for World's Best New Café on its first anniversary.
