This is a bright, fruit-driven coffee with intense sweetness, elevated acidity, and a smooth finish. It is a washed Castillo microlot from Jairo Arcila at Finca Santa Mónica in Armenia, Quindío, Colombia, grown at 1,450-1,500 metres altitude. The coffee underwent 48-hour dry anaerobic fermentation with added lychee, followed by a washed finish. Expect pronounced lychee aromatics alongside notes of vanilla, caramel, and fresh lime, supported by lively acidity and balanced sweetness.
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.
