WE DISPATCH COFFEES ON FRIDAY, WITH CUTOFF ON THE PRECEEDING WEDNESDAY
FRUIT SALAD
Flavour notes: BLACKBERRY JAM, RASPBERRY, and TROPICAL FRUIT
Fruit Salad is a clean, balanced coffee with bright fruit sweetness and a creamy, composed finish.
Sourced from the high mountains of Huehuetenango - one of Guatemala’s most celebrated specialty coffee regions - this coffee offers clarity, structure, and layered sweetness. Produced using a traditional washed process, the cup remains vibrant yet precise, with lifted aromatics and elegant fruit complexity. Expect notes of peach, plum, orange blossom, and panela.
The acidity is lively and citric, supported by gentle malic freshness, while the body stays smooth and rounded. Fruit Salad truly shines on filter, where its floral, tropical, and stone fruit notes are at their most expressive, though it also performs beautifully as espresso.
We chose this coffee for its balance, intensity, and structure - a modern expression of what Huehuetenango does best: bright acidity, clean sweetness, and layered fruit.
If you’re looking for a refined, no-fuss coffee that delivers clarity, sweetness, and dependable consistency cup after cup, this is a solid choice.
Producer
Finca La Maravilla is located high in the mountains of Huehuetenango, Guatemala, at an altitude of between 1,600 to 1,850. Owned and managed by Héctor Ovalle, the farm is known for its remote setting, dramatic terrain, and commitment to quality-focused production.
Huehuetenango’s unique geography - high altitude, warm daytime temperatures, and cool nights - allows coffee cherries to mature slowly, contributing to the region’s signature sweetness and complexity.
At Finca La Maravilla, cherries are selectively handpicked at peak ripeness, then depulped and fermented in tanks before being thoroughly washed with clean water to ensure clarity and precision in the cup. Drying takes place on patios or raised beds under controlled conditions, allowing the coffee to stabilise gradually and preserve delicate aromatics. This classic washed approach highlights both the character of the San Ramón varietal and the distinctive qualities of the region, resulting in a clean, structured, and expressive coffee that clearly reflects its origin.
Product information
Our coffee bags use eco paper, which can be processed like normal paper. Simply separate the tin tie from the bag, and put both straight into the recycling.
Please see the top of this page for information on when your order will be shipped. We use Royal Mail 48 as standard.
As coffee is a perishable product, we are unable to offer returns.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Coffee
What are the different coffee categories: Benchmark, Exceptional, Future and Competition?
Our Benchmark coffees are reliable, classic profiles that consistently deliver exactly what you’d expect. They’re approachable, easy to dial in, and perfect for everyday brewing - the kind of coffees you can happily return to again and again.
Our Exceptional coffees are bright, expressive, and full of character. These are the lots that surprise us, excite us, and remind us why we fell in love with coffee in the first place.
Our Future coffees sit at the edge of discovery. From pioneering processing methods to cutting-edge coffee genetics, these lots offer a glimpse into where coffee is headed next.
Our Competition coffees push boundaries. Rare, complex, and meticulously honed, these are standout lots we believe have the potential to shine on the competition stage
What coffee should I buy for espresso vs filter?
All of our coffees are omni-roasted, meaning they’re designed to perform beautifully as both espresso and filter. Rather than roasting for a single brew method, we focus on highlighting the coffee’s character and sweetness across different brewing styles.
How is your coffee roasted?
We roast most of our coffees as omni roasts, designed to work beautifully across different brew methods. Our focus is always on clarity and balance, highlighting the coffee’s natural character while keeping it clean, expressive, and enjoyable.
How long should I rest your coffee for?
Rest time can vary depending on the coffee and your personal taste, but as a general guide we recommend allowing at least 7 days of rest before brewing. Our coffees typically taste at their best for up to 5 weeks after roasting.
How can I recycle your packaging?
Our coffee bags should be recycled with soft plastics. Many large supermarkets offer soft plastic recycling collection points.
Is your coffee ethically sourced?
Yes. We work directly with some of the best coffee producers in the world, many of whom we know personally. We’re careful to ensure responsible practices throughout the supply chain, from the farm all the way to your cup.
Orders
I’d like to amend or cancel my order
We process orders quickly, so changes or cancellations aren’t always possible. If you need to make an update, contact our team on roastery@formative.coffee as soon as possible and we’ll do our best to help.
There’s an error with my order
Email us at roastery@formative.coffee with your order number and a brief description of the problem, and we’ll get back to you as quickly as possible.
Dispatch
When will my coffee be dispatched?
We roast and dispatch orders every Friday. The cut-off for orders is midnight on the preceding Wednesday.
How long will my coffee take to arrive?
We ship all orders via Royal Mail 24 Tracked. Deliveries typically arrive within 1–2 working days after dispatch.
How much does shipping cost?
Shipping is £3.45 for orders under £50. Orders over £50 qualify for free shipping. Subscriptions of any amount qualify for free shipping too.
Do you ship internationally?
At the moment, we only ship within the UK and do not offer international shipping.
How do I track my order?
You’ll receive a tracking number once Royal Mail collects and processes your order from our roastery. This usually happens on Fridays, our dispatch day.
Tracking says “delivered” but my delivery hasn’t arrived
Royal Mail usually provides proof of delivery with the “delivered” notification email. If you’re still unable to locate your parcel, please contact us at roastery@formative.coffee and we’ll be happy to help.
Subscriptions
How do subscriptions work?
You can subscribe to one of our Benchmark coffees and receive the same reliable, classic coffee on a schedule - every 1, 2, 3 or 4 weeks.
You can also subscribe to our Exceptional category. With this option, we select a standout coffee from our Exceptional range and deliver it to you on your chosen schedule. These coffees are exclusively sourced for the Exceptional subscription and not available for one-off buyers.
How often do you rotate the Exceptional subscription coffee?
We select and source a new coffee for the Exceptional subscription each calendar month.
What are the perks of subscribing to Formative Coffee?
Benchmark Subscriptions (Choc Nuts, Berry Jam and Decaf):
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Free shipping on every subscription delivery
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Discounted rate compared to one-off purchases
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Early access to pre-order Future and Competition coffees before they’re released to the wider public
Exceptional subscriptions:
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Free shipping on every subscription delivery
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Access to exclusive coffees sourced specifically for Exceptional subscribers
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Early access to pre-order Future and Competition coffees before they’re released to the wider public
How long will my subscription take to be delivered?
We roast and dispatch coffee every Friday. Your subscription will be dispatched on the Friday after your order is processed. All orders are shipped via Royal Mail 24 Tracked and typically arrive within 1-2 working days.
When will I be charged for my subscription?
You’ll be charged on the day you subscribe, and then automatically on a weekly, biweekly, or monthly basis from that date.
How can I pause or cancel my subscription?
You can pause or cancel your subscription at any time through your subscription portal. Simply use the link provided in your subscription confirmation email to manage your deliveries.
How do I amend my subscription delivery frequency?
Simply email us at roastery@formative.coffee and we’ll be happy to help.
Why can’t I subscribe to the Future and Competition categories?
Coffees in our Future and Competition categories are extremely rare and often produced in very small, high-demand microlots. Because we can’t guarantee consistent availability, these coffees aren’t suitable for a subscription model.
However, subscribers do receive priority access to pre-order these coffees before they’re officially released on our website.
I can’t access the subscription portal
Contact our team on roastery@formative.coffee as soon as possible and we’ll do our best to help.
Gift Cards
How do digital gift cards work?
Our digital gift cards can be purchased directly on our website at formative.coffee in values ranging from £10–£100.
If you'd like to purchase a gift card for an amount larger than £100, please contact us via roastery@formative.coffee
Please note: This gift card is only redeemable for coffee orders placed through the Formative website. It cannot be used in the Formative Shop.
Looking for something they can use in the shop instead?
Explore our Formative Shop Gift Card.
Do you sell physical gift cards?
We currently offer digital gift cards only and do not sell physical gift cards.
Partnership coffee
If you'd like to buy this coffee for your business, read more about our partnership options, or get in touch.