WE DISPATCH COFFEES ON FRIDAY, WITH CUTOFF ON THE PRECEEDING WEDNESDAY
FIZZY APPLE
Flavour notes: FIZZY APPLE RINGS and LIME
Fizzy Apple is a sweet, fruit-forward coffee with green apple, chocolate, and honeyed depth.
This coffee sits in our competition category, chosen to highlight what thoughtful processing can bring to an already solid varietal. A controlled dry anaerobic co-fermentation with green apples introduces bold, layered flavours and a bright, juicy acidity that lifts the cup without overwhelming it. The result is a coffee that’s expressive and complex, yet still cohesive and easy to enjoy.
We find it especially impressive with milk, where the sweetness and fruit character become rounder and more indulgent, though it remains versatile enough to enjoy black as well. Grown at an altitude of 1450-1500m on volcanic ash soils at Finca Santa Mónica, this Castillo microlot showcases modern processing while staying grounded in structure and drinkability.
We first purchased this coffee for Halloween in 2024, drawn to its distinctive flavour and unique profile. When the 2025 harvest surpassed the previous year in quality, we knew it was worth bringing back, this time with the competition stage in mind. Its structure and intensity made it a natural fit for high-level performance.
Ian Kissick went on to use Fizzy Apple for his milk course at the 2025 World Barista Championship.
The Producer
Jairo Arcila is a third-generation coffee grower from Quindío, Colombia, with over 40 years of experience across both farming and coffee export.
After a long career managing mills at Racafé, Colombia’s second-largest exporter, he focused fully on growing coffee, purchasing and developing multiple farms across the region. In 2002, he acquired Finca Santa Mónica and replanted it with varieties like Castillo and Costa Rica-95 alongside his wife, Luz Helena Salazar.
With the rise of specialty coffee, Jairo began planting Gesha, Pink Bourbon, Tabi, and Java, becoming one of the first in the region to grow some of these varieties. By combining deep technical knowledge with experimental processing and sustainable farming practices, he now produces expressive, high-quality microlots.
If you’re after something experimental that’s still approachable, this coffee is a standout.
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.