WE DISPATCH COFFEES ON FRIDAY, WITH CUTOFF ON THE PRECEEDING WEDNESDAY
UMAMI
Flavour notes: MARSHMALLOW, CARAMEL POPCORN, and MARMITE
Part of our Future category, Umami balances savoury marmite depth with candyfloss-like sweetness, a medium-high body, and a rounded finish.
It stands out not only for how it tastes today, but for what it represents for the future of coffee. Its unique profile earned it a place on the competition stage at the 2025 UK Barista Championship Finals.
Carefully grown at an altitude of 1000m and naturally processed with an 84-hour yeast-inoculated fermentation, it showcases Excelsa’s expressive fruit character while remaining balanced and approachable. With its naturally low caffeine content and climate resilience, this coffee reflects the kind of thoughtful experimentation and long-term thinking we’re excited to support.
Built for curious brewers, it shines in both filter and espresso, where its clarity and fruit expression really stand out. This is a coffee for those looking to step beyond the familiar, while still enjoying a cup that feels intentional, considered, and well structured.
Producer
This coffee was produced at Mooleh Manay Estate in collaboration with South India Coffee Company and SICC Labs - leaders in traceable, future-focused Indian coffees - Umami reflects a shared commitment to research, sustainability, and quality. If you’re ready to explore a rare coffee species with expressive flavour and a story grounded in innovation, this one is well worth your attention.
Mooleh Manay is located near the backwaters of the Harangi Reservoir in Nakoor Village, Coorg, Karnataka, and is managed by Komal and Akshay Dashrath. The farm was taken over from fourth-generation coffee planter Ms. G.G. Padmashree, and continues a long tradition of coffee cultivation in the region, now guided by a data-driven and quality-focused approach.
The estate spans 75 acres at an altitude of 1000m., with clayey loam soils and an annual rainfall of approximately 65 inches, creating ideal conditions for coffee production. Mooleh Manay cultivates multiple coffee species, including Arabica, Robusta, and Excelsa, placing particular emphasis on meticulous harvesting and processing to express each coffee’s full potential.
This coffee was sourced through the South India Coffee Company, a specialty green coffee trade house working with over 30 producers across India and prioritising transparency and traceability. In collaboration with SICC Labs, the company is actively researching low-intervention and climate-resilient coffee species like Excelsa, helping to document, refine, and share coffees that may play a crucial role in the future of coffee production.
About Excelsa
Excelsa offers a rare combination of distinctive flavour, naturally low caffeine, and climate resilience. As a species, it holds real potential in a changing climate, making it an important focus for future-facing coffee research and production.
Traditionally, Excelsa trees were planted along the borders of Indian coffee farms, serving as natural boundaries and an additional source of income. Over time, many farms removed Excelsa due to the challenges of harvesting tall trees and its susceptibility to berry borer when fruit was left unpicked.
At South India Coffee Company, Excelsa is viewed differently. While global attention has long centred on Arabica and Robusta, Excelsa - one of more than 130 Coffea species - offers a distinct opportunity to explore new flavour profiles. The beans are smaller and rounder than more common varieties and are often grouped locally with Liberica under the name “Mara Kaapi” or “Tree Coffee,” though the two are genetically and sensorially distinct.
Excelsa has long been recognised locally for its vibrant fruit character, retaining clarity and sweetness even in washed preparations and milk-based drinks.
One defining feature of Excelsa is its harvest method: the trees grow tall, requiring farmers to climb ladders to selectively pick ripe fruit. With limited global research available on Excelsa and Liberica, continued documentation is essential. South India Coffee Company and SICC Labs are actively engaged in this work to better understand Excelsa’s role in the future of coffee.
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.