Formative
BERRY JAM SUBSCRIPTION
Never run out of Berry Jam - subscribe for better value and flexible delivery at your pace. Pause or cancel anytime.
BERRY JAM
Berry Jam is a juicy, fruit-forward Ethiopian coffee with wine-like sweetness and a vibrant natural character.
A classic natural Yirgacheffe expression, it offers ripe fruit sweetness, lively acidity, and a rounded, silky body. Expect a clean, well-balanced cup with layered sweetness and a jammy depth that reflects everything Yirgacheffe is celebrated for - fruity, expressive, and complex without tipping into excess.
This is a coffee for those who enjoy vibrancy and character, but still want something approachable, consistent, and easy to return to. Berry Jam shines as a filter coffee, where its sweetness and complexity really open up, while its structure and body also make it a compelling option for espresso, delivering clarity alongside a richer, more jammy profile.
Processed using the natural method at a centralised drying site, the cherries are slow-dried on African raised beds for 12-15 days, enhancing sweetness and body while avoiding the inconsistencies often found in aggregated community lots. The result is a coffee that feels generous and expressive, yet thoughtfully produced and highly repeatable.
We chose this coffee for its balance of character, value, and consistency. It captures what people love about natural Yirgacheffe coffees while benefiting from careful central processing that keeps the cup clean and reliable.
Expressive without being wild and structured enough to work across brew styles, it’s an easy one to come back to cup after cup.
Producer
This coffee is sourced from smallholder farmers in the Yirgacheffe region of Ethiopia and produced by Ephtah Coffee, a company deeply rooted in Ethiopia’s coffee heritage. The lot is composed of indigenous heirloom varieties grown at high altitudes between 1,800 and 2,000m, where cooler temperatures and slower cherry maturation contribute to the coffee’s sweetness, acidity, and complexity. Shade is provided by false banana trees (Enset), a traditional agroforestry practice that supports soil health and biodiversity.
Ephtah Coffee operates with a strong focus on ethical sourcing, transparency, and long-term relationships, even though the coffee is not formally certified under sustainability schemes. The company works closely with producers, offering agronomic training, post-harvest support, and price risk management to help improve quality and economic stability. All cherries for this lot are centrally processed at the Lalesa drying site, where sorting, flotation, and drying are carefully monitored to ensure consistency and avoid the quality issues that can arise when multiple small lots are combined at the end of harvest.
A key pillar of Ephtah’s work is its commitment to empowering women in coffee. Through the Ama Commitment initiative, female farmers receive pre-financing, access to drying infrastructure, station refurbishment support, and tailored training. Many members of Ephtah’s own team are women, and the company actively promotes inclusive decision-making and safe working environments. By blending tradition with innovation, Ephtah Coffee produces coffees that are not only expressive in the cup, but deeply connected to the people and landscapes that shape them.
Product information
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
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):
-
Free shipping on every subscription delivery
-
Discounted rate compared to one-off purchases
-
Early access to pre-order Future and Competition coffees before they’re released to the wider public
Exceptional subscriptions:
-
Free shipping on every subscription delivery
-
Access to exclusive coffees sourced specifically for Exceptional subscribers
-
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.
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.
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.