Ecuador — Pepe Jijon Finca Soledad Sidra (Wave Hybrid)

Tastes Like — 🥤 Sprite • 🥭 Red Mango • 🍇 Pomegranate • 🌹 Rose

DETAILS

• Producer: Pepe Jijon
• Farm: Finca Soledad
• Region: Imbabura, Ecuador
• Varietal: Sidra
• Process: Wave Hybrid
• Altitude: 1515 masl
• Size: 125g

INTRO

A truly special lot from Pepe Jijon at Finca Soledad showcasing his new Sidra Wave Hybrid processing style—an approach that feels both inventive and deeply considered. This hybrid method combines elements of natural and honey processing in a way that creates layers, almost like adding the best parts of each. The cup opens with clean, sparkling citrus quality—airy Sprite-like tanginess with high sweetness. As it settles, deeper red fruit tones emerge: juicy red mango, pomegranate, and hawthorn, with balance and complexity especially with rose-like florals in the finish.

THE PRODUCER

Pepe Jijon operates Finca Soledad in Imbabura, Ecuador, at 1,515 metres above sea level. He has established a reputation for his trademark "wave" philosophy and process, which uses gentle fermentation and controlled temperatures to introduce the least strain on coffee cherries whilst still producing high clarity, vibrant coffee. The Wave Hybrid represents an evolution of this philosophy, combining natural and honey processing in a unique sequence that showcases Pepe's mastery of evolving fermentation—turning up the volume on terroir without losing clarity.

THE PROCESS

The Wave Hybrid process is a unique multi-stage approach:

• 🍒 Cold Storage — 4 days in tanks in Finca Soledad's cold room
• ☀️ Natural Drying — 12 days as whole cherries
• 💧 Rehydration — Small amount of water added to cherries
• 🔪 De-Pulping — After rehydration
• ❄️ Honey Drying — 3 days in cold room with mucilage intact

This complex sequence creates a unique flavour profile that isn't simply a midpoint between natural and honey processing—it's layered, combining clean citrus brightness with deep red fruit complexity.

THE CUP

Clean, sparkling citrus opens with airy Sprite-like tanginess and high sweetness. Deeper red fruit tones emerge—juicy red mango, pomegranate, and hawthorn—with rose-like florals in the finish. A fun, complex, and genuinely unique coffee.

Flavour Notes

• 🥤 Sprite
• 🥭 Red Mango
• 🍇 Pomegranate
• 🌹 Rose

Afterward, the coffee is washed and dried slowly in both direct and indirect sunlight for 20 days, showcasing a low-intervention approach that preserves the farm’s distinct terroir. Pepe’s commitment to precision, experimentation, and flavor clarity results in a cup that is vibrant, structured, and deeply expressive of both the Typica Mejorado variety and the unique environment of Finca Soledad.