Ecuador — Pepe & Family Finca Soledad Sidra (Washed)

Tastes Like — 🍯 Eucalyptus Honey • 🍋 Lemon Tea • 🌸 White Florals

DETAILS

• Producer: Pepe & Family
• Farm: Finca Soledad
• Region: Imbabura, Ecuador
• Varietal: Sidra
• Process: Washed
• Altitude: 1,515 MASL
• Harvest: March 2026
• Size: 250g

INTRO

From Pepe and his family at Finca Soledad — a biodynamic, fully organic Sidra grown within 120 hectares of cloud forest in Imbabura, and a coffee that lives and breathes terroir. The regenerative farming practices at Soledad are as much a part of what's in the cup as the processing — a clean, elegant, and fragrant washed Sidra of remarkable purity. In the cup: eucalyptus honey, lemon tea, and white florals.

THE PRODUCER

Finca Soledad is one of the most ecologically remarkable farms SEY work with anywhere in the world. Situated within 120 hectares of cloud forest — one of the most biodiverse environments they have encountered — Sidra, Gesha, and Mejorado are cultivated on just 4 hectares within this expansive landscape, under biodynamic and fully organic management that reflects a deep, principled commitment to the health of the soil and the forest around it.

Beyond coffee production, Soledad is a community-oriented project: the farm provides support and employment opportunities for single mothers in the surrounding area, making it as much a social enterprise as a specialty coffee operation. At $77/kg direct green, this is among SEY's highest-priced coffees — a reflection of both the extraordinary quality and the values embedded in every decision made at the farm.

The variety colloquially called Sidra in Ecuador is confirmed as Ethiopian Landrace, though the precise genetic identification remains under research. Ethiopia's extraordinary biodiversity — with DNA testing confirming over 60 distinct varieties — means that the full story of how this particular lineage arrived in Ecuador and developed its distinctive aromatic character is still unfolding.

THE PROCESS

The Washed process at Finca Soledad involves:

🍒 Hand-picking — Sidra cherries picked at peak ripeness 🛢️ Open tank hold — Held in open tanks for 12 hours before processing 🔧 De-pulping — Outer skin removed after the hold 💧 Washing — Washed to remove all fermentation residue ☀️ Raised-bed drying — Dried on raised beds with controlled airflow and sun exposure to ensure consistency throughout

The 12-hour open tank hold before de-pulping is the defining step — allowing the cherries to begin developing complexity before the fruit is removed, building the eucalyptus honey sweetness and floral aromatic depth that define this lot, while the controlled raised-bed drying locks in the clean lemon tea structure and white floral delicacy that carry through to the finish.

THE CUP

A beautifully pure and fragrant washed Sidra from one of Ecuador's most ecologically and socially purposeful specialty farms — eucalyptus honey warmth, lemon tea brightness, and a delicate white floral character in a cup that reflects the living cloud forest and regenerative philosophy of Finca Soledad in every sip.

Flavour Notes

🍯 Eucalyptus Honey 🍋 Lemon Tea 🌸 White Florals