Pepe and his family live and breathe terroir. This beautiful expression of the Sidra variety reflects the regenerative, fully organic practices at Finca Soledad. In the cup we find eucalyptus honey, lemon tea, and white florals.
Sidra
Imbabura
1,515 masl
March 2026
Hand-picked at peak ripeness. Held in open tanks for 12 hours. De-pulped. Washed. Dried on raised beds with controlled airflow and sun exposure to ensure consistency.
Pepe and his family are inspiring producers with equally remarkable farms. Their original farm, Finca Soledad, is a biodynamic operation situated within 120 hectares (~300 acres) of cloud forest—one of the most ecologically diverse environments we have encountered. Sidra, Gesha, and Mejorado are cultivated on just 4 hectares (~10 acres) within this expansive landscape. Beyond coffee production, Soledad is a community-oriented project that provides support and employment opportunities for single mothers in the area.
While we don't know exactly which variety it is, we do know for certain the variety colloquially called Sidra in Ecuador is an Ethiopian Landrace variety. Ethiopia is widely acknowledged as the geographic origin of coffee. DNA testing has confirmed over 60 distinct varieties growing in Ethiopia, making it home to the most coffee biodiversity in the world. How these Ethiopian varieties have made their way to various parts of the world varies wildly, and is the focus of much research and debate. Given climate change and the increasing difficulty to grow coffee, there is also a lot of research being done to develop new varieties and hybrids, usually starting with Ethiopian Landrace germ-lines.
The cost of getting a coffee from cherry to beverage varies enormously depending on its place of origin and the location of its consumption. The inclusion of price transparency is a starting point to inform broader conversation around the true costs of production and the sustainability of specialty coffee as a whole.