Tropical. Rose. Afterglow.
Shipping 23rd of October.
A Slipwing From El Fénix
Anoxic Washed Sidra brings us back to El Fénix in Calarcá, Quindío, Colombia, with another coffee I sourced on my Colombia trip. Bright, textured and lingering, it joins Roastersaurus as our first-ever shiny Archaeopteryx in the Slipwing class, carrying both the weight of the cup and its long tropical afterglow into the card.
El Fénix, Calarcá, Quindío
I spent three days at El Fénix during that trip, getting to know Miguel Fajardo Mendoza and the work happening around the farm. Its agroforest system and unusual coffee varieties make it a place where there is plenty to discover, and this Sidra grew from Miguel's interest in finding varieties that offer both beautiful cups and good productivity.
The seeds came from Ecuador through an exchange with a friend, and the Sidra replaced a Geisha lot. Miguel wanted a coffee with its own flavour identity, suited to the conditions at El Fénix and able to produce well there. That choice is part of the story behind this release: finding a future for the farm through coffees that belong to the place where they grow.
The Process
Miguel calls this anoxic fermentation the water pillow technique. The coffee ferments with its mucilage beneath a plastic sheet, with a layer of water sitting above the sheet. That water acts as a heat sink, helping stabilise the temperature, while the setup reduces the air around the coffee and lets fermentation gases escape. The fermentation juices are also allowed to drain away rather than collect at the bottom of the tank.
Miguel uses this method to encourage bright but delicate acidity and a balanced cup that lets the variety's character show. Here, that gives us plenty to follow from the first sip through to the finish.
Sidra
Sidra is a rare Arabica variety closely associated with Ecuador, sought after for its sweetness, bright acidity and expressive fruit and florals. Its family tree is less straightforward than the familiar Bourbon-and-Typica story suggests, with genetic research pointing towards Ethiopian roots. That makes it an interesting fit for a Slipwing: a coffee with an unusual story behind it and plenty of personality in the cup.
Cup Character
Tropical. Rose. Afterglow.
Red and pink fruit move through lychee, lemon balm and rose-like florals, carried by cane-sugar sweetness and a textured body, with passionfruit lingering into a long finish. The brightness keeps the cup lively while that weight and afterglow hold your attention, which is where this Archaeopteryx begins to take shape.
What’s Inside
200g Anoxic Washed El Fenix Sidra, Colombia
Illustrated limited edition Roastersaurus rare shiny Archaeopteryx card.
Every so often, an especially rare and distinctive coffee will get the shiny treatment within its own class. This Sidra is still a Slipwing, with a little extra shine for the collection, and each 200g pack includes that first-ever shiny Archaeopteryx.
This is a small Roastersaurus release, created to be tasted, collected and followed deeper into the world. Brew the coffee, keep the card close, and let the afterglow linger a little longer.