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The coffee industry has been continuously developing. Whether in terms of production methods or coffee varieties, only through constant innovation and progress can it maintain its presence and avoid being eliminated in this ever-changing new social era. Espresso, from its origins to its development today, has always been constantly innovating.

From the original espresso, to American coffee during World War II, to the later milk-based fancy coffees, espresso has gone through so much along the way. Everyone knows about espresso, and many coffee enthusiasts are also very familiar with specialty coffee, but the niche SOE is not well known to most people. A few years ago, SOE was not widely popular in China, and its usage and adoption rate in cafes were relatively low. It was not until recent years, with the continuous spread of specialty coffee culture and the strong promotion by many domestic coffee chain brands, that SOE gradually penetrated into coffee consumers' daily lives in China.

What kind of coffee is SOE? It sounds quite upscale. In this article, Front Street Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee) will share the story of SOE coffee with everyone!

What isSOE coffee?

SOE is an abbreviation, with the full name being single origin espresso, meaning single-origin espresso. It is coffee made from coffee beans of a single origin and single variety, capable of highlighting the regional flavors of the coffee's origin. For example, Yirgacheffe highlights acidity, while Guatemala highlights body.

SOE has been popular abroad for decades, thus having a broad audience. In fact, when the SOE method was introduced to China ten years ago, it did not spread as widely as it did abroad. One reason is that coffee was still a niche culture in China, and a cup of specialty coffee priced at 30 yuan was not something one could afford every day. The second reason is that SOE coffee is very expensive, costing dozens of yuan more than regular single-origin coffee, so even fewer people accepted it.

SCharacteristics of SOE Coffee

When using single-origin coffee to make espresso, few people would just taste a small cup of espresso alone; instead, they make milk coffee with it. This makes it easier to drink while also allowing one to taste the regional flavors of the single-origin coffee itself. As mentioned above, SOE coffee made from single-origin beans uses the espresso extraction method to greatly amplify the coffee's flavor profile. This applies not only to SOE coffee but also to traditional espresso, highlighting the flavor characteristics of coffee beans from specific regions.

Taking Yirgacheffe as an example, the flavor characteristics of washed Yirgacheffe are soft fruity acidity and jasmine-like aroma. Made into SOE, it becomes an espresso with very prominent acidity, which is difficult for most people to drink. However, when used as a coffee base to make milk coffee or American coffee, the intensity of the acidity is diluted, resulting in a refreshing cup of SOE coffee.

Coffee from other regions is similarly applicable, though the flavors and mouthfeel will differ. But the diverse flavors and mouthfeels offer more choices! However, the downside is equally obvious: different batches of SOE coffee will have flavor and mouthfeel differences, making consistency impossible to guarantee. Because the climate and environment are different every day, even if this batch impresses you, the next batch may not offer the same experience.

SOE Coffee's Pros and Cons

Pros: Can highlight the flavors of the coffee's origin, allowing you to experience different flavor profiles from different regions

Cons: Cannot guarantee coffee quality, prices are artificially high

Why has SOE become popular?

Front Street Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee) would like to share a story about SOE coffee here. In the 2007 World Barista Championship (WBC), James Hoffmann from the UK won the WBC world championship that year with an SOE-based coffee in the finals. This move stunned the entire audience and made SOE coffee famous, and SOE began to attract more attention and recognition.

After years of development, consumers abroad also began to popularize ordering an SOE to taste. That's the end of the story. SOE coffee can highlight origin flavors more than traditional espresso, so Front Street will use Yirgacheffe Sun-Dried Red Cherry to make an SOE coffee to share!

　　Front Street Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee) - Yirgacheffe Sun-Dried Red Cherry Coffee Beans

　　Region: Yirgacheffe, Ethiopia

　　Altitude: 2000 meters

　　Variety: Heirloom

　　Processing Method: Sun-Dried

Front Street SOE Parameters: Dose 20g, Time 28s, Coffee Liquid 40g, Hot Water 150ml

Red Cherry SOE Espresso Flavor: Smooth mouthfeel, moderate body, strong acidity, with delicate fruity acidity and caramel-like sweetness

Red Cherry SOE Americano Flavor: Soft fruity acidity, smooth entry, cocoa-like taste, refreshing and delicious, with a lasting sweet aftertaste. Compared to traditional Americano, the acidity is softer, the body is slightly lower, and it is more refreshing and crisp.

The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.