For home espresso making, determining the freshness and flavor preferences of blended coffee beans is most crucial. Espresso blends are also called mixed coffee; simply put, they are coffees made by a barista professionally blending different coffee beans together to achieve a specific flavor. The more traditional blending goals are nothing more than achieving a flavor better than [more…]

Many people don't chase the distinct regional flavors of pour-over coffee in their daily cup; they prefer the milky taste of coffee with milk added. To make a stable, delicious latte or Americano, choosing the right espresso beans is the first step. This article starts with the basic principles of espresso, explains the relationship between espresso, Americano, latte, and cappuccino, and lays out three general guidelines for selecting espresso and moka pot coffee beans: not sour, freshly roasted, and medium-dark roast. On this basis, drawing on several of Front Street Coffee's blends, it offers specific selection logic and recommendations for different needs—traditional Arabica, commercial blends, classic rich body, cost-first, and fruity acidity. [more…]

Coffee enthusiasts who frequently visit coffee shops may have noticed that espresso drinks are all made with blended coffee beans, meaning two or three types of coffee beans are mixed together to make a milk coffee or an Americano. So what are blended coffee beans? What are espresso blend coffee beans? As mentioned earlier by Front Street Coffee, blending [more…]

Blended coffee refers to a mixture of coffee beans from two or more different origins. When people order at a café, unless the barista specifically emphasizes otherwise, the coffee beans used are usually espresso blend beans, and they are typically medium to dark roasted. Americanos made from this type of espresso blend are generally light and refreshing. [more…]

When beginners first start exploring espresso, they will surely be advised to prioritize specialty blends, because they can better stabilize the quality and flavor performance of every cup of coffee. Not only are they economical and affordable, but they also have a rich, fragrant taste and come with a moderate amount of crema, which is helpful for practicing latte art—truly killing several birds with one stone. [more…]

Whether enjoyed on its own or as part of an espresso-based drink, a good, balanced espresso is the first requirement. However, to make an espresso with balanced acidity, body, and sweetness, you need to start with the right coffee beans—blending beans from different origins together. Although single-origin [more…]

For more specialty coffee knowledge, please follow our WeChat public account: Front Street Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee). Many people fall into the coffee rabbit hole because of beautiful latte art. After all, whenever you successfully recreate an exquisite pattern, the sense of accomplishment is unmatched. So, do you know [more…]

Friends who brew coffee with a moka pot almost always struggle with one question: how do you pick a bean that isn't sour? After all, coffee made in a moka pot is highly concentrated, so any sourness becomes very obvious once it appears. The good news is that as long as you stick to the directions of "full-bodied, low-acid, rich in oils," there are excellent choices from beginner to advanced levels. [more…]

What coffee beans are suitable for an espresso machine? Espresso is just one of many coffee extraction methods. No matter what kind of coffee is used, as long as it is made with an espresso machine, it can be called espresso. As long as it tastes good, whether it is single-origin coffee or a blend, it [more…]

With the growing specialty coffee market, many people have begun to explore espresso and pour-over coffee. Coffee enthusiasts who regularly drink espresso know that the coffee beans used for espresso are blended coffee beans, while those used for pour-over coffee are single-origin coffee beans. So what is the difference between the two? Can espresso beans be used to make [more…]

The same coffee, prepared differently, can show a big difference in flavor. For example, the same medium-dark roasted Indonesian Mandheling coffee, when used for pour-over, shows a mellow but not harsh mouthfeel, with notes of caramel, herbs, and spices; while when extracted as espresso with a coffee machine, it has a rich layer of crema, not [more…]

Since it is a blend, it naturally refers to a combination of coffee beans from two or more origins, but coffee beans of the same type roasted to different degrees can also be blended together. Therefore, the "types" referred to in blending are no longer a narrow combination of varieties, but broadly extend to coffee flavors. When blending, 2 to 6 types of coffee are generally used. [more…]

When choosing a delicious espresso coffee bean, you can set the complex information aside for now. For everyday bean buying, you need to consider how quickly you'll drink them, how much to buy at once, and whether you mainly make black coffee or milk coffee at home. Start from the two sets of differences—light or rich, black coffee or milk coffee—then look at the roast date and processing method, and your judgment will be closer to your daily needs. [more…]

Espresso, which many people also like to call "Espresso," or "Italian-style espresso," or "concentrated coffee." A good espresso will add a good coffee flavor to Italian coffee. If you drink espresso on its own, the taste will be very strong, but there are also quite a few people who just like it [more…]

Many people, after drinking coffee for a long time, want to make a cup themselves. But when they open a shopping platform to look for coffee beans, they find all kinds of incomprehensible terms. Just for espresso beans alone, there are blends, SOE, Yirgacheffe, Huakui, Kenya, Geisha, Colombia... It's like reading a sealed book, and then they sigh, drinking [more…]

It is generally believed that Americano is simply espresso diluted with water—iced Americano equals espresso plus ice water, while hot Americano equals espresso plus hot water—and the key factor affecting the taste of Americano is the coffee beans. So today let's talk about how to choose beans for making Americano at home according to your own taste. [more…]

Many coffee enthusiasts have unknowingly accumulated a lot of coffee equipment at home, and those obsessed with espresso have even stocked up on espresso machines, ready to pull their own shots. But many people don't know how to choose coffee beans suitable for espresso extraction, agonizing over whether to buy dark roast or light roast, blended or single-origin, and how home use and commercial use [more…]

Whether enjoyed on its own or as part of an espresso-based drink, a good, balanced espresso is the first requirement. However, to create an espresso with balanced acidity, body, and sweetness, you need to start with the right coffee beans—blending beans from different origins together. About Espresso Beans [more…]

The roast level changes the flavor focus and extraction rhythm of coffee beans. Light roasts typically retain more floral and fruity notes and bright acidity, medium roasts tend to present sweetness and balance, while dark roasts lean toward nutty, cocoa, and full-bodied flavors. None is superior to the others; the key is whether they match your brewing method. For espresso extraction, the focus is on dose, grind [more…]

The origin of the green beans and the roast level of the beans will affect the flavor of a coffee. Although single-origin coffees have their own various pleasures, creating new tastes by blending coffee beans with different flavors is another kind of enjoyment. 01 What is [ Espresso ] Espresso is also called Es [more…]