In the coffee world, low caffeine often means artificial processing, but nature has given us an exception—Laurina, academically known as Coffea Laurina. Due to genetic degeneration, this variety naturally contains only 0.5% caffeine content and has outstanding flavor, yet it is rare and expensive because of its extremely low yield. It once swept across Europe in the 18th century, with even King Louis XV of France and the literary giant Balzac among its devotees, but it nearly became extinct due to disasters such as hurricanes and pests and diseases. It was not until Yoshiteru Kawashima of Ueshima Coffee in Japan spent years searching that this legendary variety was revived. This article will introduce the origin, extinction, and revival story of Laurina, as well as the brewing parameters and flavor performance tested by Front Street Coffee. [more…]

In the Melanesian archipelago of the South Pacific, New Caledonia is like a vibrant oasis, hiding one of the world's rarest, most expensive, and most unusual coffees. KOUANDJI Estate is located at the foot of the mountains about 25 kilometers southeast of the capital, Nouméa, and is dedicated to reviving the region's nearly vanished coffee-growing industry. The estate cultivates "Leroy," also known as Bourbon Pointu, named for the pointed ends of its fruit. Its caffeine content is only half that of ordinary Arabica, and its yield is extremely low—even the French presidential palace must purchase it in limited quantities. Front Street Coffee has always paid attention to such niche, rare bean varieties. This article will take you deeper into the story behind its historical origins, variety characteristics, and unique flavor. [more…]

Bourbon Pointu is a natural coffee variety with extremely low caffeine content, academically known as Coffea Laurina. Its beans are slender and pointed at both ends, and due to genetic degeneration, its caffeine content is only about 0.5%, requiring no artificial decaffeination, yet it has low yields and outstanding flavor, earning it a reputation as a rare variety in the coffee world. It was once popular on Bourbon Island in the 18th and 19th centuries, then nearly went extinct due to disasters, and was later rediscovered and revived by Japanese Ueshima Coffee expert Yoshiaki Kawashima. At the 2018 World Brewers Cup, Swiss competitor Emi Fukahori won the championship using Bourbon Pointu from Brazil's Daterra estate, defeating Geisha and drawing attention once again. In this article, Front Street Coffee will provide a comprehensive interpretation of this legendary coffee, from its history and variety characteristics to brewing parameters and flavor. [more…]

Bourbon Pointu is a rare coffee variety with elongated beans and pointed ends, discovered on Bourbon Island in 1810. Its caffeine content is only half that of ordinary Bourbon, making it a naturally low-caffeine coffee. During the 18th and 19th centuries, it was widely cultivated, with annual production once reaching 4,000 metric tons. However, disasters such as hurricanes, fire ants, and leaf rust followed one after another. After 1942, it completely disappeared from Réunion Island and was considered extinct by the coffee world. It was not until Japanese Ueshima Coffee expert Yoshiaki Kawashima spent years searching that in 2001, more than thirty surviving plants were discovered in the wild on Bourbon Island. Subsequently, French scientists collaborated with Ueshima Coffee to carry out revival efforts, and only in 2006 was the first small batch of beans harvested. This article introduces the origin of the name Bourbon Pointu, its historical rise and fall, flavor characteristics, and expensive price, as well as Front Street Coffee's recommendation and interpretation of this legendary variety. [more…]

While caffeine boosts alertness, it can also cause issues like insomnia and palpitations, which is why decaf coffee has gradually entered the public eye. In this article, Front Street Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee) will discuss the origins of decaf coffee, standards across different countries, mainstream decaffeination processes, and flavor performance, as well as specifically analyze the pros and cons of Starbucks decaf Americano and whether it affects sleep. At the same time, Front Street Coffee will also share the cupping flavors and pour-over parameters of a Colombian decaf coffee, helping coffee lovers gain a more comprehensive understanding of decaf coffee. [more…]

Coffee has gradually become the beverage of choice for many people due to its refreshing and invigorating effects. However, because coffee contains a large amount of caffeine, excessive consumption can lead to symptoms such as insomnia and palpitations. So, is there such a thing as caffeine-free coffee? In this article, Front Street Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee) [more…]

Decaf coffee usually relies on artificial processing to reduce caffeine, but in nature there actually exists a variety with naturally very low caffeine content—Laurina. Its caffeine content is only about 0.5%, its flavor is outstanding yet its yield is scarce. It was once all the rage in Europe in the 18th century, and was also once thought to be extinct. Later, through the search by Japanese UCC expert Yoshinori Kawashima, Laurina was rediscovered on Bourbon Island (Réunion) and revival cultivation began. At the 2018 World Brewers Cup, Swiss competitor Emi Fukahori even used Laurina from Brazil's Daterra estate to defeat many Geisha entries and win the championship. This article will take you through the history of Laurina, its varietal characteristics, as well as Front Street Coffee's brewing parameters and flavor performance. [more…]

Caffeine is the key source of coffee's stimulating effect and an important reason why many people drink coffee every day. However, tolerance to caffeine varies greatly from person to person. Some people experience palpitations and insomnia after consuming even a small amount, yet they cannot give up the flavor of coffee, so decaf becomes an ideal alternative. This article focuses on the taste of Starbucks decaf coffee. It first explains the definition of decaf and the naturally low-caffeine variety Laurina, then compares the EU and U.S. FDA standards for decaffeinated coffee, and subsequently reviews the principles, advantages, and disadvantages of four mainstream processes: the direct solvent method, the supercritical carbon dioxide method, the Swiss Water Process, and the mountain spring water process. Combined with the cupping performance of Front Street Coffee's Colombia Huila decaf beans, it helps coffee enthusiasts fully understand the difference between decaf coffee and regular coffee. [more…]

Although coffee is a powerful pick-me-up, the caffeine in it also makes some people hesitate. Excessive caffeine intake can cause discomfort such as insomnia and palpitations, so is there an option that lets you enjoy coffee's flavor without worrying about caffeine's side effects? Decaf coffee exists precisely for this purpose. From the perspective of Front Street Coffee, this article will sort out decaf coffee's historical origins, standards in various countries, the naturally low-caffeine variety Laurina, and the mainstream Swiss Water decaffeination process. At the same time, we will also objectively analyze the pros and cons of Starbucks decaf Americano and discuss whether it really does not affect sleep. At the end of the article, we have attached the cupping flavors and pour-over parameters of Front Street Colombia Decaf for coffee lovers to reference and practice. [more…]

Caffeine is the core component that makes coffee invigorating, but not everyone can easily tolerate it. For people who are sensitive to caffeine yet still want to enjoy the flavor of coffee, decaf offers a compromise. This article will systematically introduce the definition and classification of decaf, including the naturally low-caffeine Pointed Bourbon variety, as well as the four mainstream artificial decaffeination processes currently available—the direct solvent method, the supercritical carbon dioxide method, the Swiss Water Process, and the mountain spring water process—and explain the principles, advantages, disadvantages, and safety of each. At the same time, it will also compare the differences between decaf and regular coffee in terms of caffeine content and long-term consumption, helping coffee enthusiasts understand this type of product more clearly. The article also includes Front Street Coffee's practical experience in decaf bean selection and cupping. [more…]

For those who love coffee but are sensitive to caffeine, decaf coffee offers a solution that balances flavor and health. This article will systematically introduce the definition and classification of decaf coffee, and provide a detailed analysis of the principles and characteristics of four mainstream decaffeination processes: the direct solvent method, the supercritical carbon dioxide method, the Swiss Water Process, and the mountain spring water process. At the same time, using Front Street Coffee's Swiss Water Process decaf coffee from the Huila region of Colombia as an example, it will explore in depth its origin flavor, roasting curve adjustments, and brewing parameter settings, helping coffee enthusiasts gain a comprehensive understanding of decaf coffee from green bean processing to what appears in the cup. [more…]

The flavor and quality of coffee are largely determined by variety. From Ethiopian heirloom varieties to Geisha, which has swept the specialty coffee world, the Arabica species has given rise to numerous varieties such as Typica, Bourbon, Caturra, Catuai, and Pacas, each with its own unique cupping performance and cultivation characteristics. This article systematically sorts out the classification framework of coffee's three main native species, traces the spread history of Typica and Bourbon, explains in detail the flavor differences of the Bourbon family and its derived varieties, and introduces one by one the rise of Geisha. The article also compiles information on a number of representative products from Front Street Coffee corresponding to these varieties, helping coffee enthusiasts build a clear framework for understanding coffee varieties. [more…]

Many people habitually equate Arabica coffee beans with specialty coffee beans, but from a definitional standpoint, specialty coffee is necessarily Arabica, while Arabica does not necessarily reach specialty grade. This article begins with the global spread of coffee varieties throughout history, sorting through the varietal distribution of major producing regions such as Africa, Latin America, Asia and the Pacific, and Australia, then moves into a botanical taxonomy perspective, introducing the three primary species—Arabica, Robusta, and Liberica—and expanding one by one on the origins, characteristics, and flavor profiles of common varieties such as Typica, the Bourbon family, Caturra, Catuai, Pacas, Mundo Novo, Tim Tim, Catimor, and Geisha, while interspersing information on representative products from the Front Street Coffee brand, helping coffee enthusiasts build a clear framework for understanding varieties. [more…]

The variety of coffee beans directly influences the flavor profile in the cup and also determines the growing conditions and disease resistance of the coffee tree. In the specialty coffee world, Arabica is the absolute dominant species, but Arabica is not the only answer for specialty coffee. This article starts with the three major native coffee species, sorting out the differences among Arabica, Robusta, and Liberica in flavor, yield, and uses, then delves into common Arabica sub-varieties such as Typica, Bourbon, Caturra, and Geisha, explaining their origins, plant characteristics, cultivation performance, and cupping styles one by one, and includes production region and processing information for several corresponding Front Street Coffee products, for coffee lovers to follow the guide. [more…]

The flavor, quality, and even the difficulty of cultivation of coffee are all closely tied to the variety of the coffee bean. This article systematically sorts out the three major native species of coffee—Arabica, Robusta, and Liberica—and focuses on introducing Typica, Bourbon, and their many derived varieties, including their origins, characteristics, and representative producing regions. From their origins in Africa to their global spread, from the ancient Typica to the Geisha that has swept the specialty coffee world, you will see how varieties shape the personality of a cup of coffee. The article also intersperses information on the producing regions, estates, altitudes, and processing methods of several corresponding Front Street Coffee products, making it easy for enthusiasts to trace them one by one and understand the connection between varieties and flavors in the cup. [more…]

Bourbon Pointu is a rare coffee variety with a natural caffeine content of only 0.5%, named for its narrow, elongated beans with pointed ends. It is naturally low in caffeine due to genetic degradation and has outstanding flavor, but its yield is extremely low and it is susceptible to leaf rust and black spot disease, having once become extinct. In the 18th century, it was highly praised by Louis XV and Balzac, but later disappeared due to disasters, and was only rediscovered and revived in 2001. At the 2018 World Coffee Brewing Championship, Swiss competitor Emi Fukahori won the championship using it, proving its exceptional quality. This article will introduce in detail the characteristics, history, flavor of Bourbon Pointu, and Front Street Coffee's brewing parameters. [more…]

For more specialty coffee knowledge, please follow our WeChat public account: Front Street Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee). In modern society, coffee is not only used to stay awake, but more of a lifestyle. Decaf coffee has begun to appear on the market to satisfy those who have trouble sleeping due to caffeine intake or [more…]

For more specialty coffee knowledge, please follow our WeChat official account: Front Street Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee). In modern society, coffee is not only used to stay alert, but more so as a way of life. Decaf coffee has begun to appear on the market to satisfy those who have trouble sleeping due to caffeine intake or [more…]

Caffeine-sensitive individuals often face the dilemma of being unable to freely enjoy coffee, and the Colombia Decaf beans recently launched by Front Street Coffee offer a new option for such enthusiasts. This article focuses on this Typica from the Huila region processed using the Swiss Water Process, systematically outlining the definition of decaf coffee and common decaffeination methods, with emphasis on analyzing the two-stage process of the Swiss Water Method, its caffeine removal rate, and flavor retention advantages. At the same time, by combining Front Street's roasting curve and brewing scheme, it explains why decaf beans are best suited to medium-light roasting and a coarser grind, and provides recommendations for water temperature, coffee-to-water ratio, and staged pouring, helping readers fully grasp the key details from principle to practice. [more…]

Decaf coffee is not completely caffeine-free; rather, it is coffee that has had its caffeine content significantly reduced through special processes. Starting with the Colombian Huila Swiss Water Process decaf coffee beans sold by Front Street Coffee, this article systematically goes over the definition of decaf coffee, the four major decaffeination methods, the terroir characteristics of Colombia's Huila region, the traits of varieties such as Typica and Caturra, and the actual roasting curve and cupping and brewing recommendations from Front Street's roaster. If you care about whether decaf coffee tastes good, how to set pour-over parameters, and roughly how much a cup costs, this article will provide a complete reference. [more…]