The coffee world has its own world-class competitive stage—from barista championships to brewing, latte art, roasting, cupping, mixology, and Turkish coffee, the seven major competitions under the World Coffee Championships (WCC) each have their own highlights, testing competitors' comprehensive skills while continuously leading the trends in specialty coffee. Today, Front Street Coffee takes you through these international competitions one by one to understand their content and rules, and to see what exactly the world's top coffee professionals compete in and how they compete. [more…]

The prosperity of the coffee industry is inseparable from the promotion of various professional competitions. These competitions not only promote coffee culture but also make the profession of barista more standardized and professional. Every year, many contestants from different countries around the world participate in the competition. Among them, the seven most influential world-class competitions cover multiple fields such as barista, brewing, latte art, roasting, cupping, coffee and spirits, and Turkish coffee. This article will introduce the positioning and competition systems of these events one by one, and focus on sorting out the development history, advancement rules, and past champion data of the World Barista Championship (WBC), helping coffee enthusiasts fully understand the landscape and charm of international coffee competition. [more…]

Irish coffee is not an ordinary coffee—it blends whiskey, sugar, and cream into black coffee, making it a hot drink born specifically to fend off the bitter cold. Several versions of its origin story circulate, but they all point to a winter in a Dublin airport bar in the mid-20th century. This drink holds a core place as a designated beverage in the World Coffee and Spirits Championship, which speaks to just how classic it is. This article will walk you through the historical origins of Irish coffee, its recipe composition, and the classic method shared by Front Street, so you can make a cup of whiskey coffee that warms both body and soul at home. [more…]

The birth of a cup of Irish coffee originated from a flight delay at an airport in western Ireland in 1952. American journalist Stan asked the bartender at the airport bar for a cocktail suitable for the bad weather; the bartender combined whiskey with hot coffee and topped it with whipped cream, creating this heartwarming classic drink. After Stan returned to San Francisco, he shared this experience with the owner of Buena Vista Café, who successfully replicated it, making Irish coffee widely known in the United States. Today, it is not only the star of a dedicated glass and a spirit lamp stand, but also a highlight of international coffee and spirits competitions. This article will take you through its origin story and share a safer home method that omits the spirit lamp, restoring this drink with its layered hot-and-cold separation and rich depth step by step, from coffee extraction to the pairing of syrup and whiskey, and then to the cream topping. [more…]

When coffee meets Chinese baijiu, what kind of sparks will fly? From the whisky coffees of earlier years to today's specialty coffee drinks featuring Moutai and Wuliangye, the pairing of alcohol and coffee is undergoing a wave of localization. Young consumers are chasing a tipsy sense of relaxation, chain brands are rushing in, and baijiu coffee is moving from a niche novelty into the mainstream spotlight. Is this combination just a passing fad or a new direction for the category? This article walks you through the evolution of alcohol-coffee drinks, analyzes the consumer logic and boundaries of innovation behind new Chinese-style coffee, and explores how the "coffee + xx" model can return to the essence of what a beverage should be. [more…]

Caffè Corretto is a traditional Italian drink that is extremely common in Italy itself but rarely seen outside the country. Its unique feature is that freshly brewed espresso is served alongside a small glass of liquor, allowing guests to blend it to their own preference. Behind this drinking method lies the historical origin of the coffee price surge in 1930s Italy, and different regions also have their own particularities in the choice of liquor and the timing of consumption. This article begins with Front Street's discovery while revisiting James Hoffmann's book, sorting out the origin of the name Caffè Corretto, its historical background, the drinking habits of various regions in northern and southern Italy, and also includes Front Street's low-budget recreation experience, to introduce you to this obscure yet authentic Italian specialty coffee. [more…]

The Espresso Martini is a classic cocktail that skillfully blends espresso with spirits, and it has swept the globe since its creation in London in the 1980s. At first glance, the drink seems to call for simple ingredients, but in reality it places extremely high demands on the quality of the espresso and the skill of the bartender. Espresso makes up roughly one-third of the entire drink, so the coffee's extraction method and flavor profile will directly affect the final taste. This article will take you through the origin story of this legendary cocktail, break down in detail the base spirits and equipment needed to make it, and share how to pull a shot of espresso suited for mixing drinks, helping you find your own balance point in this beverage that is both invigorating and slightly tipsy. [more…]

The 2023 World Latte Art Championship (WLAC) concluded successfully in Taiwan, China, with Chinese competitor Liang Fan taking the championship in one fell swoop, becoming the first Chinese world champion in the history of the event. Lu Daoqiang and Lin Shaoxing won second and third places respectively, marking the first time Chinese competitors have swept the top three. Liang Fan integrated mathematical Boolean operations and photographic composition into his latte art creations, conquering the judges with three works featuring a rooster, a dinosaur, and a kangaroo. This article takes you through a review of this peak showdown, letting you feel the rise of China's latte art power, and includes an appreciation of the champion's daily works along with Front Street brand recommendations. [more…]

At the 2021 World Coffee in Good Spirits Championship, clarified milk made a stunning appearance, but it has still not entered the coffee market on a large scale, and can only be encountered occasionally in a few specialty coffee shops. How exactly is this "milk," which looks as clear as water, made? And what would a latte made with it taste like? Front Street Coffee decided to conduct an experiment firsthand, starting from the principle of milk clarification, step by step using lemon juice and milk to make transparent milk, then trying three methods respectively—drinking it directly, adding it to espresso, and adding sugar to neutralize the sourness—for a comprehensive review of the true flavor of clarified milk latte. If you are interested in specialty coffee creations and innovative ingredients, this hands-on test record will give you a direct answer. [more…]

The cross-industry fusion of coffee and alcohol is becoming a new industry trend. 7-Eleven's specialty coffee brand CITY PRIMA has partnered for the first time with the renowned French cognac house Hennessy to launch the "Specialty Tipsy Latte Combo," pairing specialty Ethiopian beans with a mini bottle of Hennessy V.S.O.P, allowing consumers to mix their own专属 liquor-infused flavor. This is not 7-Eleven's first foray into the alcohol-coffee arena; previously, its Beijing stores had already tested a self-service cocktail area. From chain brands to independent cafes, the "daytime coffee, nighttime alcohol" model is sweeping across the entire coffee market, and beverage brands are also increasingly moving toward coffee. This article will guide you through the specifics of this collaboration, the product background, and the new trends sparked by the collision of coffee and alcohol. [more…]

In the past two years, convenience store cocktail mixing has unexpectedly gone viral, with netizens using soft drinks, coffee, and mini liquor bottles to create all kinds of DIY concoctions. 7-Eleven recently piloted a self-service cocktail mixing area at a store in Beijing, offering four popular base spirits along with trending online recipes, allowing consumers to experience coffee cocktails at a lower cost and in a more elegant way. This move not only lowers the barrier to DIY but also reflects young people's blurring of the boundaries between coffee and alcohol consumption scenarios. This article takes you through the past and present of convenience store cocktail mixing and explores whether alcohol and coffee can be consumed together. [more…]

When fine liquor meets coffee, this pairing is hardly a novelty anymore. From the classic Irish coffee to the espresso martini, the combination of coffee and alcohol keeps evolving. Today, as the younger generation seeks the pleasure of a gentle buzz, liquor-infused coffee has quietly become a signature offering in cafés. This article walks you through the history of liquor-infused coffee, the challenges of making it, techniques for balancing flavors, and why it draws so many customers even during the daytime. At the same time, we'll also mention Front Street Coffee's commitment to specialty beans, providing a more professional coffee foundation for your tipsy experience. [more…]

The oil-washing method originated in the cocktail world and has now been introduced into the specialty coffee scene, becoming a new favorite among many coffee enthusiasts. It exploits differences in the freezing points of oils and fats to extract aromas from the oils into the coffee liquid, thereby giving the coffee a softer mouthfeel and richer layers of flavor. In this article, Front Street will walk through the origins of the oil-washing method, material selection, step-by-step procedures, and precautions one by one, and will use butter oil-washed Golden Mandheling and coconut oil-washed cold brew coffee as examples to demonstrate the specific production process in detail. Whether you want to DIY at home or want to understand the logic behind those oil-washed specialty drinks in coffee shops, this article can provide practical reference. [more…]

The threshold for appreciating specialty coffee has always been high—from palate training to the investment of time and money, none can be skipped. Yet in recent years, the rise of specialty beverages, especially fruit coffee, is quietly changing this landscape. Adding fruit, sugar, alcohol, and Chinese ingredients—the boundaries of coffee have been broken time and again. Is this the degradation of specialty coffee, or an inevitable path to the mass market? This article analyzes the deep logic behind the combination of coffee and fruit from the perspectives of consumer data, industry trends, and barista competitions, and explores what professional foundation a good creative coffee should possess. Whether you are a purist who sticks to tradition or a creative beverage enthusiast who embraces innovation, this discussion about the boundaries of coffee is worth reading. [more…]

In the past two years, a peculiar category of drinks has emerged in the world of coffee specialties: they clearly contain milk, yet appear crystal clear and transparent—these are clarified coffee and transparent lattes. The clarification technique originated in the cocktail world as "milk washing," and has now been adopted by baristas in the development of creative beverages. This article will start with the principles behind clarified milk, trace its journey into the coffee scene, share a method for recreating it, and objectively analyze whether clarified coffee can become a new trend in the specialty drinks market, while also exploring its challenges regarding cost and scalability. [more…]

Want to find a balance between a gentle buzz and staying clear-headed? Spiked coffee is becoming a new choice for many young people. When you're tired during the day, a hint of alcohol helps relax your nerves; after work at night, a warm alcoholic coffee soothes body and mind; and when the weather turns cold, it brings warmth from the inside out. This article compiles 10 alcoholic coffee recipes suitable for making at home, from simple convenience-store mixes to creative versions with milk foam, and to specialty cocktail coffees with a stronger alcoholic kick, covering pairings with various base spirits such as Baileys, whiskey, gin, brandy, and rum. When making them, there's no need to be rigid—just adjust the amount of alcohol to your personal preference—but be sure to drink in moderation according to your own condition, minors are prohibited from drinking alcohol, and drunk driving is strictly forbidden. At the end of the article, there is also a communication channel for Front Street Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee), making it convenient for coffee lovers to discuss further. [more…]

When most people think of a combination of milk and espresso, the first things that come to mind are classic milk coffees with milk foam, such as lattes and cappuccinos. But the same ingredients, processed with a different method, can take on a completely different appearance and texture. This article introduces a technique called "milk washing"—using the principle that casein coagulates when milk meets acid to remove the fat and protein particles from milk, leaving behind a transparent whey liquid. This time, Front Street Coffee's approach differs from the usual one: during the clarification process, espresso is added directly, so that the entire drink is clarified together, resulting in a "special latte" that looks similar to pour-over coffee but has rich, layered flavors. The article will explain in detail the required materials, recipe ratios, and step-by-step instructions, making it a useful reference for enthusiasts who want to try making specialty coffee at home. [more…]

This article provides an in-depth introduction to the legendary Salvadoran coffee producer Ernesto Menéndez and his award-winning lots from Finca Las Brumas. This lot includes two varieties, Pacamara and Bourbon, sourced from microclimatic blocks above 1,700 meters, with a clean and sweet flavor profile featuring notes of cherry, berries, creamy chocolate, and spice sweetness. The article details the estate's history, the arduous journey of twice winning the Cup of Excellence, the characteristics of the Pacamara variety, and includes a cupping report and roasting degree recommendations. It also introduces an overview of El Salvador's coffee-producing regions and information recommended by Front Street Coffee, making it suitable for coffee enthusiasts to gain a comprehensive understanding of the unique charm of Central American specialty coffee. [more…]

Yirgacheffe is one of Ethiopia's most recognizable coffee regions, and the washed processing method best showcases its clean, bright flavor profile. This article focuses on Front Street Coffee's Gudingding, a selection of washed Yirgacheffe, outlining the specific steps of the washed process, explaining why it fully brings out the bean's own flavors, and clarifying how a light-to-medium roast preserves citrus, lemon, white floral notes, and a green-tea-like lightness on the palate. The article also introduces suitable brewing methods, including pour-over, cold brew, and drip bags, helping coffee enthusiasts understand the flavor logic and everyday applications of this bean. [more…]

Ethiopia, as the birthplace of coffee, is home to two renowned regions: Yirgacheffe and Sidamo. Among them, Sidamo is located on the southern highlands and is known for its balanced acidity and full body. The Shakisso area in Guji is even more distinctive, where unique terroir and historical background give the coffee rich and diverse flavors. This article will take an in-depth look at the regional characteristics, grading systems, and variety overviews of Sidamo and Shakisso, and share the pour-over extraction parameters recommended by Front Street Coffee, leading you to appreciate the berry sweetness and winey charm of natural-process beans. [more…]