The Chemex coffee maker, with its distinctive design and clear, clean flavor expression, has become a commonly used piece of equipment among many coffee enthusiasts and in teaching settings. This article focuses on the practical operation of the Chemex, breaking down the entire pour-over process step by step, from equipment selection, coffee bean preparation, grinding, and filter folding, to blooming, staged pouring, and the completion of the final extraction. The article also explains the role of each stage and the key points to observe, helping readers master the skill while understanding the coffee culture behind this high-end vessel. For those who wish to get started or are currently choosing coffee beans, the article retains relevant product recommendations from the Front Street brand, which can serve as a reference for daily practice and tasting. [more…]

On September 11, it was reported that Starbucks has shortlisted Boyu Capital, Carlyle Group, EQT, and Sequoia China as the final candidates for the sale of its Chinese business. The acquisition is now in the final round of negotiations, with the resu [more…]

Blue Mountain coffee is hailed as the "Emperor of Coffee," but the market is flooded with a mix of genuine and fake products, making it hard to tell true from false. From the perspective of Front Street Coffee, this article systematically sorts out the historical origins of Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee, the certified authentic production regions, the green bean grading standards, the characteristics of the Typica variety, and the differences between the two processing methods of washed and natural. At the same time, it explains in detail how to identify genuine Blue Mountain through features such as the CIB certificate and wooden barrel packaging, and includes the roasting curve, cupping report, and brewing parameters of Front Street's washed Blue Mountain, helping coffee enthusiasts gain a comprehensive understanding of the true appearance and value of this top-tier coffee. [more…]

Malaysia's specialty coffee culture is undergoing a profound transformation. From Kuala Lumpur to Penang and then to Johor Bahru, a growing number of passionate coffee professionals are driving a shift from traditional white coffee to specialty coffee. This article explores in depth the development of Malaysia's specialty coffee scene, from specialty coffee's initial entry into the market in 2010 to today's proliferation of independent roasting workshops and coffee classrooms. We interviewed several industry pioneers, including Joey Mah, Michael Wilson, Cheryl Lee, and others, who shared how they have advanced the upgrading of the entire industry by educating consumers, improving roasting techniques, and enhancing customer service. At the same time, the article also focuses on the development of key cities such as Penang and Johor Bahru, as well as the efforts of institutions like the Asian Barista Guild in coffee education. For coffee lovers, this is a complete picture for understanding the changes in Malaysia's coffee culture. [more…]

In coffee history, the specialty coffee wave and its three waves form the basic understanding people have of coffee. People often compare and contrast specialty coffee beans with commercial coffee beans, as if the two were opposites. So what are the differences and connections between them? To understand the differences between the two, we must first understand specialty coffee's [more…]

According to Ethiopian media reports on September 14, 2025, exporters in Ethiopia recently stated that their businesses are facing severe disruptions due to outdated systems and poor communication between financial institutions and the National Bank [more…]

Blue Mountain Coffee is widely recognized as one of the world's top coffees, a status inseparable from its exceptional natural conditions and the Jamaican government's almost stringent industry regulation. The Blue Mountain range lies in eastern Jamaica, where the azure waters of the Caribbean Sea reflect off the peaks, giving the region its name. Its highest peak rises 2,256 meters above sea level, with a cool, foggy climate, abundant rainfall, and fertile volcanic soil providing an ideal growing environment for coffee. In the mid-20th century, due to inconsistent export quality, Canada once refused to accept Blue Mountain Coffee, prompting Jamaica to establish the Coffee Industry Board (CIB) in 1948, building a strict quality standard and certification system. Blue Mountain Coffee is classified by screen size into No.1 through No.3 and Peaberry grades. The government has also designated specific cultivation areas and processing plants, with dedicated supervision from harvesting, fermentation, and drying to barrel packaging. This article will systematically outline the classification, grade standards, and unique craftsmanship of Blue Mountain Coffee, offering you a comprehensive understanding of this legendary coffee. [more…]

As coffee has gradually become more widely recognized, specialty coffee promotion in cafés has emerged in response, and we too have begun tracing things back to their roots—we have come to treat coffee as culture. The rise of specialty pour-over coffee undoubtedly reflects the demands of the market and the needs that cafés have identified. Café counters have also begun to lower their "status," no longer featuring the early design of a bar raised a foot high. [more…]

For a long time, many media outlets have been perpetuating the claim that there is no genuine Blue Mountain coffee in China, but in fact, this situation began to change in 2010. Blue Mountain coffee has a mellow taste and is a very standard cup of black coffee, and because it is produced in small quantities, it is called the king of coffee. At one point, it was quite difficult to buy domestically, which is true, and [more…]

Kopi Luwak, commonly known as cat poop coffee, has always been shrouded in a layer of mystery. Its unique production process and expensive price make many coffee lovers curious about it yet rarely able to encounter it. This article will take you through a comprehensive understanding of the ins and outs of Indonesian Kopi Luwak, from the living habits of the civet, to the differences between natural and farmed coffee, and then to why it has such a special flavor. If you are interested in this legendary coffee, then follow Front Street as we delve into its production process and brewing key points. [more…]

There are two kinds of Blue Mountain coffee on the market, and it's easy to buy the wrong one by mistake. One is Blue Mountain flavor, which refers to beans roasted from coffee beans of other regions; these are labeled as Blue Mountain flavor coffee. The other kind, Blue Mountain coffee, refers to coffee produced in the Blue Mountain region of Jamaica, and when we refer to Blue Mountain coffee, we mean [more…]

Blue Mountain coffee is very famous, but there are also frequent rumors that only Japan has genuine Blue Mountain coffee beans—a tale from over twenty years ago. Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee, the Jamaica Coffee Industry Association (Coffee I [more…]

A deep understanding of the essence of crema will be of great help to baristas in making a delicious espresso. Today, the instructor of the Chongqing Barista Coffee Training Course will give you a detailed analysis of crema to help you understand espresso and improve your coffee-making skills. In searching for a cup that is not bitter and has excellent flavor, a rich [more…]

"This coffee has a rich fruity profile, with notes of citrus, lemon, oolong tea, and jasmine!!!" For someone who has just been introduced to specialty coffee, this might sound unbelievable—how can you taste so many flavors in one cup of coffee! (Are they just making it up?) In this installment of Barista Growth Diary, we'll share a little [more…]

Coffee today is no longer just a "functional drink" used to wake you up; it is also a medium that holds a wealth of experiences. Thanks to the spread of the concept of specialty coffee, which has brought about a leap in coffee quality, we can now taste the terroir of different places through a single small cup of coffee. For example, [more…]

In recent years, the coffee market has seen an increase in demand for some new coffee varieties. In some large competitions, some contestants choose to use new varieties for the competition, which makes the variety become popular overnight, such as t [more…]

Holding an espresso bean list in your hand, names like Mandheling, Typica, and SL28 often dazzle the eyes. In fact, they all belong to the same bean species—Arabica—just with different variety lineages. Following the lineage down, the story of each bean becomes clear. The lineage starts with two wild ancestors: E [more…]

In the 2026 Best of Panama natural Geisha category, a lot from Finca Lérida took the championship with a score of 95.63, bringing this century-old estate in Boquete back into the spotlight. This edition featured 102 competing lots and 46 judges, [more…]

Due to the conflict in Ethiopia, there are problems with coffee transportation, and the government considers using railway transportation for diversion. Recently, according to the report of the Ethiopian Reporter Network, the current Ethiopian govern [more…]

In the world of espresso beans, although new varieties are released every day, a few major brands still stand out for their exceptional quality and deep historical background. Today, let's summarize which coffee bean brands offer great value for money. 1. Frontsteet Coffe [more…]