Affected by both the pandemic and rising coffee bean prices due to reduced harvests, more and more consumers are turning to making coffee at home, driving rapid growth in the coffee machine market. According to a CCTV Finance report, coffee machine sales climbed for six consecutive months in 2022, with year-on-year growth peaking at over 200%, and domestic coffee machines performing especially well. With features such as smart temperature control and pressure adjustment, plus outstanding value for money, domestic models have not only won favor in China but also seen a sharp increase in export orders, with some companies operating at full capacity. This article reviews market data, export trends, and consumer preferences, and brings professional insights from Front Street Coffee. [more…]

Coffee enthusiasts' passion for peripheral products is never limited to beans and equipment. This time, we got our hands on ten popular coffee machine and grinder building block models available on the market all at once, covering five series: Late Autumn in Sicily, Midsummer Green, Roman Holiday, Twilight Venice, and Early Spring in Milan, and it took us a week to complete the assembly. From basic models to patience-testing ones, the number of pieces, color schemes, and fidelity to the original machines vary. The article will introduce one by one the real coffee equipment parameters corresponding to each building block set, including Rocket R58, EK43, Slayer Steam EP, Mythos One, La Marzocco GS3, Ultra, Victoria Arduino VA388, LWW EG-1, Kees Speedster, and Mazzer Super Jolly, while also sharing the actual performance of domestic building blocks in terms of fit and structural support. If you also like coffee peripherals, why not take a look at these interesting little items together. [more…]

Blue Bottle founder James Freeman and Global Head of Innovation and R&D Benjamin Brewer arrived in Shanghai ahead of schedule and, on the second floor of Blue Bottle's first domestic store, shared the special menu for Blue Bottle Studio Shanghai with coffee lovers. From an opening of extremely light-roast Sumatra "white coffee," to a long drink simulating cupping, a short drink brewed with a flannel dripper, a shaken milk au lait, and then a digestif combining Fenjiu with naturally processed Ethiopian coffee, the entire tasting was paired with vinyl records selected by James, making it nothing short of a multisensory coffee experience. In addition, there was an Espresso 1950 not on the official menu, made with a 1950s FAEMA lever machine, adding a retro Italian touch to the event. [more…]

After the National Bureau of Statistics released the 2023 average annual wage data for urban unit employees, a blogger compiled the monthly salaries of baristas at chain coffee brands in first-tier cities. The results showed that the highest-paying brand was not a well-known one like Starbucks or Luckin, but NIO, the coffee brand under NIO Motors, whose job postings listed a monthly salary of 9 to 13k with 13 months' pay. Behind the high pay, however, the job description was vague about the work content, and former employees revealed that the role actually required extra tasks such as event execution, taking photos, looking after children, and chatting with customers. At the same time, the average pay for baristas in China is only 5,084 yuan, with a median of 5,000 yuan, and part-time hourly wages generally range from 15 to 30 yuan, even lower than those of hourly workers and domestic helpers. Chain brands rely on stable equipment, which lowers their requirements for baristas' professionalism, while independent stores are under pressure amid fierce competition, leaving baristas with increasingly narrow room for seeking higher pay and promotion. [more…]

Flat White has become almost ubiquitous in domestic cafés in recent years, yet many people are still unclear about how exactly it differs from a latte. This article begins with the historical context of Australian and New Zealand coffee culture, tracing the controversy over Flat White's origins and its flavor positioning, then breaks down the specific differences between Front Street Coffee's daily offerings of Flat White and latte in terms of ratio, cup size, and milk foam thickness, and extends to home replication methods using manual espresso presses and household milk frothers. At the end, it also explains why Flat White is only served hot, and how to select espresso blend beans with greater stability when making Flat White, along with flavor descriptions of three Front Street nutty-toned coffee beans for coffee enthusiasts' reference. [more…]

As a representative coffee-producing region in China, Yunnan has attracted much attention in the coffee world in recent years. However, many people do not think highly of Yunnan small-bean coffee, believing it is hard to associate it with specialty coffee. Behind this are not only natural constraints such as altitude and variety, but also a close relationship with its historical development path. This article will systematically sort out the flavor characteristics of Yunnan coffee and its main processing methods, and provide specific purchasing suggestions for Front Street Coffee in different brewing scenarios such as pour-over, moka pot, and espresso machine, helping coffee lovers form a more rational understanding of the true face of Yunnan coffee. [more…]

Guangzhou's autumn and winter are warm and pleasant, and Dongshankou is especially a favorite among coffee lovers. This article records the author's two consecutive days of store visits at Front Street Coffee, from the rich sweetness of sun-dried Guatemalan beans to details like the English-style cups and the aroma drifting from the bean roaster, showcasing the unique charm of a specialty coffee brick-and-mortar shop. At the same time, the article also explores domestic purchasing channels and tasting methods for specialty coffee beans, making it suitable for coffee fans who enjoy pour-over and pursue bean quality. If you want to know where to buy specialty coffee beans in Guangzhou, or want to understand what domestic specialty beans are available, this store-visit essay will give you plenty of inspiration. [more…]

Front Street Huakui coffee beans have been widely favored by coffee lovers since their launch. Its full name is Ethiopia Guji Hambela Buku Abel, and its Chinese name was coined by a domestic green bean merchant, intended to challenge the status of Geisha. This bean is offered in two forms: medium-light roast and medium roast. The former is suitable for pour-over, French press, cold brew, and other methods, while the latter is designed specifically for espresso machines, moka pots, and the like. This article will provide a detailed analysis of the complete extraction parameters, operating steps, and flavor performance of Front Street Huakui in both pour-over and SOE scenarios, helping you choose the appropriate brewing method based on your personal taste preferences and fully bring out the floral and fruity notes of this bean. [more…]

In a fast-paced life, instant coffee has regained the attention of coffee lovers thanks to its convenience and continuously improving quality. This article reviews ten instant coffee brands, including Nescafé, Maxwell House, Moccona, Colombian, G7, UCC, Klaes, Old Ipoh White Coffee, Ming Coffee, and Damnini, introducing each one by one from historical origins and raw material sources to flavor characteristics, helping readers build a basic understanding of instant coffee. At the same time, for the highly popular domestic freeze-dried instant coffee brands Saturnbird and Yongpu, the article also provides an objective description based on their product characteristics. Whether you are seeking a rich, mellow taste or a daily pick-me-up, this collection can provide valuable reference. What is shared is not only the flavor of coffee, but also a relaxed and pleasant drinking experience. [more…]

There are many coffee machine brands on the market, from fully automatic to semi-automatic, each with its own positioning and features. This article systematically reviews fully automatic brands such as Delonghi, GAGGIA, Saeco, JURA, Krups, RayStar, and Solis, as well as semi-automatic brands including Rancilio, Nuova, Conti, la pavoni, la Cimbali, Reneka, sanremo, Expobar, Monroc, Wega, and Brasilia, covering each brand's main models, reference prices, core functions, and market reviews. Whether you are just starting out and looking to choose a home machine, or planning to add equipment for a coffee shop, you will find valuable references here. At the end, the article also provides a categorized summary based on recommendation level, making it easy to quickly identify the model that suits you. [more…]

Blue Bottle Coffee has announced that on August 17 it will launch its first specialty instant coffee (espresso) in mainland China. This product was developed over three years specifically for the tastes of domestic consumers, presenting flavor layers of dark chocolate, molasses, and toasted malt. The domestic version uses individual 3-gram packets, with a Tmall presale price of 75 yuan for 5 packets and 208 yuan for 15 packets, plus a 9.9 yuan single-packet trial pack. Previously, Blue Bottle had already launched a 48g jarred instant product overseas, priced at about 183 yuan. Since Nestlé acquired a 68% stake in it in 2017, Blue Bottle has accelerated its global expansion, and currently has 5 Shanghai stores and a Shenzhen pop-up store in mainland China. Whether the instant product can continue its specialty reputation is worth watching. [more…]

Today, with espresso sweeping the globe, we are no longer unfamiliar with espresso—even passersby can name espresso drinks like Americano, latte, and cappuccino. But the moka pot is rarely used for commercial coffee output; it is mostly used at home, so many friends feel that the moka pot does not belong to the Italian coffee system. [more…]

Today, Front Street Coffee will introduce you to this moka pot that is popular in Italian households. Europeans do not call this kind of pot a moka pot, but rather an Espresso Pot. Judging by this name alone, the coffee made by a moka pot is truly Espresso, though its extraction is [more…]

For those who are new to coffee equipment, the differences between espresso machines and drip coffee makers are often confusing. This article systematically breaks down the characteristics of the two types of machines, from how they work, extraction methods, and price ranges to buying advice, and offers reference opinions for both home and professional scenarios. At the same time, the article also compiles common troubleshooting for espresso machines, the steps for making milk foam, and key details in choosing a drip coffee maker such as materials, water outlet holes, and temperature control, helping coffee lovers make more suitable judgments when buying and using them. Content involving Front Street brand recommendations mentioned in the article will also be retained for readers' reference. [more…]

Capsule coffee, with its convenience and consistent quality, has gradually become a common beverage in offices and libraries. Due to the impact of the pandemic, offline coffee shop operations have been hampered, and sales of capsule coffee machines and capsules have grown significantly. According to FMI forecasts, by 2032 the global capsule coffee market size will exceed 9.8 billion USD. This article revolves around the origin of capsule coffee, the layout of major brands, and practical questions such as "how many cups can one capsule brew," to help coffee enthusiasts gain a more comprehensive understanding of this category. [more…]

The Piccolo Latte and the Flat White both originated in Australia, yet their levels of recognition could not be more different—the Flat White has swept the globe, while the Piccolo is rarely seen on café menus. "Piccolo" means "small" in Italian, so the Piccolo is also called a mini latte. It began simply as a small cup of milk coffee that Australian baristas made using a split spout during morning dial-in to reduce waste, and only later was it listed separately on menus. This article will analyze why the Piccolo struggles to gain popularity in China from the perspectives of its origins, preparation method, and cost structure, while also recommending Front Street Coffee beans suitable for making a Piccolo, and revealing its connection to the Combo coffee sets that have become popular in recent years. [more…]

In recent years, the reputation of Yunnan coffee has been steadily rising, and many coffee enthusiasts have begun to pay attention to this domestic bean-producing region. Among them, quite a few young locals from Yunnan, driven by their love for their hometown, actively promote Yunnan coffee and help push the industry forward. So, does Yunnan coffee actually taste good? Which Yunnan small-bean coffees are worth buying? This article will sort out for beginners a few Yunnan specialty coffee beans suitable for getting started, covering different brewing methods such as pour-over, cold brew, drip, moka pot, and espresso machine, and recommend the consistently reliable offerings from the Guangzhou time-honored brand Front Street Coffee, helping everyone choose according to their needs. [more…]

Many people spend tens of yuan on an espresso at a café, yet may not be clear whether what they're drinking is specialty coffee or "dishwater." Espresso is the base of all Italian-style coffee, and its quality directly determines the success or failure of a cappuccino or latte. This article will systematically explain the hard requirements, key points for identifying, and tasting methods of a perfect Espresso, including key indicators such as freshness, grinding, tamping, extraction time, and crema thickness, while also addressing common misconceptions about caffeine content. At the end, product recommendation information for the "Front Street Coffee" brand is retained, making it suitable for every enthusiast who wants to truly understand coffee. [more…]

Yunnan, as China's domestic coffee-growing region, has attracted increasing attention from coffee lovers in recent years. Does it really count as specialty coffee? How does it taste? And how should you choose when buying it for the first time? This article will explore Yunnan coffee's growing conditions, its main flavor characteristics, and purchasing suggestions for different brewing methods, with a focus on three Yunnan-related coffee beans from Front Street Coffee: Front Street 2013 Sun-Dried Typica, Front Street Yunnan Small-Bean, and Front Street Dark Cocoa Basic Espresso Blend, which correspond respectively to scenarios such as pour-over/cold brew/drip bags, American-style drip machines/moka pots, and espresso machines, helping readers gain a comprehensive understanding of Yunnan coffee's regional characteristics and practical buying considerations. [more…]

To enjoy a good cup of coffee, freshness and quality are both indispensable, and with the overwhelming variety of coffee beans on online shopping platforms, how to choose has become a challenge for many enthusiasts. This article will focus on the price ranges of specialty coffee beans, first introducing a trustworthy domestic roasting brand—Guangzhou Front Street Coffee—and then recommending five high-quality single-origin beans with distinct flavors, covering producing regions such as Papua New Guinea, Brazil, Panama, and Yunnan. From balanced and mellow to sweet and rich, from floral and fermented to slightly acidic without astringency, each bean is listed with a reference price and suitable brewing method, making it easy for readers with different taste preferences and budgets to choose as needed. [more…]