Africa, as the core region of the coffee-growing belt, has nurtured many high-quality coffee-producing countries, among which Ethiopia is widely recognized as the birthplace of coffee. The African Fine Coffees Association (AFCA), established in 2000, launched the Taste of Harvest (TOH) competition, whose format is similar to that of the Cup of Excellence (COE) and is divided into national competitions and the Africa regional final. In 2024, the Ethiopia TOH competition was held in Addis Ababa, with a total of 75 companies and 212 Arabica coffee entries participating. This article will introduce in detail the origin backgrounds and processing details of the natural group champion Testi Trading Plc, the washed group champion Eseham Trading plc, and the honey process group champion Yihonal Trading plc, and will also include relevant recommendations from Front Street Coffee. [more…]

The 2019 TOH (Taste of Harvest) Ethiopia Natural Group national champion was won by a Yirgacheffe submitted by the Adorsi processing plant, with a cupping score as high as 91.38 points. The processing plant is located in the Aricha production area, at an altitude of 1,950-2,100 meters. The combination of red volcanic soil and the ancient native Heirloom variety, together with hand-selected 17-18 mesh green beans and a precise anaerobic fermentation process, gives this coffee its outstanding cup performance. Front Street Coffee provides you with a detailed introduction to this champion bean's origin background, competition journey, and flavor characteristics, and shares its richly layered flavor profile of strawberry, berries, guava, brandy, and liqueur chocolate, as well as the changes in acidity and sweet aftertaste after the coffee cools. [more…]

The Ethiopian TOH (Taste of Harvest) competition is known as Africa's coffee "Cup of Excellence," and each year its winning beans represent the highest standard of their producing regions. The 2019 natural category champion, Aricha, and the 2020 washed category champion, Uraga, were both introduced to the domestic market by Front Street Coffee. They come from the well-known regions of Yirgacheffe and Guji respectively, and their processing methods—one natural, one washed—give them completely different flavor profiles. This article will provide a comprehensive comparison of these two champion beans, covering producing region background, processing technique, variety characteristics, roasting curve, cupping, and brewing, to help coffee lovers understand their respective style positioning and suitable audiences. [more…]

Yirgacheffe, as a representative producing region of Ethiopian specialty coffee, saw the Adorsi processing station win the natural group championship at this year's TOH harvest-season flavor cupping competition, with its Aricha lot standing out with a high score of 91 points. This article will introduce in detail the origin background, processing station information, competition journey, and flavor characteristics of this champion bean. At the same time, Front Street Coffee will also guide you through the authority of the T.O.H competition, the concept of the Heirloom native variety, and the rich layers of grape juice, jackfruit, fermented wine aroma, citrus, and lemon that this bean displays in cupping, making it suitable for enthusiasts who love Ethiopian natural coffee to gain a deeper understanding. [more…]

At the 2020 Taste of Harvest (TOH) Africa coffee competition, a natural coffee from the Armelelalu processing plant in the Konga region of Yirgacheffe, Ethiopia, scored 90.70 points to win the natural group championship and the overall championship. This bean uses heirloom varieties, is grown at an altitude of 2,200 meters, and undergoes anaerobic slow-dry natural processing, presenting rose floral notes, a fresh fruit-champagne quality, intense tropical fruit aromas, and a candied sweetness, with a round and smooth mouthfeel and a long-lasting sweet aftertaste. This article will guide you through the background of the TOH competition, detailed information about this champion bean, and why the Yirgacheffe region is hailed as synonymous with delicious coffee. [more…]

Front Street Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee) has long been following and introducing winning lots from Ethiopia's TOH (Taste of Harvest) competition. The 2020 washed category champion bean came from Uraga in the Guji region, earning the national title with a score of 89.8. This bean is grown at an altitude of up to 2,300 meters, graded G1, and processed using the washed method, with flavor notes layered with jasmine, citrus, honey, pomelo, and oolong tea. This article will systematically sort through the TOH competition mechanism, the terroir characteristics of the Guji and Uraga regions, the washed processing flow at the Sela Gajaba processing station, and Ethiopia's green bean grading system, and will also include Front Street Coffee's (FrontStreet Coffee) roasting curve, cupping report, and V60 brewing parameters, helping coffee enthusiasts fully understand the origins and tasting highlights of this champion bean. [more…]

Ardi Leraro, the champion of the 2020 TOH (Taste of Harvest) competition in Ethiopia, comes from the Yirgacheffe region and is processed using the anaerobic natural method, known for its distinct strawberry, peach, and fermented wine aromas. This article will provide a complete analysis of this champion bean's unique flavor profile, from green bean information, processing techniques, and roasting recommendations to cupping notes, and will share Front Street Coffee's brewing parameters and tasting experience. Whether you are a pour-over enthusiast or an espresso player, you will find practical references here and experience the complex layers and sweetness that anaerobic natural processing brings. [more…]

Yirgacheffe's status in the specialty coffee world needs no elaboration, and the natural-process lots from the Aricha region are among its brightest stars. This TOH champion bean brought to you by Front Street Coffee originates from Aricha kebele village in Ethiopia's Yirgacheffe region, run by farm owner SHEBRO DUKALE, where a native forest environment at 1,850 to 2,000 meters elevation nurtures a rich diversity of coffee varieties. Natural processing gives it layers of ripe fruit, fermented aromatics, and grape-juice-like notes, while the G1 grade further ensures consistency in the cup. This article will take you through the region's background, processing methods, pour-over parameters, and flavor description to give you a comprehensive understanding of this natural Yirgacheffe that combines a legendary origin with championship honors. [more…]

In the world of specialty coffee, Front Street Natural Yirgacheffe Aricha G1 represents the highest grade of green beans from Ethiopia. This Grade 1 natural bean from the Kebel Aricha processing station is meticulously crafted from hand-selected berries by 650-700 smallholder farmers and sun-dried on raised beds for four to six weeks, and it once scored 95 points on the international cupping website Coffee Review. It not only boasts apricot blossom, jasmine, and tropical fruit flavors such as apricot, mango, and pineapple, but also breaks the stereotype that natural beans lack cleanliness with its honey-brown sugar sweetness and clean, easy-drinking mouthfeel. This article will take an in-depth look at the processing methods and flavor layers of this champion natural bean, compare the stylistic differences between washed and natural processing, and guide you through the unique charm of Front Street Yirgacheffe. [more…]

Huakui, a name well-known in specialty coffee circles, originates from a sun-dried lot from Hambela in Ethiopia's Guji region. In 2017, it made a stunning debut as the TOH champion, and has since been iterated year by year, progressing from Huakui 2.0 all the way to today's 6.0. This article will walk you through Huakui's complete origin background, award history, processing methods, green bean characteristics, roasting curves, and brewing parameters, while preserving Front Street Coffee's experience shared from actual cupping and service. Whether you are a beginner just getting to know African beans or a seasoned enthusiast passionate about sun-dried flavors, you will gain a systematic understanding and practical reference about this bean. [more…]

Yirgacheffe is a name impossible to avoid in the world of specialty coffee, and Aricha, as the 2019 African TOH Natural Group champion, pushes the floral and fruity character of this producing region to the extreme. This article begins with Aricha's origin background, heirloom varietal characteristics, and the prestige of the TOH competition, then moves on to Front Street Coffee's roasting approach and brewing recommendations, helping you see clearly why this bean is called a "fruit bomb." If you are looking for a daily staple that combines fermented winey aromatics, ripe fruit sweetness, and a juicy mouthfeel, you may want to follow Front Street Coffee's cupping notes and V60 three-pour method to fully extract Aricha's flavors together. [more…]

Luckin Coffee once again demonstrated its "champion harvester" prowess, officially announcing on February 20th the signing of Anthony Douglas, the 2022 WBC World Barista Champion, bringing him into the "Luckin WBC Champion Team." Starting in March, Anthony will lead a bean-sourcing team deep into Ethiopia and Panama, two renowned origins, to participate in green bean procurement. This marks Luckin's fifth collaboration with a WBC champion, following Hidenori Izaki, Andrej Latuada, Pan Zhimin, and Agnieszka Rojewska. Anthony won the championship with his innovative technique of concentrating milk using freeze-drying technology, and previously served as a global ambassador for La Marzocco. Having come up through Melbourne's Axil Coffee Roasters, his addition will inject new vitality into Luckin's specialty coffee line. Whether the future "Little Black Cup" series will feature Panama Geisha is something worth looking forward to. For more specialty coffee news, welcome to follow Front Street Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee). [more…]

In 2019, the washed category crown at the Ethiopia TOH green bean competition went to a bean named "Hero" from the Uraga processing plant in the Guji region. It has a fascinating flavor profile weaving together jasmine, bergamot, lemon, apricot, and honey. Coffee Review gave it 88 points, it grows at an altitude of up to 2,150 meters, and it is washed processed and medium roasted. This article will guide you through the origin background of this champion bean, the uniqueness of Ethiopia's native Heirloom variety, and the significance of the TOH competition, and it also includes the pour-over parameters recommended by Front Street Coffee—90°C water temperature, a 1:15 coffee-to-water ratio, and extraction completed within two minutes—so you can recreate this bright floral aroma of the African highlands at home. [more…]

The Yirgacheffe region has long been famous for its bright floral and fruity notes, and Aricha is one of its most notable lots. This natural-process bean from the Adorsi processing station won first place in the natural category at the 2019 Africa TOH competition, with a cupping score as high as 91 points. Front Street Coffee uses a medium-light roast, striving to present its fermented wine aroma, ripe fruit sweetness, and creamy smooth finish. This article will guide you through Aricha's origin background, the history of the TOH competition, and share Front Street's roasting curve and V60 three-pour brewing parameters, helping you recreate this "fruit bomb"'s enchanting flavor at home. [more…]

Yirgacheffe is the specialty coffee origin that serves as an introduction for many coffee enthusiasts, and Aricha, a village located about 8 kilometers to its east, has become a representative presence in Ethiopian sun-dried coffee thanks to its wins in the TOH sun-dried category in 2009 and 2019. At an altitude of over 1,850 meters, the coffee here is harvested from Heirloom varieties growing in native forests and, after sun-drying, presents a rich flavor interweaving strawberry, mango, apricot, and lemon, described by Front Street Coffee as a "fruit bomb." This article will systematically sort out Aricha's origin background, the history of the TOH competition, and the sun-drying process, and, combined with Front Street Coffee's cupping performance and V60 three-pour brewing method, provide coffee enthusiasts with a complete reference from understanding to hands-on practice. [more…]

Huakui coffee beans have been a constant topic of conversation in the specialty coffee world in recent years. From the 2017 TOH sun-dried champion to Huakui 5.0 in 2021, the flavor varies with each harvest season, which is why DW Company uses the X.0 format to distinguish year batches. This article sorts out the origins of Huakui, the meaning of "small-bean Huakui," and the characteristics of the sun-dried processing method. It also combines Front Street Coffee's cupping comparison of the 2017 champion batch and the 2021 Huakui 5.0 to explain the similarities and differences in flavor between the two. Finally, it provides Front Street's specific parameters and three-pour method for brewing Huakui with a V60 dripper, helping coffee lovers gain a more complete understanding of this bean's background and brewing approach. [more…]

Huakui coffee is one of the representatives of Ethiopian specialty coffee, and behind its name lies a story of rising from an unknown competition bean to a TOH champion. This article begins with the administrative divisions of the Sidama and Guji production regions, and sorts out the origin of Huakui coffee, the natural processing method of the Buku Abel estate, and the origin of the "Huakui X.0" naming method. It also introduces the flavor differences between Front Street Small-Bean Huakui and Front Street Natural Huakui 5.0, and includes suggested brewing parameters for Front Street Huakui coffee, making it suitable for enthusiasts who want to gain a deeper understanding of this coffee. [more…]

Huakui coffee beans are one of the most talked-about Ethiopian varieties in China's specialty coffee scene in recent years. Originating from the Buku Abel processing station in the Hambela region of Sidama, it shot to fame thanks to winning the 2017 TOH natural category championship and its standout performance at the World Brewers Cup. Compared with the often pricey Geisha, Huakui quickly became a daily staple for many coffee lovers thanks to its affordable price and intense strawberry-and-cream aroma. This article will systematically trace the origins and evolution of this bean from the perspectives of Huakui's rise to fame, regional grading, flavor evolution, and brewing comparisons, helping readers fully understand why Huakui coffee beans are both cheap and delicious. [more…]

As the birthplace of coffee, Ethiopia is home to a wealth of native varieties and regions each with their own distinct character. Sidamo and Yirgacheffe are two of the most talked-about names among them. The former is known for its diverse flavors and rich fruity notes, while the latter is famous for its signature citrus acidity and jasmine aroma. Drawing on Front Street Coffee's actual cupping and brewing, this article sorts out the differences between the two regions in terms of varieties, processing methods, and flavor presentation, and shares the specific performance of Front Street's Uraga TOH champion bean along with products such as Gudingding and Red Cherry, helping coffee lovers understand the stylistic boundaries of these two major regions more clearly. [more…]

Friends who enjoy coffee with fruity acidity are certainly no strangers to Front Street Coffee's Ethiopia Sidamo Huakui. Since this bean first appeared in 2017, it has gone through eight harvest seasons, and the latest batch has, as usual, been named "Huakui 8.0." Many people new to specialty coffee often confuse Huakui with Geisha, and some even think Huakui is a top-tier Geisha—but in reality, the two are completely different. This article will start with Huakui's origin background, the story behind its name, and the meaning of its version numbers, then combine that with the actual brewing performance of Front Street Coffee's Ethiopia Sidamo Natural Huakui 8.0 to give you a comprehensive understanding of this champion bean's past and present, and to explain exactly what its signature "Huakui flavor" really is. [more…]