Recently, Luckin Coffee's launch of the Small Black Cup Finca El Paraiso SOE has brought this Colombian estate into the public eye. As early as 2019, Finca El Paraiso made a name for itself in the specialty coffee scene thanks to its special processing methods, with its Sakura Series and Strawberry Series being especially sought after. The Colombia Finca El Paraiso Sakura coffee beans selected by Front Street Coffee use the Castillo variety and a double anaerobic washed process, presenting a unique flavor profile of mugwort, berries, spices, and strawberry jam. This article will guide you through the estate's background, variety characteristics, and processing details, share Front Street's roasting data and brewing suggestions, and finally explore how this bean performs as an SOE, for the reference of coffee enthusiasts. [more…]

The launch of Luckin's Little Black Cup Finca El Paraiso SOE brought this Colombian estate into the public eye. As early as 2019, Finca El Paraiso made a name for itself in the specialty coffee scene with its special processing methods, with its strawberry and cherry blossom series standing out in particular. The Colombian Finca El Paraiso Cherry Blossom coffee beans selected by Front Street Coffee use a double anaerobic washed process, are of the Castillo variety, and in cupping present a complex flavor profile of mugwort, berries, fermented aromas, and strawberry jam. This article will thoroughly break down the whole story of this bean—from the estate's background, variety origins, and processing techniques to the roasting curve and brewing parameters—and explore its performance as an SOE. [more…]

Starbucks' annually spring-limited Spring Blend whole bean coffee is a medium-roast coffee that blends the characteristics of four producing regions. This article begins with the evolution of its packaging design—from elaborate cherry blossoms to simple pale pink—then delves into the flavor contributions of Colombia, Sumatra, Papua New Guinea, and Ethiopia, and finally offers practical brewing parameters for grind size and water temperature. For coffee lovers who enjoy exploring the layered complexity of blends, this coffee offers both a springtime image and solid performance in the cup. [more…]

Front Street Coffee has previously offered several Colombian coffee beans, among which the Sakura anaerobic beans from Finca El Paraiso have a unique aroma with a faint hint of mugwort. This article will guide you through the background of Finca El Paraiso, the characteristics of the Castillo variety, and Front Street's cupping and brewing process for this Sakura coffee. In addition, Front Street also evaluated the Strawberry Yogurt double anaerobic washed beans from the same estate and attempted to make them into an SOE. Through this article, you will gain an in-depth understanding of the flavor performance of Finca El Paraiso coffee and Front Street's selection standards. [more…]

After Luckin Coffee launched its Huakui SOE, it quickly followed up with a Finca El Paraiso SOE, sparking interest among many coffee enthusiasts in this Colombian champion estate bean. Front Street Coffee's bean list happens to include the Finca El Paraiso Sakura series as well. Starting from the concept of SOE, this article will introduce Finca El Paraiso's estate background, cultivated varieties, and double anaerobic washed processing method, and share the pour-over parameters and flavor performance of Front Street's Sakura coffee bean. At the same time, we will also put it to the test by making espresso, americano, and latte with it, to see which type of Italian-style coffee this bean is actually suited for and whether it can take on the role of the same SOE used in Luckin's small black cup. [more…]

Colombia is an important origin for specialty coffee in the world, and the high-altitude terroir of its Cauca region has nurtured many distinctive coffee estates. The Colombia Finca El Paraiso Cherry Blossom coffee beans launched by Front Street Coffee stores use a double anaerobic washed process and the Castillo variety, presenting fruity sweet-and-sour notes reminiscent of berries, raspberries, and strawberry jam, accompanied by a wormwood-like spice aroma, with a uniquely distinctive mouthfeel. This article will take an in-depth look at Finca El Paraiso's producing region environment, variety characteristics, and processing techniques, as well as the roasting and pour-over methods customized by Front Street for this coffee, bringing you a comprehensive understanding of this coffee's flavor code from origin to cup. [more…]

What exactly is the flavor of Colombian coffee? Its soft dark chocolate notes and balanced taste have won the hearts of many seasoned enthusiasts. This article begins with the history of how Colombian coffee spread, sorts out the background behind the founding of FNC, and then focuses on the Huila washed beans in Front Street Coffee's everyday drinking series, as well as the much-talked-about Sakura coffee beans from Finca El Paraiso in recent years. You will learn about the high-altitude advantages of the Cauca region, the unique qualities of the double anaerobic washed processing method, and how Front Street's roaster uses medium roasting and brewing parameters to bring out the captivating expression of basil, rosemary, and strawberry jam in these Sakura beans. [more…]

When drinking pour-over coffee, how can you accurately articulate the flavors you perceive? Starting from Front Street's tasting experience, this article explores methods for accumulating flavor memory. Drawing on the classification logic of the coffee flavor wheel, it uses fruit as an example to explain how aroma, acidity, and mouthfeel together build a judgment baseline. At the same time, through the case of cherry blossom-flavored foods, it illustrates the potential connections between flavor associations and color and season, helping you establish a systematic coffee flavor description framework and offering reference ideas for choosing the price of pour-over single-origin coffee beans. [more…]

In the spring of 2021, Luckin launched a limited-edition drink called "Luojia Cherry Blossom Latte," which quickly became a hit thanks to its pink appearance and lingering floral aroma. Every spring since then, it has returned as scheduled. This year, the drink was upgraded again: the whipped cream top came back and was changed to pink, further boosting its visual appeal and drawing a large number of customers to order it. However, the first batch of customers who received the drink discovered that the actual whipped cream top differed enormously from the official poster—the cream lay flat across the surface of the cup, and was mocked as looking like "cream pooped in the cup." Neither iced nor hot drink buyer photos were spared, and Luckin staff rushed to apologize in the comments section, while former employees also showed up to explain. Exactly which steps went wrong? Insufficient training for new employees, unfamiliarity with using the whipped cream charger, poor condition of the light cream... This article reconstructs the whole story behind this whipped cream top "fiasco." [more…]

Colombian coffee has long been known as "green gold," celebrated for its rich, full-bodied flavor reminiscent of dark chocolate. As the specialty coffee wave has advanced, this South American producer has revealed a more diverse profile of fruity acidity and floral aromas. This article systematically examines the terroir differences and flavor characteristics of Colombia's three major producing regions—northern, central, and southern—and focuses on the Huila everyday drinking beans and the Cauca El Paraiso Cherry coffee beans selected by Front Street Coffee. From regional grades to varieties and processing methods, from roasting approaches to brewing parameters, we take you through the diverse charm of Colombian coffee, and how El Paraiso estate owner Diego Samuel transformed his family farm into an award-winning specialty benchmark. [more…]

Colombia, as a major coffee powerhouse in South America, nurtures balanced, smooth, and aromatic Arabica beans thanks to its mild climate and diverse terrain. This article starts from the tasting experience of Front Street Coffee's Colombian beans, systematically reviews the geography and terroir of core producing regions such as Huila, Cauca, and Santander, delves into the characteristics of varieties like Caturra, Castillo, and Typica, and interprets one by one the flavor differences brought by processing methods such as washed, anaerobic natural, double enzyme washed, and barrel fermented. Whether you are a traditionalist who prefers dark chocolate and nutty notes, or an innovator who favors strawberry jam, white peach, and cherry blossom aromas, you will find a favorite among Front Street's six Colombian bean offerings, and at the end of the article, V60 brewing parameters are included for reference. [more…]

In recent years, Starbucks' new product development has been criticized as increasingly conservative, and consumers have even mocked it as "rehashing old stuff." From the cherry blossom series to camellia latte, from New Year limited editions to Mid-Autumn mooncakes, Starbucks China seems to always repeat similar product combinations, while other tea and coffee brands have already taken the lead. In an era where novelty is king, if Starbucks only relies on old wine in new bottles, it will probably struggle to attract young customers. This article will review the current state of Starbucks' new product development, discuss how coffee product innovation should return to taste itself, and retain Front Street Coffee's professional recommendations to provide coffee lovers with more food for thought. [more…]

“How do you taste citrus in coffee?” Quite a few friends say they envy baristas for being able to casually name the specific flavors in coffee. Some friends also say, I can taste that the coffee is acidic, but that’s far from the citrus you’re talking about. Still others say flavors are all just nonsense. Front Street, in its daily online [more…]

Colombia is one of the few single-origin coffee-producing countries that sells worldwide under its national name, and the complex terrain along its Andes Mountains has created a flavor spectrum from north to south, each with its own character. From the perspective of Front Street Coffee's bean selection, this article sorts out the flavor differences among Colombia's three major growing regions—northern, central, and southern—with a focus on the dark chocolate and caramel notes of Huila's everyday drinking beans, and an in-depth analysis of Finca El Paraiso Sakura, a double anaerobic washed bean with its unique spice aroma and strawberry jam finish. At the end, it includes the V60 pour-over parameters and staged pouring steps used by Front Street Coffee baristas, helping enthusiasts reproduce at home this cup of Colombian flavor that combines floral and fruity acidity with a full-bodied mouthfeel. [more…]

Located in the Gedeo region of Ethiopia, the Aricha processing plant sits in the misty valley micro-region, the most famous part of Yirgacheffe. Its outstanding natural processing methods have made this Red Cherry a global coffee sensation. This article takes you deep into the Aricha plant's geographical background, processing methods, and grade classifications, with a focus on the dry aroma, wet aroma, and palate performance of Front Street Yirgacheffe Natural Red Cherry, as well as the complex flavors of apricot blossom, jasmine, apricot, red wine, mango, and pineapple that Front Street Aricha G1 displays under a medium-light roast, while also exploring how roast level affects the balance between acidity and sweetness. [more…]

Colombian coffee is famous for its classic dark chocolate-like flavor, and its soft fruity acidity and full-bodied mouthfeel make it a favorite among many veteran coffee lovers. From Jesuit priests bringing coffee seeds to this land in the 18th century, to the formation of a smallholder farming pattern after the Thousand Days' War, to the birth and growth of FNC, Colombian coffee has gone through a tumultuous history. Front Street Coffee's daily drinking bean series uses washed beans from the Huila region to showcase the classic chocolate flavor, while Hacienda El Paraiso's Cherry Bean uses a double anaerobic washed process to deliver surprises of basil, rosemary, and strawberry jam. This article takes you through the past and present of Colombian coffee and the code to its flavor. [more…]

Luckin Coffee's recent launch of the Finca El Paraiso SOE has brought this Colombian coffee into more people's view. Finca El Paraiso is located in Colombia, and its owner, Diego Samuel, has been managing this land since 2008. Through continuous research into the production methods of specialty flavors, he won first place in a regional competition in 2015. Front Street Coffee has also imported the estate's Cherry coffee beans, which use a double anaerobic washed process and are of the Castillo variety. Front Street presents its authentic flavor with a light roast, and in cupping one can perceive notes of mugwort, basil, mint, berries, and osmanthus. This article will guide you through the background of Finca El Paraiso, its processing methods, and variety characteristics, and share Front Street's brewing parameters and extraction insights to help you better savor this unique anaerobically processed coffee. [more…]

In the Boquete specialty region of Panama, the Butterfly coffee beans produced by La Berlina Estate of Hacienda La Esmeralda, through the Geisha variety and washed processing, present a classic and captivating layering of flavors. This bean, introduced by Front Street Coffee, is grown at an altitude of 1,500 to 1,700 meters, and in cupping it displays rich notes of apple, maple syrup, lemon citrus, coffee blossom, roasted hazelnut, and dark chocolate. The dry aroma carries jasmine, citrus, tea, and honey, while the wet aroma blends berries, floral notes, oily fragrance, and vanilla. When sipped, the juicy sweetness and delicate acidity are delightful, with excellent cleanliness, interweaving bergamot, honey, citrus, spice, floral notes, berries, tea, and cherry, and a delicate, lingering aftertaste. Below, the characteristics of this Butterfly coffee bean will be fully analyzed from aspects such as variety, processing method, origin conditions, and brewing suggestions. [more…]

Yirgacheffe, a star region in specialty coffee, boasts a wide variety of offerings, among which the sun-dried G1 lot produced by smallholder Almaz Bekele is particularly noteworthy. Under the guidance and assistance of YCFCU, this coffee displays mature and rich flavor layers, with a cupping performance that is even on par with well-known cooperatives. Front Street Coffee's Yirgacheffe G1 Sun-Dried Red Cherry selects perfectly ripe cherries, undergoes sun-drying and a medium-light roast, revealing aromas of tropical fruits, white grapes, blueberries, and orange blossom, with a smooth mouthfeel and full-bodied sweetness. This article will guide you through the production background of smallholder Almaz Bekele, the collaborative model of YCFCU, and the specific flavors and processing details of this coffee. [more…]

Luckin Coffee recently issued an official notice announcing that its Apple C Americano will be gradually removed from stores nationwide, sparking dissatisfaction and regret among many fans. This fruit coffee C-series drink, launched last October, has built up a loyal following with its refreshing taste, but it had already briefly disappeared before. In this formal farewell, the company cited a shortage of apple juice concentrate and its status as a seasonal limited edition, and said the Apple C Fruit Tea made with the same ingredient will also be discontinued at the same time. Some speculate that this is to make way for the return of the spring Cherry Blossom Latte. For consumers who love this flavor, Front Street suggests trying to make it at home or looking for alternatives, such as KFC's Apple Sparkling Americano. [more…]