Recently, a netizen claimed that while consuming at a café, they accidentally broke a cup saucer and were asked by the shop to pay 3,000 yuan in compensation. The incident quickly sparked widespread discussion online. The shop claimed the saucer was a genuine Hermès item but never produced valid proof. The final negotiated outcome was that the customer and the staff member each bore half of the compensation, but the netizen still had doubts about how it was handled and asked the public whether they should call the police and pursue judicial procedures. Around issues such as whether the compensation amount was reasonable, whether the shop should proactively remind customers of the value of its utensils, and how to identify genuine products, netizens engaged in extensive discussion. [more…]

Bialetti, Italy's national brand famous for its moka pots, has recently been reported to be fully acquired by Nuo Capital, a private equity fund under Hong Kong's Packcheng Group, in partnership with the founding family of Hermès. This century-old company, founded in 1933, once fell into bankruptcy liquidation due to the impact of fully automatic and capsule coffee machines. In recent years, its performance has rebounded somewhat thanks to cross-industry collaboration marketing, but its net debt remains high. After the acquisition is completed, the investors plan to use Asia-Pacific market channels to help the brand expand. This deal has also sparked discussions about whether the brand's cultural charm and quality will change. Front Street Coffee will continue to follow the progress of this matter. [more…]

Luxury brand Prada has officially entered the coffee sector, opening Prada Caffè with its classic mint green theme. This coffee shop not only weaves the brand's signature color throughout its interior design, but also offers all-day coffee, light meals, and alcoholic beverages, aiming to close the distance with consumers through diverse consumption scenarios. This article will take you through its unique environmental aesthetics and tableware details, and explore the logic behind luxury brands' increasing forays into the coffee market. Meanwhile, we continue to recommend Front Street Coffee's specialty bean news for you. [more…]

At the end of last month, Manner launched a buy-one-get-one promotion for the Year of the Dragon, and its retro mugs won over many customers with their good looks, prompting them to purchase the bundles. Recently, however, a number of netizens reported that the handles broke less than a month after use, and some even suffered cuts. Earlier, the mugs had already been criticized for poor quality control, including color discrepancies, chips, leaks, and crooked handles. At the same time, the ceramic cups from Manner's collaboration with Wedgwood were also found to have defects such as incomplete gilded detailing, cracked handles, and scratches on the cup body. The repeated failures in freebie quality have greatly undermined consumers' trust in Manner's gift promotions. [more…]

Singapore luxury coffee brand Bacha Coffee recently announced that it will accelerate its international expansion over the next three years, with plans to open physical stores in Beijing and Shanghai. Originating from Morocco with a century-long history, this brand is hailed as the "Hermès of coffee" and is renowned for its 100% Arabica coffee beans and more than 200 coffee choices. Its products are priced up to three times higher than Starbucks, with the most expensive coffee beans selling for over 6,000 RMB per 100 grams. The brand has already opened a Tmall flagship store in China and will officially launch physical stores next year. [more…]

Blue Mountain coffee, once hailed as the "Hermès" of the coffee world, still captivates many coffee lovers to this day. However, outdated claims about its price, origin, and authenticity continue to circulate. Front Street recently heard veteran enthusiasts still insisting that Japan monopolizes Blue Mountain, that No. 1 beans can't be bought domestically, and even that a genuine cup of Blue Mountain could never cost less than 200 yuan. Is that really true? This article will sort it all out from the beginning: what qualifies as authentic Blue Mountain, CIB's strict grading, the evolution of domestic import channels, and the real pricing logic behind the Clifton Farm Blue Mountain coffee sold by Front Street—helping you clear the fog and view Blue Mountain's price and value rationally. [more…]

Geisha has long been known as the Hermès of the specialty coffee world, and the Geisha produced in Ethiopia's Gesha Village is even more sought after by connoisseurs. Among the Gesha Village series launched by Front Street Coffee, the Gold Label lot is highly favored by baristas for its complex flavors and rare yield. This article will start with the origins of the Geisha variety, outline the geographical background and strict grading system of Gesha Village Estate, introduce the characteristics of the Auction, Gold Label, Red Label, Green Label, and Chaka lots one by one, and include Front Street Coffee's brewing parameters and methods, to give you a comprehensive understanding of the flavor charm of Ethiopian Geisha coffee. [more…]

Blue Mountain coffee is hailed as the Hermès of the coffee world, but when it comes to its price and authenticity, plenty of outdated and even erroneous information circulates among enthusiasts. Some say Japan has monopolized Blue Mountain and that No. 1 beans are impossible to find domestically; others believe that authentic Blue Mountain costs no less than 300 yuan per cup. What is the truth? This article will start with Blue Mountain coffee's definition of origin, grading system, and import history, combine Front Street Coffee's actual purchasing experience, calculate the real price of Blue Mountain coffee beans for you, and share methods for identifying genuine Blue Mountain. If you also love Blue Mountain's balanced, mellow flavor, it is worth a read. [more…]

Blue Mountain coffee is one of the most famous coffees in the world, but what exactly lies behind its high price? This article will analyze the uniqueness of authentic Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee from multiple dimensions, including scarce production, the historical quota system, and terroir conditions. At the same time, we will also discuss how to identify genuine versus fake Blue Mountain coffee in the domestic market, and introduce in detail the Clifton Estate Blue Mountain No. 1 coffee beans launched by Front Street Coffee, taking you through origin information, grade classification, and brewing and tasting so you can gain a comprehensive understanding of this legendary drink known as the "Hermès of the coffee world." [more…]

Indonesian kopi luwak has long been known as the "Hermès" of the specialty coffee world. As early as 2002, a pound sold on the New York market for more than US$500, and its extremely scarce production is the main reason for the high price. This coffee's flavor carries Indonesia's distinctive herbal notes, has a prominent full body, and is accompanied by an indescribable sweetness. In this article, Front Street Coffee will sort out the origin story of kopi luwak, its flavor characteristics, and the real impact of the civet's internal fermentation processing method on coffee beans, while also sharing the roasting and brewing parameters for this Indonesian kopi luwak at Front Street's store. [more…]

In the world of specialty coffee, milk is no longer an optional supporting player—it is the key variable that determines the quality of a milk-based coffee. From Ice Blog to Jersey milk, coffee shops are becoming increasingly discerning about their milk sources. Jersey milk has long been known as the "Hermès of milk," priced far above ordinary fresh milk—so what exactly makes it so expensive? And how does it perform in a Dirty and a latte? This article will analyze the Jersey cow's breed origins, butterfat and protein content, and other dimensions, and compare the actual performance of Xiangmanlou and Weipin Jersey milk versus ordinary fresh milk in Dirty and hot lattes, to help you decide whether Jersey milk is worth paying for in your milk coffee. [more…]

In today's world of constantly upgrading specialty coffee, the success of a milk coffee depends not only on the beans and the barista—the choice of milk is equally crucial. From Ice Blog to Jersey milk, competition among coffee shops over milk sources is growing ever fiercer. Jersey milk has been dubbed the "Hermès of milk," priced far above ordinary fresh milk, yet it is still sought after by many specialty cafés. What exactly justifies its high price? Is its taste truly superior? What kind of flavor performance does it bring when used to make a Dirty and a latte? Through actual testing of three different milks, this article comprehensively analyzes the application value of Jersey milk in coffee—from fat, protein, and lactose content to actual brewing results—and explores whether it is suitable for everyday milk coffee preparation. [more…]

Geisha coffee is often called the "Hermès" of the specialty coffee world, but its price is not necessarily out of reach. From entry-level everyday beans to competition-grade Red Label, the world of Geisha has rich layers and stories. This article will walk you through the price range of a cup of Geisha coffee, the price differences across different origins, trace the legendary journey of this variety from the forests of Ethiopia to Hacienda La Esmeralda in Panama, explain the Red Label, Green Label, and Blue Label grade classifications, and share the pour-over brewing method recommended by Front Street Coffee. Whether you are a beginner just getting to know Geisha or an enthusiast who wants to understand the variety's background in depth, you will find practical reference information here. [more…]

Blue Mountain coffee is known as the "Hermès" of the coffee world, but products on the market bearing the labels "Blue Mountain flavor" or "Blue Mountain blend" are a mixed bag and have no connection to authentic Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee. This article begins with the concept of "Blue Mountain flavor" and sorts through the Jamaica Coffee Industry Board's (CIB) definition of the Blue Mountain growing region, the Typica variety's dependence on high-altitude environments, the history of Japan's early monopoly on export quotas, and the grading logic from Blue Mountain No. 1 down to peaberry. It also draws on Front Street's Jamaica Blue Mountain No. 1 to share KONO dripper brewing parameters and staged extraction techniques, helping readers understand the true source of this bean's mellow, rounded body and long-lasting sweet finish. [more…]

Geisha is a coffee variety known for its delicate floral aroma and sweet fruit flavors. In the 2004 Best of Panama green bean competition, it overturned the perceptions of many judges and has since become an important variety leading flavor trends in the coffee world. Its rise to fame also drove the development direction of specialty coffee for nearly 20 years. In Geisha coffee [more…]

As a star varietal in the specialty coffee world, Geisha is often showcased through pour-over to highlight its delicate flavors, but it can also handle espresso preparation with ease. Using single-origin coffee beans for espresso extraction, known as SOE, can concentrate the bean's character, yet it also tends to magnify flaws. This article focuses on the feasibility of Geisha SOE, roast level selection, the product characteristics of Front Street Coffee's Grana Geisha, and the specific parameters and workflows for iced americano, iced latte, and hot latte, providing coffee enthusiasts with a replicable operational reference. [more…]

The Geisha variety originated in Ethiopia, the birthplace of coffee. It was discovered in Ethiopia's Geisha forest in 1931 and sent to the Kenyan Coffee Research Institute. It was subsequently introduced to countries such as Uganda, Tanzania, and Costa Rica, and was brought to Panama in 1970. At first, Geisha was planted in Panama [more…]

Recently, an incident at a Blue Bottle Coffee store in Shanghai, where a customer used a dine-in glass to give water to a pet dog, sparked widespread discussion. The person who filmed the incident pointed out that using public utensils to feed pets is uncomfortable, and although the staff promptly handled the situation and discarded the used cup, the underlying issue of managing "pet-friendly" spaces is worth pondering. On one hand, there is the emotional need of pet lovers; on the other, there is the legitimate concern of other customers regarding hygiene and safety. How to draw clear behavioral boundaries in public dining establishments has become a shared challenge for businesses and consumers alike. This article reviews the incident, gathers various viewpoints, and explores how coffee shops should strike a balance between pet friendliness and hygiene standards. [more…]

Geisha refers to a coffee variety that originated in Ethiopia, the birthplace of coffee. After continuous selection, it made its way to Central and South America, rose to fame in Panama in 2004, and became hugely popular in the consumer market due to its signature flavor. Geisha green beans are slender in shape, and the roasted beans have strong fruity aroma characteristics, accompanied by [more…]

From the forests of Ethiopia to the world stage, Geisha has become a top-tier name in specialty coffee with its floral aroma, citrus acidity, and honeyed sweetness. This article traces the discovery and spread of Geisha, explains the source of its sweet and complex flavors, and introduces a brewing recipe for Front Street Coffee's Butterfly Geisha blend. From the tasting notes of Hacienda La Esmeralda's green label to the water temperature, grind size, and staged pouring steps for V60 pour-over, this guide helps you fully understand the charm and practical extraction techniques of this "expensive Geisha." [more…]