Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon, means "resplendent land." Even after the country was renamed in 1972, people still habitually refer to its local black tea as Ceylon black tea. The island's tea industry legend began more than two hundred years ago during the British colonial period, when Scotsman James Taylor opened the first commercial tea plantation at the Loolecondera Estate in 1867, after which Ceylon tea gradually made its way to the world. From the establishment of the Colombo tea auction to the founding of the Tea Research Institute, and from nationalization to privatization reforms, Sri Lanka's tea industry has undergone many changes and is now the world's fourth-largest tea-producing country, with annual exports of about 320,000 tons. This article traces the development of Ceylon black tea and recommends related products from Front Street Coffee, taking you through this unique piece of tea history. [more…]

Sri Lanka is an island nation in South Asia, separated from India by the Palk Strait, with the closest point only about 30 kilometers away. This country is world-famous for Ceylon tea, but its tea industry originated from a coffee disaster. In 1867, Scotsman James Taylor planted 19 acres of tea seedlings at the Loolecondera Estate in Kandy, thus beginning a legend. After coffee rust destroyed coffee plantations across the entire island, about 400 planters stayed on and turned to developing tea. Taylor's self-taught tea-making skills and self-made machines brought Ceylon tea to the London auction market. Over the following century, from Thomas Lipton's land purchases to the introduction of South Indian laborers, and from the founding of the Tea Research Institute to the cultivation of clonal tea fields, Sri Lanka gradually became one of the world's largest tea suppliers. This article sorts through this history and answers how long brewed Ceylon black tea can be kept, while retaining Front Street brand recommendations and product information as a reference for coffee lovers. [more…]

Ceylon tea is an important economic pillar of Sri Lanka, and tea estate tourism is becoming a unique way to experience Ceylon tea culture. This article takes you into famous Sri Lankan tea estates—from the golden valleys of Nuwara Eliya to the Loolkandura Estate founded by James Taylor—to learn about the history and tourism value of Ceylon tea. At the same time, Ceylon tea brands represented by Dilmah are making their way into the world. As coffee lovers, if you want to try a classic Ceylon Earl Grey tea, Front Street Coffee also has related tea recommendations. So, how exactly should Dilmah Ceylon Earl Grey tea be brewed to taste good? Below is a detailed answer for you. [more…]

On the eve of National Day, Starbucks China posted a vividly colored beverage poster on Xiaohongshu with the caption "Waiting for good news," which happened to closely resemble the color scheme of Taylor Swift's new album teaser poster. This coincidence quickly ignited the expectations of Swifties, with many speculating that the two sides would collaborate again. However, after the stores launched two customized drinks as scheduled on October 3, staff said there was no collaboration, leaving fans greatly disappointed. What exactly caused this misunderstanding? And what history of cooperation has there been between Starbucks and Taylor Swift? This article will recount the whole incident and discuss the polarized views fans have on the matter. [more…]

Since its introduction from China in the 19th century, Ceylon black tea has gradually grown into a major force in the world of tea, with its seven major production regions each possessing distinctive terroir characteristics. This article systematically traces the development of Sri Lankan black tea and its key milestones, and categorizes the regions by elevation into high-grown, medium-grown, and low-grown, introducing one by one the distribution and characteristics of core production areas such as Nuwara Eliya, Uva, Dimbula, Kandy, and Ruhuna, with particular focus on the unique flavor and tea garden stories of Uva high-grown black tea. It also includes Ceylon black tea purchasing recommendations from the Front Street brand for the reference of coffee and tea enthusiasts. [more…]

With over 130 years of blending experience, Taylors of Harrogate is a highly prestigious British tea and coffee company headquartered in Yorkshire, northern England. Founder Charles Edward Taylor established the company in 1886, developing a blended black tea tailored to the local representative water quality, which became the famous Yorkshire tea. Taylors blends up to thirty kinds of black tea from Africa, Assam, and Ceylon, producing a rich, long-lasting brew suitable for making milk tea. The brand adheres to ethical trading and high quality, with products certified by the Rainforest Alliance and holding the Prince of Wales's Royal Warrant, and retail outlets in over thirty-five countries worldwide. This article will introduce in detail the flavor characteristics, recommended brewing methods, and ingredient origins of Taylors' Royal Earl Grey, Lemon & Orange, English Breakfast, Darjeeling, Earl Grey Green, Organic Chamomile, Organic Peppermint, and Yorkshire Tea, with a recommendation from Front Street Coffee at the end for tea lovers' reference. [more…]

When it comes to British black tea, Whittard of Chelsea is often named alongside Fortnum & Mason, Taylor's Tea, and Twinings as one of the four great tea houses. Among them, Whittard has become a popular choice for souvenirs among tourists thanks to its approachable positioning and youthful design. Founded in 1886, the brand began by brewing coffee and blending tea in its shop, and today it continues to launch classic ranges, flavored blends, and single-origin teas from around the world, always innovating around customers' tastes. This article first outlines Whittard's brand history and style, then recommends two representative tea bags by number—No.1 English Breakfast and No.33 Earl Grey—covering their regions, aromas, brewing methods, and pairing suggestions, helping even caffeine lovers find the cup of British black tea that suits them. [more…]

Since its birth in the 1850s, the French press has become the top choice for many coffee enthusiasts starting out, thanks to its simple immersion extraction principle. However, making a delicious cup with it is not just about throwing in grounds and pouring water. James Hoffmann, author of The World Atlas of Coffee, once shared a highly acclaimed French press extraction method on YouTube, claiming results close to pour-over. This time, Front Street selected a medium-light roast Ethiopian Gesha Village Red Label bean, using 15g of coffee, a 1:16 coffee-to-water ratio, Ek43 grind setting 10.5, 100°C boiling water, and a 9-minute steep for a hands-on test, fully documenting the steps and flavor performance, and exploring the differences between French press and pour-over. If you also want to use your French press more professionally, this hands-on分享 is worth a read. [more…]

In hot weather, iced coffee becomes a daily necessity for many people. Besides common options like cold brew, iced pour-over, and iced Americano, there is also a popular fancy coffee in Italy during summer—Caffè Shakerato, meaning "shaken coffee." Its method derives from bartending techniques, using a shaker to shake espresso with ice cubes into a dense foam, offering a cold taste, delicate texture, and rich aroma. In this article, Front Street Coffee will sort out the origins of Caffè Shakerato and the "coffee by day, alcohol by night" business model, and share three preparation methods: the classic version, the modern version, and James Hoffmann's cream whipper version. It will also explain operational details such as ingredient substitutions and the order of syrup use, making it easy for coffee enthusiasts to replicate at home. [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…]

Blue Bottle Coffee has announced that it will host a Blue Bottle Studio coffee tasting experience event in Shanghai, marking the first time this event has entered mainland China. Blue Bottle Studio was founded by Blue Bottle Coffee founder James Freeman and adopts an omakase style; it has previously been held four times in places such as Kyoto, Hong Kong, and Los Angeles. The Shanghai stop will take place from May 7 to 12, with a total of 18 sessions, each with only 4 seats, priced at 780 yuan per person, offering 8 coffee beverages and 2 pastries for tasting. The promotional poster mentions that founder James Freeman and Global Head of Innovation and R&D Benjamin Brewer will make their first visit to Shanghai, sparking a rush of bookings among fans. However, the official side has not yet made a formal statement, and some netizens said they had received telephone confirmation that the two will not attend, with service on site provided by Blue Bottle China's barista team. [more…]

James Hoffmann shared a brewing method on his personal channel that netizens have hailed as the ultimate V60 solution, the core of which lies in dividing the total water volume into five equal pours and introducing Rao-style shaking at the first and last pours. After repeated testing, Front Street Coffee confirmed that this method delivers outstanding results. This article will provide a complete breakdown from principle and parameters to operating steps, including grind size selection, water temperature setting, the pouring rhythm for each stage, and two details that are easy to get wrong in actual practice. The article also records Front Street Coffee's brewing performance using Costa Rica Mirazu Strawberry Candy, and both the final extraction yield and flavor presentation were satisfying. [more…]

The Clever Dripper, with its controllable flow, has given rise to a rich variety of brewing methods—it can be used as an ordinary dripper for pour-over, for immersion extraction, or even for hybrid brewing. This time, Front Street Coffee is sharing a Clever Dripper recipe from coffee guru James Hoffman, featuring a unique "reverse pouring method"—pour hot water first, then add the coffee grounds—paired with a finer grind and 95°C hot water, taking only three minutes total to easily produce an extremely sweet cup of coffee. This recipe is simple to execute, beginner-friendly, and also suits those who don't want to fuss with a complicated process. The article uses Front Street Coffee's Grana Estate · Geisha for demonstration and explains key parameters in detail, including coffee dose, ratio, grind, and immersion time. Finally, it includes an alternative method for when you don't have a Clever Dripper, making it highly practical. [more…]

The results of the 2017 Taste of Harvest (TOH) East Africa competition's Kenya division have been announced. Fram Farm from the Kirinyaga production area took first place with a score of 85.3. This AA-grade auction lot was secured by Qingdao Fisher Coffee, making it another African TOH champion bean following Ethiopia's Gesha and Uganda's entries. Fram is a family-run private farm with its own washing station, and its main varieties are SL28 and SL34. This article will explore multiple angles including the farm's background, the development history of Kenyan coffee, the grading system, and the K72 washing process, along with Front Street Coffee's brewing recommendations and a flavor description of Kenyan small tomato beans, taking you through the full story behind this champion bean. [more…]

The golden foam on the surface of espresso is often called the "soul" of coffee, but when tasted on its own, that intense bitterness often catches people off guard—it can even be more bitter than the coffee liquid itself. Japanese coffee researcher Nobuhiro Tanbe once pointed out that after removing the surface oils, the unpleasant flavors in espresso are greatly reduced; WBC champion James Hoffmann holds a similar view, believing that although crema is visually pleasing, it may not taste good on the palate. Front Street Coffee previously conducted a dedicated comparative experiment, confirming that the bitterness of Americano with the oils removed is indeed noticeably lower. That being the case, where exactly does the bitterness of this layer of oils come from? And why does it still keep so many enthusiasts coming back for more? This article will examine extraction principles, the causes of bitterness, and aroma, mouthfeel, and finish, among other dimensions, to help you reunderstand espresso's crema and offer better ideas for drinking it. [more…]

Why does most SOE taste sour? Behind this question lies the complete evolutionary history of espresso beans, from single origin to blends and back to single origin again. This article, from the perspective of Front Street, sorts out the causal relationship between SOE and blend beans: early espresso was itself SOE, and blend beans became mainstream due to cost and stability, until Erna Knutsen proposed the concept of specialty coffee and James Hoffmann promoted SOE in competitions, after which light-roasted single-origin beans entered the espresso domain. The article will also explain why beans such as Mandheling and Brazil still insist on dark roasting, as well as the commercial considerations behind coffee shops choosing medium-light roasted SOE. [more…]

On the menu at Blue Bottle Coffee shops, there is a drink with a tongue-twisting name that is particularly intriguing—the Gibraltar. It is at once the name of a port city, the designation of Libbey's classic glassware series, and a rich little milk coffee that sits somewhere between a latte and a macchiato. This drink was not deliberately developed, but arose from an accidental purchase of the wrong glass: a 4.5-ounce small glass could not hold a regular milk coffee, yet it was just right for observing espresso crema, so a barista blended a small amount of thin-microfoam milk into a double espresso, accidentally creating an off-menu hit. Today, Front Street takes everyone through the origins of the Gibraltar, compares its similarities and differences with the cortado, and finally provides a home recipe with parameter references. [more…]

When you walk into a café to order, you're often asked by the barista, "Would you like SOE or a blend?" Many people are baffled the first time they hear this term. SOE stands for Single Origin Espresso, referring to espresso extracted from coffee beans of a single origin. It gradually entered the public eye after James Hoffmann won the 2007 World Barista Championship, and in China it only really took off after specialty coffee became widespread. Unlike blended beans, which pursue stability and balance, SOE places more emphasis on the distinctiveness of regional flavors, but it demands higher standards for bean quality, roasting technique, and the barista's understanding. In this article, Front Street Coffee will systematically sort out the definition of SOE, the background of its rise, its differences from blended espresso, and recommend three single-origin coffee beans suitable for making SOE. [more…]

Caffè Corretto is a traditional Italian drink that is extremely common in Italy itself but rarely seen outside the country. Its unique feature is that freshly brewed espresso is served alongside a small glass of liquor, allowing guests to blend it to their own preference. Behind this drinking method lies the historical origin of the coffee price surge in 1930s Italy, and different regions also have their own particularities in the choice of liquor and the timing of consumption. This article begins with Front Street's discovery while revisiting James Hoffmann's book, sorting out the origin of the name Caffè Corretto, its historical background, the drinking habits of various regions in northern and southern Italy, and also includes Front Street's low-budget recreation experience, to introduce you to this obscure yet authentic Italian specialty coffee. [more…]

When ordering at a café, have you ever noticed that Americanos or milk coffees often come with two choices: the default espresso blend, and an SOE that requires an extra charge? SOE stands for Single Origin Espresso, meaning espresso made from coffee beans from a single origin. From James Hoffmann's championship-winning creation at the 2007 World Barista Championship to today's chain brands promoting it one after another, SOE has moved from niche to mainstream. The core reason it costs more than a blend is that the single-origin beans used are of higher quality and have more distinctive flavors, so the cost naturally rises. But SOE is also a major challenge for baristas—light-roasted beans are hard in texture, and pressurized extraction easily magnifies flaws, so delivering consistent quality is by no means easy. This article will walk you through the ins and outs of SOE, and why Front Street Coffee insists on not offering SOE coffee. [more…]