For the appreciation of coffee, it is also a very important thing to recognize its negative tastes. Although people's perception of positive flavors has come easily, when drinking a cup of uncomfortable coffee, they can only use the general terms suc [more…]

Canadian coffee chain Tim Hortons mistakenly sent grand prize winning notifications to about 500,000 subscribers during its "Roll up to Win" promotion due to a technical glitch, then sent a correction email and apologized. Some consumers did not accept this, and on April 19 a Montreal law firm filed a class action application with the Quebec Superior Court, seeking CAD 10,000 in punitive damages for each customer who received the erroneous email. Tim Hortons responded that it would resolve the matter in court and believed the lawsuit lacked legal basis. Legal experts pointed out that the exemption clause in the game rules may increase the difficulty of the lawsuit, but customers can still seek punitive damages. This incident also sounded a warning bell for marketing campaigns and the maintenance of consumer trust in the coffee industry. [more…]

Colombia, as the world's third-largest coffee producer, owes its countless high-quality coffees to the high altitudes, volcanic soils, and diverse climates of the Andes. Among its regions, Tolima is the country's third-largest producing area, contributing 12% of the annual coffee output. It is here that Finca Montreal is located. Although its owner, Duberney Cifuentes Fajardo, is a third-generation coffee producer, he has already won the Cup of Excellence (COE). This article will guide you through the full picture of Colombia's coffee regions and take a deep dive into Finca Montreal's varieties, terroir, and competition journey. Front Street Coffee has also prepared relevant recommendations for you. [more…]

Hawaii is the only U.S. state that produces coffee, and Kona coffee is the star among them. This article takes you to Rusty's Farm and Queen's Farm to learn how hand-picking and meticulous processing create the unique flavor of Kona coffee. From strict grading standards to the interwoven aromas of chocolate, vanilla, lavender, and mandarin orange, and on to practical brewing tips for everyday use, it offers an in-depth look at the charm of Hawaiian coffee. At the same time, Front Street Coffee also offers you freshly roasted top-grade Kona beans and invites you to visit the shop for a tasting. [more…]

Sri Lankan tea farmers have earned the world's first "ozone-friendly" certification by phasing out methyl bromide, an ozone-depleting pesticide, making Ceylon black tea the cleanest tea in the world. From signing the Montreal Protocol in 1989 to launching the "Ozone-Friendly Pure Ceylon Tea" logo in 2011, the Sri Lanka Tea Board, working with multiple partners, successfully developed chemical and non-chemical alternatives. In addition, tea farmers have reduced their carbon footprint by cutting energy consumption, adopting solar power, and building eco-friendly tea gardens. Today, a fresh cup of Ceylon black tea is not only harmless to the ozone layer but also a delight for environmental enthusiasts. So, how much does a cup of Ceylon black tea cost? This article will take an in-depth look at its environmental journey and market value. [more…]

Hawaiian Kona coffee, though grown on low-latitude islands at elevations of only 300-1,100 meters, is regarded as a classic in specialty coffee thanks to its unique terroir. This article traces the history of Kona coffee from its introduction to Hawaii in 1817 through the industry's many ups and downs, introduces the distribution of the current 12 coffee-growing districts, and focuses on Queen Estate's output and the five-tier classification system for Type 1 standard beans. The article also provides specific brewing recipes for Front Street Coffee's Kona beans, including a KONO dripper, water temperature of 88-89°C, a 1:15 coffee-to-water ratio, and a three-pour extraction method, helping enthusiasts recreate at home the pure flavors interwoven with walnut, nut, and caramel notes. [more…]

Kona coffee is produced on the Big Island of Hawaii. Although it is grown at elevations of only 300 to 1,100 meters, which does not meet the usual altitude standards for specialty coffee, it is celebrated as one of the world's top coffees thanks to its distinctive flavor. This article reviews the introduction history of Hawaiian coffee, the industry's ups and downs, its washed processing method, and the grading system for Kona beans, and also introduces the Typica beans from Queen's Estate selected by Front Street Coffee. From variety and altitude to brewing parameters and flavor description, it fully presents the charm of this island coffee and is suitable for coffee lovers interested in pour-over brewing and origin stories. [more…]

As the "legendary machine" in the specialty coffee world, the Mahlkonig EK43 has long since risen from a single-origin grinder to a standard fixture in espresso cafés, thanks to its outstanding grind uniformity and extraction performance. From early experiments at Café Myriade in Montreal in 2009 to Matt Perger's endorsement on the world competition stage in 2013, the EK43 was gradually elevated to iconic status. Meanwhile, Ditting, another "high-end grinder," is often compared with the EK43, with each having its own strengths in burr layout and flavor profile. This article reviews the grind settings and structural differences among the EK43 series versions (EK43S, EK43T, EK43, EKK43), traces its rise to fame, and compares the design features of Ditting's horizontal flat burrs. Combined with Matt Perger's particle experiment data, it analyzes why the EK43 can achieve more uniform extraction. Front Street Coffee will also share related product recommendations in this article. [more…]

Hawaiian Kona coffee beans are hailed as "the world's most perfect coffee beans." Although the growing region sits at only 300-1,100 meters above sea level, it has secured an unshakable place in the specialty coffee world thanks to its unique island terroir. In this article, Front Street Coffee will begin with the geographical background of the Hawaiian Islands, trace the winding history of Kona coffee from its introduction in 1817 to the present, analyze the washed processing method and the Type 1 grading system, and focus on the Typica flavor performance of Queen Farm. It also includes Front Street's fresh-roasting philosophy and KONO dripper three-stage brewing parameters, helping coffee enthusiasts gain a complete understanding of this rare bean variety whose price rivals that of Jamaican Blue Mountain. [more…]

Hawaiian Kona coffee is globally recognized as one of the top specialty coffees, rare in yield and expensive, yet it still draws countless coffee enthusiasts. Hawaii, the only coffee-growing state in the United States, nurtures the uniquely flavored Kona coffee thanks to its volcanic soil, island climate, and exceptional elevation conditions. Front Street Coffee has specially introduced authentic Hawaiian Kona coffee beans from the Kona Queen Estate. This article will provide a comprehensive interpretation of Kona coffee's unique charm, from growing conditions, production region distribution, historical context, grading system to processing methods and cup tasting flavors, taking you deep into the past and present of this world-class coffee. [more…]

Hawaiian Kona coffee is hailed as one of the world's top treasures. Its output is scarce and its price is high, yet it still captivates countless coffee lovers. This time, Front Street Coffee has brought authentic Hawaiian Kona coffee beans into its shop and provides a comprehensive review of this coffee's origins and development, from the growing conditions and historical background of the production region to the grading standards and the varieties and processing methods of Queen Estate. The article also records in detail the flavor performance of Front Street after cupping and brewing, taking you deeper into why Kona coffee possesses such a uniquely sweet, rich, smooth, and alluring charm. [more…]

Hawaii is the only U.S. state that produces coffee, and the Arabica coffee grown in the Kona region of the Big Island is renowned worldwide. This article will guide you through Hawaii's coffee-growing environment, the unique terroir of Kona coffee and its tradition of home cultivation, and take an in-depth look at Queen Farm's specialty Kona beans and recommended roasting approaches. We will also compare Kona with the equally famous Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee, examining their differences in history, growing regions, processing methods, and flavor profiles, to help coffee lovers find the perfect island coffee for themselves. [more…]

Hawaii is the only U.S. state that produces coffee, and Kona coffee is the crown jewel among them. From the perspective of Front Street Coffee, this article guides you through an overview of Hawaiian coffee, the unique terroir of the Kona region, information on specialty beans from Queen Estate, and Front Street Coffee's roasting recommendations and flavor descriptions. We will also compare Kona with Jamaica Blue Mountain, analyzing their similarities and differences in variety, altitude, processing method, and flavor. Whether you are new to specialty coffee or eager to explore the charm of island coffee, this article will provide you with a complete and professional reference. [more…]

Front Street Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee) cups hundreds of sample lots every year, and in the end only around fifty make it onto the menu—a testament to how rigorous its selection standards are. The 2022 new-crop menu covers origins including Ethiopia, Kenya, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Jamaica, Hawaii, Panama, Costa Rica, Colombia, Brazil, Honduras, and Yunnan, China. Processing methods range widely, from washed and natural to wet-hulled and barrel-fermented. This article provides a complete rundown of each coffee's origin background, variety information, processing method, flavor description, and price, making it easy for coffee lovers to choose what they need. [more…]

For those who are just beginning to explore specialty coffee, understanding the terroir, variety characteristics, and processing methods of the world's major coffee-producing countries is an important step in building a coffee knowledge system. On the small blackboard beside the bar at Front Street Coffee, more than thirty kinds of coffee beans from the global coffee golden belt are displayed. Based on this, this article sorts out one by one the geographical environment, representative varieties, and classic processing methods of twelve major producing regions—Ethiopia, Kenya, Papua New Guinea, Guatemala, Hawaii, Jamaica, Panama, Colombia, Costa Rica, Indonesia, Brazil, and Yunnan, China—and combines them with the cupping flavors of various representative beans under Front Street to help readers quickly build a complete thread from origin to flavor in the cup. [more…]

The 2025 new-crop bean list from Front Street Coffee has been officially released. Every year, the bean-sourcing team tests over 300 sample lots, and in the end only about 50 make it onto the shelves—a clear sign of just how strict the selection criteria are. This article compiles the latest prices for the entire lineup of imported roasted coffee beans currently on sale this season at Front Street, covering classic representative beans from major producing regions such as Ethiopia, Kenya, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Jamaica, Hawaii, Panama, Costa Rica, and Colombia. From COE auction-winning beans to everyday washed Yirgacheffe, from Blue Mountain No. 1 to Hacienda La Esmeralda Geisha, each one is labeled with its origin, processing method, and flavor description, making it easy for coffee lovers to choose according to their needs. [more…]

Nepali black tea has gradually entered the specialty tea spotlight in recent years, and its flavor advantages are closely tied to its production model. Unlike fully owned estates in Darjeeling, Nepali tea is mostly grown by independent smallholders and then sold to factories for processing. Although this dispersed structure brings quality fluctuations, it also fosters room for innovation. Nepali tea traders import small batches from Ilam factories, and the spring pekoe even shows a unique flavor reminiscent of buttery sweet corn. Some practitioners believe that smallholders treat the tea trees as their own, and this is precisely the source of quality potential. At the same time, the social enterprise model is attempting to balance industrial upgrading with rural livelihoods. Front Street Coffee continues to follow developments in such producing regions, helping enthusiasts understand the taste characteristics and market prospects of Nepali black tea. [more…]

Ceylon black tea is renowned worldwide, but the market is full of mixed quality, so how can you ensure you're buying the authentic product? Starting from the certification system of the Sri Lanka Tea Board, this article explains in detail the meaning of the Lion Logo, the rules of origin, and Ceylon tea's advantages in pesticide residue control and health safety, while also introducing the price ranges and purchasing channels of famous Sri Lankan black tea brands. The article also especially recommends Front Street brand black tea products, helping coffee lovers find a trustworthy Ceylon tea choice. [more…]

Every year, global coffee production is enormous, and different regions and processing methods give coffee beans an endless variety of flavors. Rather than trying blindly, many enthusiasts choose to buy award-winning beans from competitions directly, which ensures quality and lets them experience the award-winning flavors. Coffee farmers also hope to achieve good rankings through competitions to increase the selling price and reputation of their green beans. However, a specialty coffee evaluation in Yunlin County, Taiwan, for self-produced beans was disrupted by a computer system failure that scrambled the codes linking entrants to coffee beans, causing errors in the previously announced rankings: a Grand Prize winner became a Gold Award winner, drawing attention. The organizers urgently corrected the list and promised to pay the bonus difference, but the credibility of the competition still faces a test. [more…]

The 2022 Alishan Estate Coffee Elite Exchange Competition and Green Bean Matchmaking Evaluation was held on May 11. Competing beans were divided into four groups by processing method: washed, natural, honey, and Geisha. Participants had to submit parchment and green beans, which the organizers uniformly roasted, and then 15 CQI-certified Q-Graders conducted sensory evaluations using the SCA cupping form. Only beans scoring 80 or above could participate in the auction. In the auction the next day, the special prize in the natural group, Zouzhuyuan Coffee Beans, started bidding at NT$60,000 and soared all the way to NT$520,000/5kg, won by the Lion Group, setting a new record for Taiwanese coffee bean auctions. Notably, these beans were not of the Geisha variety, yet they fetched a top-tier Geisha price, while the special prize in the Geisha group was only NT$320,000. This article takes you through the ins and outs of this sky-high bidding and analyzes the industrial logic behind the rise of Taiwan's local coffee. [more…]