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 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…]

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…]

The results of the 2018 Best of Panama (BOP) auction have been officially revealed. The natural Geisha shattered the historical record with a staggering price of $803 per pound, becoming this year's top lot. Elida Estate, with its double victory in both the washed and natural Geisha categories, became the first "double champion" in BOP history. This year's auction not only witnessed the continued dominance of the Geisha variety but also reflected the profound impact of reduced production in the Panama region on the scale of the competition. Front Street Coffee takes you through a comprehensive review of the highlights and changes of this world-class green bean event. [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…]

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…]

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…]

The 2023 new-crop Huakui 7.0 coffee beans have arrived at port, reigniting discussions about their flavor and authenticity. This article begins with the 2017 TOH champion lot, tracing the origin of the Huakui name, the relationship between Buku Abel village and the surrounding processing stations, and why the "Huakui flavor" is not the same year after year. It also shares Front Street Coffee's cupping performance and pour-over recommendations for Huakui 7.0, helping coffee enthusiasts gain a more comprehensive understanding of this Sidamo natural bean's characteristics. [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…]

The champion of the Washed Geisha group at the 26th Panama BOP competition in 2022 was won by Guarumo Estate, a mini estate purchased in 2013 by the third-generation manager of the Hartmann family, covering only four hectares, yet demonstrating astonishing strength for many consecutive years. The 2022 new-crop sun-dried Geisha obtained by Front Street Coffee, though not the competition batch, likewise carries the estate's high-altitude terroir and light-roast craftsmanship. This article will guide you through the historical origins of Guarumo Estate and the Hartmann family's coffee lineage, and provide a detailed breakdown of this champion bean's flavor performance and brewing parameters, from grind size and water temperature to the three-stage pouring technique, fully presenting its layers of mango, pineapple, white floral fragrance, and malt-fermented sweetness. [more…]

At the Amederaro processing station, perched at 2,200 meters above sea level, an Ethiopian coffee bean known as Front Street Amederaro is born. It undergoes anaerobic slow drying: after harvesting, only fully ripe cherries are carefully selected and slowly fermented in an oxygen-free environment, ultimately revealing a complex flavor profile with top notes of passion fruit, interwoven with honey and champagne nuances, a full-bodied juice-like mouthfeel, and a subtle hint of rose tea. This bean clinched consecutive victories in the 2019/20 TOH national competition and the African regional finals, rightfully earning the title of "Double Champion." Meanwhile, the Worka cooperative in the Yirgacheffe region has also introduced an anaerobic natural batch, offering a refreshing blend of floral notes with mango and lemon, perfect for summer enjoyment. This article will thoroughly dissect the processing techniques, flavor dimensions, and competition background of Amederaro, along with recommendations for other specialty-processed beans from the same region. [more…]

The results of the 26th Best of Panama (BOP) green bean competition in 2022 have been announced. The champion of the Washed Geisha category was won by Aurora Estate, while the crown in the Natural Geisha category went to Guarumo Estate under the Hartmann family. Front Street Coffee had already acquired the 2022 harvest Guarumo Estate Natural Geisha coffee beans before the competition. This article will take you into a deeper understanding of the estate's historical origins, cultivation philosophy, and the flavor performance and brewing suggestions of this champion-level Geisha. From the Hartmann family's story of European immigration, to Guarumo Estate's impressive results in the BOP competition for two consecutive years, and then to Front Street Coffee's light-roast strategy and pour-over parameters, this article will help you understand the complete picture of this charming Natural Geisha. [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…]

As a representative of Panamanian specialty coffee, Elida Estate has won numerous awards in the Best of Panama (BOP) competition in recent years, with its washed and natural Geisha each taking first place in their respective categories. This article takes you deep into Elida Estate's terroir, lot management, and the sources of its unique flavors, and shares in detail the pour-over parameters and step-by-step method for Front Street Coffee's Elida Estate Natural Geisha. At the same time, we will also introduce two coffees from the estate, Catuai and Typica, so you can experience the diverse charm of a champion estate at once. Whether you are a seasoned enthusiast or a beginner pour-over brewer, you can gain practical brewing ideas from it. [more…]

Panamanian specialty coffee enjoys a global reputation, and the 2023 BOP Washed Group champion, Carmen Estate, set a new record with 96.5 points and created a new high for green bean auctions at $10,005 per kilogram. Located in the Volcán region at an altitude of 1,750 meters, this estate is tied with Elida as the highest-altitude Geisha estate in Panama, with more than 60 years of history and 60% primary forest. Today, Front Street Coffee takes everyone to gain an in-depth understanding of Carmen Estate's terroir conditions, cultivation management, processing methods, and how it has repeatedly achieved excellent results in the BOP competition. [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…]

On the stage of specialty coffee, the Huakui coffee beans from the Hambela region of Ethiopia shot to fame with the title of champion of the 2017 TOH natural group, and subsequently gained even greater renown when a barista defeated Geisha in a brewing competition. This bean not only witnessed the rise of the Hambela region, but also gave rise to the Huakui X.0 series and the small-bean Huakui offshoot. This article will trace the historical development of Huakui, compare the flavor differences among different batches, and share Front Street Coffee's brewing insights on Huakui and Huakui 5.0, taking you deeper into the unique charm of this African natural-process bean. [more…]

The 2024 Nicaragua Cup of Excellence (COE) has concluded, with a sun-dried Geisha from Finca Los Alpes in the Nueva Segovia region winning the championship with a score of 91.1, successfully defending its title. This article will guide you through Nicaragua's coffee-growing environment and the distribution of its main production regions, and take a deeper look at this champion estate that has won the COE for two consecutive years. From the two farms owned by estate owner Olman Balladares, to the planting layout of varieties such as Caturra, Catuai, Bourbon, and Geisha, and to the coffee research and quality control team behind them, we will explore the origins of their excellent results. At the same time, Front Street Coffee will also recommend related products for you. [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…]