African coffee enjoys a stellar reputation in the global market, and Ethiopia, as the recognized birthplace of coffee, is not only Africa's largest Arabica producer but also boasts a long history of cultivation. The country is predominantly mountainous plateaus, and its high altitudes, abundant rainfall, and fertile soil provide an ideal environment for coffee. Sidamo is one of its most closely watched producing regions, and in recent years its sub-regions such as Arbegona's Rumudamo and Bensa's Hamasho have gradually come into the public eye. Rumudamo Company made its name in Ethiopia's first COE competition in 2020, and Hamasho Processing Station also performed impressively in the COE. Front Street Coffee has already purchased these two lots of beans and completed cupping: Rumudamo presents lime aroma with citrus and apple flavors, while Hamasho carries floral, berry, and grape juice notes. This article will introduce in detail the background, company information, and coffee flavors of these two sub-regions. [more…]

Ethiopia, recognized as the birthplace of coffee, boasts the world's richest coffee gene pool, with an estimated nearly 15,000 varieties. The Sidamo region, with its fertile volcanic soil and diverse terrain, has given rise to countless specialty coffees. In recent years, the high-altitude microclimate of the Bensa area has spawned well-known brands such as Arlo Village, Hamasho, and Elto. Among them, Elto Coffee, founded by a husband-and-wife team, is dedicated to pushing the flavors of Bensa to the extreme through rigorous selection and meticulous processing. This article will guide you through the evolution of the Sidamo region, the rise of Bensa, and the story and pursuit of quality behind Elto. Front Street Coffee will also recommend related products for you. [more…]

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…]

At the recently concluded United States Barista Championship, Morgan Eckroth from Portland, Oregon, took the crown. Unlike most competitors, she was already a coffee influencer with over 7 million followers before the competition, and she made her entire preparation and competition process public through vlogs and livestreams. Taking the home coffee community that emerged after the pandemic as her theme, she shared her recipes and approach in advance, advocating that coffee should be delicious, replicable, transformative, and easy to make at home. This article will walk you through her competition journey, bean selection strategy, and creative recipes, and use them to explore the bottlenecks facing the Barista Championship and the shift in coffee consumption patterns in the post-pandemic era. [more…]