Whenever people mention black coffee, they always think of Americano first, and many friends assume that black coffee is just Americano. In fact, black coffee refers to any coffee without sugar or milk added, and Americano is just one type within that category. Whether an Americano tastes good and how its flavor performs depends on how it is made. [more…]

Whether an SOE americano is acidic or not cannot be judged simply by the word "single origin" on the menu. SOE refers to espresso made from single-origin or single-batch coffee beans, and its flavor amplifies the regional characteristics of the beans. When the roast is on the lighter side, citrus, berry, and floral notes are more likely to come through in the cup; as the roast gets darker, the acidity recedes, and caramel, [more…]

SOE americano is not a fixed flavor—whether it tastes "sour" depends first on how dark the coffee beans are roasted. Light roasts preserve more of the origin's natural fruit acidity and floral notes, medium roasts pull sweetness, body, and acidity into a more balanced position, and dark roasts move toward cacao, nuts, and caramel. If you want something smooth and easy to drink, start with the roast level. [more…]

When it comes to the acidity of SOE Americano, first consider how you plan to drink it every day. For everyday bean purchases, you need to think about how quickly you'll go through them, how much to buy at a time, and whether you mainly make black coffee or milk coffee at home. If you mostly drink black coffee, you can pay more attention to aroma and aftertaste; if you often add milk, you need to consider whether the strength and body can hold up. [more…]

As the specialty coffee scene in China grows ever more vibrant, high-quality single-origin beans from producing regions around the world are frequently appearing on the menus of many cafés. Not only does each coffee come with detailed traceability information, but many single-origin lots also leave a lasting impression with their distinctive aromas. For example, the bean list at Front Street Coffee shops includes an entire section [more…]

Americano is made by diluting espresso with water, typically using dark-roasted Italian-style coffee beans. Front Street's Americano beans are a blend of single-origin beans from two different regions, which has the advantage of compensating for the low acidity of traditional Italian-style coffee and making the flavor richer. Many people ask about Americano beans. [more…]

When customers who don't usually drink coffee walk into Front Street's offline stores, they often ask Front Street's baristas a question: "What kind of coffee is espresso? What is its relationship with Americano, and what's the difference between them?" This is a good question. At Front Street, there are only two small blackboards serving as menus, one for pour-over coffee and the other [more…]

For more specialty coffee knowledge, please follow: Front Street Coffee (Frontsteet Coffee). Americano is made by diluting espresso with water, typically using dark-roasted Italian-style coffee beans. The Americano beans used by Front Street are a blend of single-origin beans from two different regions. This [more…]

Many people are startled by the bitterness of their first espresso, wondering how such a small cup can be so bitter. In fact, bitterness is not all that espresso has to offer—behind it lies a rich aroma and a full-bodied mouthfeel. Starting from the characteristics of espresso, this article explores why it is bitter, where that bitterness comes from, and how SOE (Single Origin Espresso) is changing the stereotype that espresso is nothing but bitter. It will also explain the relationship between Americano and the espresso-based coffee system, helping coffee lovers gain a more comprehensive understanding of the differences between these two common coffees and their respective charms. [more…]

For more specialty coffee knowledge, please follow: Front Street Coffee (Frontsteet Coffee). The coffee industry is constantly evolving—whether in terms of brewing methods or coffee varieties—and only through continuous innovation and progress can it keep refreshing its presence and avoid [more…]

Americano may have already become the mainstream choice in coffee shops. Especially in summer, a glass of iced Americano is definitely a refreshing treat. Coffee has become a daily habit for many people—sometimes it's about enjoying the slow moments of life, and sometimes it's about adding a boost of mental energy to a疲惫 life of day-night reversal. No [more…]

Americano may have already become the mainstream choice in coffee shops, especially in summer—nothing beats the refreshing feeling of an iced Americano. Coffee has become a daily habit for many people; sometimes it's about savoring the slow moments of life, and other times it's to add a boost of mental energy to a weary life of day-night reversal. No [more…]

As a frequent coffee drinker, you've surely heard of "Americano." If you order one at Starbucks, it's typically made with espresso as the base, plus about 6–8 times the amount of water. But I've clearly heard that Italians don't drink Americano (which is absolutely true)—so why would it appear on an Italian coffee menu? [more…]

From the day coffee beans finish roasting, the internal gases, aromatic compounds, and extraction state are constantly changing. When made into an SOE Americano, these changes are stretched out by the hot water: drink it too early, and the acidity may seem jumpy while the aroma has yet to unfold; once it enters the right stage, the transition between acidity and sweetness becomes smoother, and the fruit notes are more complete. Therefore, judging [more…]

Americano is one of the best-selling categories in coffee shops—quick to make, affordably priced, and able to perk up tired office workers. What flavors and mouthfeel does it actually have? Is hot Americano really that bitter? What effects and benefits does drinking Americano have? From the perspective of Front Street, this article first sorts out the historical origins and basic definition of Americano, then explains its brewing methods and the sources of its taste and mouthfeel, with a focus on analyzing how blended beans and SOE single-origin beans affect flavor. After that, for those who want to try it at home, Front Street uses its own bean list as an example to recommend a variety of blended and single-origin coffee beans suitable for making Americano, and offers practical advice on fresh roasting and extraction to help you find the cup that suits your taste. [more…]

Unlike the uniformly bitter coffee of the past, today's coffee offers a diverse range of flavors—sour, sweet, bitter, and strong are all there—and different brewing methods come with different names. Generally speaking, pour-over coffee uses single-origin beans, because this allows you to taste a unique flavor; for espresso, traditionally [more…]

Coffee beans from Front Street Ethiopia Yirgacheffe have a very fresh flavor, especially under light roasting, showing a bright citrus-like acidity, subtle floral notes, honey-like sweetness, and a green tea-like lingering finish. And if it is used for SOE (single origin espresso), Front Street Yirgacheffe usually uses medium [more…]

SOE usually refers to espresso made from coffee beans of a single origin or a single batch. It doesn't belong to just one type of drink; what truly affects its performance is whether the beans are roasted light or dark: the lighter the roast, the more readily the aromas unfold toward floral, fruity notes and bright acidity; as the roast deepens, sweetness, body, and cocoa notes gradually take over. [more…]

Nowadays, when you go to a specialty coffee shop, you can always see espresso drinks made with SOE (Single Origin Espresso) on the recommended menu. Is espresso made from single-origin coffee beans necessarily better tasting than espresso made from a blend? Which single-origin coffee beans are suitable for making espresso? In this article, Front Street will answer these questions one by one. [more…]

When you go to a café and want to order an Americano or a milk coffee, you often face two options: one is the default espresso blend, and the other is the SOE that costs extra. At this point, some people might wonder, why is this "SOE" more expensive than the blend? What exactly makes it more expensive? What is SOE coffee? SO [more…]