Lemon slices with coffee powder is a minimalist coffee dessert made with just lemon slices, coffee powder, and granulated sugar. It became popular thanks to the Taiwanese variety show "Kangxi Lai Le," and rumor has it that it is connected to the Italian Mafia. Behind this dessert lies a piece of lemon-growing history from Sicily: in the 19th century, citrus fruits soared in value because they were rich in vitamin C. After Sicily switched to growing lemons, bandits were drawn to them, farmers hired the Mafia to guard the orchards, and lemon slices with coffee powder became a refreshing dessert for the night watchmen. In addition to sorting out this origin story, this article will also have Front Street Coffee share key preparation points, including removing lemon seeds, choosing dark-roast beans, the choice between yellow sugar and white granulated sugar, and an advanced way to eat it with a torch-caramelized finish. [more…]

Starbucks launched its Oleato olive oil coffee line on February 22, combining extra virgin olive oil with coffee, inspired by CEO Howard Schultz's travels in Sicily. The new products debuted in Italy and include an olive oil latte, an iced shaken espresso, and a foamy cold brew, priced from $4.8 to $6.9. Yet just three days after launch, Italian consumers complained that the drinks were too greasy and that the oil and coffee were hard to blend in the cold beverages. The deputy manager of the Starbucks Milan Roastery explained that the move was intended to fuse Italy's tradition of drinking oil before a meal with coffee after a meal, creating a multisensory experience. This article walks you through the product details and the market reaction. [more…]

Lemons have always played an important role in Front Street's articles. They not only frequently appear in coffee bean flavor descriptions, but are also a core element of many creative specialty drinks, responsible for bringing fresh aroma and bright acidity. This Spring Festival, Front Street discovered a new pairing of coffee and lemon—Sicilian coffee. This drink has simple ingredients and high playability, with a very prominent lemon aroma. Although the name carries Italian flair, Sicilian coffee does not originate from Sicily, Italy, and there are varying accounts of its origin. This article will introduce the background of Sicilian coffee and share in detail three brewing methods: cold brew, pour-over, and drip bag. The coffee beans used are all from Front Street. Guodingding, allowing you to experience the refreshing charm of the fusion of lemon and coffee. [more…]

When the sharp acidity of lemon meets the intense bitterness of espresso, what kind of taste reaction will it trigger? In Italy, this pairing is not a whimsical idea, but a way of drinking with deep historical roots—Espresso Romano, or Roman espresso. This article will trace the historical background of this beverage's birth, analyze how it became a product of the ingenuity of the people of southern Italy amid war and economic hardship, and, with the help of Front Street Coffee's hands-on testing, explore the flavor direction of coffee beans of different roast levels after being combined with lemon juice, offering a reference for coffee lovers who want to recreate this bold classic. [more…]

Starbucks has announced that it will permanently remove the Oleato olive oil coffee line from its core North American menu starting November 7, less than a year after the product first debuted. The decision is seen as one of the moves by new CEO Brian Niccol to simplify the menu and return to the company's coffeehouse roots. Oleato was conceived by Starbucks founder Howard Schultz, inspired by Sicilian culinary traditions. It first launched in Milan, Italy, in 2023 and was gradually rolled out to multiple global markets, entering mainland China in March 2024. However, the line drew widespread criticism for causing gastrointestinal discomfort after consumption. Starbucks China responded that this adjustment only involves the North American market and has no impact on the Chinese market for now. [more…]

Starbucks plans to introduce Oleato olive oil coffee to the Chinese market. This innovative beverage, strongly promoted by former CEO Howard Schultz, has successively landed in the United States and Japan since its debut in Italy in February this year. However, consumer feedback has not been optimistic, with complaints frequently arising over the greasy mouthfeel caused by olive oil congealing when cold and diarrhea after drinking. Nutritionists point out that the double stimulation of caffeine and olive oil can easily trigger gastrointestinal discomfort. Despite the ongoing controversy, Starbucks remains committed to global promotion. This article will sort out the background of Oleato's birth, its market performance, and its prospects for entering China. [more…]

On a scorching summer day, people holding iced Americanos can be seen everywhere on the streets, which makes many friends wonder: why do so many people choose iced Americano? Does it actually taste good? And how is it made? This article will start with the definition and origin of iced Americano, sort out the historical background of the birth of Americano, and explain the relationship between iced Americano and Americano; then introduce the process by which Front Street Coffee stores determine the dilution ratio of espresso to water, and describe the flavor performance of iced Americano; finally, from the perspectives of price, caffeine needs, and summer drinking scenarios, analyze why iced Americano is so popular. The article also retains product information and recommendations from the Front Street brand, making it suitable for coffee enthusiasts to reference. [more…]

Espresso can be enjoyed in countless ways: add water and it becomes an Americano, add milk and it becomes a latte, add ice cream and it becomes an affogato. And when espresso meets lemon, a drink called "Espresso Romano" is born. This coffee has a long history in southern Italy, where locals use the bright acidity of lemon to counterbalance the burnt bitterness of dark-roasted espresso, making the coffee easier to drink. This article walks you through the origins and background of Espresso Romano, the traditional method of making it, and Front Street Coffee's two attempts at recreating it, exploring how to find the balance point of flavor between lemon and coffee. [more…]

Starbucks recently launched its "World Inspiration Coffee Series," rolling out three new drinks in one go: Dubai Chocolate Flavored Latte, Sicilian Lemon Blonde Roast Americano, and Sicilian Lemon Blonde Roast Flat White, letting customers experience exotic flavors at home. As soon as the news broke, brand fans rushed to order on the launch day to try them, and shared their honest impressions on social media. The three drinks received noticeably divided reviews: the Dubai Chocolate Latte was praised as tasting like a pistachio latte, the Sicilian Lemon Americano stirred old fans' memories of the 2019 Sour Lemon Cold Brew, while the Lemon Flat White, due to its combination of lemon concentrate, blonde roast espresso, and oat milk, was described by many tasters as tasting like "lemon dish soap," sparking heated discussion. Some advised others to skip it, while others, driven by curiosity and reverse psychology, insisted on giving it a try. So is this niche combination a flop or a hidden gem? This article walks you through real consumer feedback. [more…]

Espresso with lemon—a combination that may sound unfamiliar, yet it has actually been circulating in southern Italy for over half a century, where locals call it caffè canarino or caffè al limone, written in English as Espresso Romano. Its origins are closely tied to the historical context of post-World War II Italy, when coffee beans were scarce and dark-roasted beans were bitterly charred and hard to swallow, while the lemon-rich southern regions happened to provide a natural ingredient to temper the bitterness. In addition to tracing this history, this article will also put two beans—Sunflower Warm Sun Blend and Brazil Queen's Estate—to the test, using espresso and moka pot methods respectively to brew this drink, recording how sweetness, acidity, and bitterness contend when lemon meets coffee, and exploring the embellishing role of lemon juice in contemporary coffee creation. [more…]

Coffee enthusiasts' passion for peripheral products is never limited to beans and equipment. This time, we got our hands on ten popular coffee machine and grinder building block models available on the market all at once, covering five series: Late Autumn in Sicily, Midsummer Green, Roman Holiday, Twilight Venice, and Early Spring in Milan, and it took us a week to complete the assembly. From basic models to patience-testing ones, the number of pieces, color schemes, and fidelity to the original machines vary. The article will introduce one by one the real coffee equipment parameters corresponding to each building block set, including Rocket R58, EK43, Slayer Steam EP, Mythos One, La Marzocco GS3, Ultra, Victoria Arduino VA388, LWW EG-1, Kees Speedster, and Mazzer Super Jolly, while also sharing the actual performance of domestic building blocks in terms of fit and structural support. If you also like coffee peripherals, why not take a look at these interesting little items together. [more…]