Strawberry-flavored coffee has attracted much attention in recent years, and Strawberry 2.0 from Finca El Paraiso in Colombia's Cauca region is one of the most talked-about examples. This bean uses a double anaerobic washed process, is of the Castillo variety, and is grown at an excellent elevation of 2,050 meters, bringing aromas of strawberry yogurt, strawberry-juice-like acidity, and a long honey-like finish. In response to the higher moisture content of beans from the new harvest season, Front Street Coffee's roaster adopted a medium-light roast to highlight their floral and fruity character, and provided detailed V60 pour-over parameters and a three-stage pouring method. This article will comprehensively analyze the terroir of the Cauca region, the background of Finca El Paraiso, the principles of double anaerobic fermentation, and Front Street Coffee's cupping and brewing recommendations, taking you deeper into the unique charm of this Strawberry 2.0. [more…]

The Huakui series has always been a highly anticipated Ethiopian natural bean in the specialty coffee world. From 2.0 to 3.0, what changes have batch iterations brought? This article will provide a comprehensive interpretation of the origin story and flavor performance of Huakui 3.0 from perspectives including producing region background, processing station information, green bean analysis, and processing techniques. Front Street Coffee, through actual cupping and brewing tests, recorded the flavor evolution of this bean from high temperature to low temperature—strawberry jam, tropical fruits, and intense floral aromas interwoven, lively acidity, and a lasting aftertaste. Whether you are a beginner just getting to know Huakui or a veteran who continuously tracks batch differences, you can obtain complete origin and tasting references from this. [more…]

Huakui coffee is an Ethiopian specialty bean that has attracted much attention in recent years, winning the favor of many enthusiasts with its signature strawberry-and-cream flavor. However, many coffee lovers have noticed that Huakui seems to taste different from year to year. What exactly are the reasons behind this? Starting from Front Street Coffee's cupping experience, this article sorts through the sun-dried processing characteristics of the Sidamo producing region, compares the cupping flavor performance of Huakui G1, 2.0, 3.0, 3.1, and 4.0 batches, and shares in detail the brewing parameters and flavor presentation of different devices such as the V60, cake cup, and trapezoidal dripper, helping readers gain a more comprehensive understanding of this coffee's story and charm. [more…]

Huakui, a name well-known in specialty coffee circles, originates from a sun-dried lot from Hambela in Ethiopia's Guji region. In 2017, it made a stunning debut as the TOH champion, and has since been iterated year by year, progressing from Huakui 2.0 all the way to today's 6.0. This article will walk you through Huakui's complete origin background, award history, processing methods, green bean characteristics, roasting curves, and brewing parameters, while preserving Front Street Coffee's experience shared from actual cupping and service. Whether you are a beginner just getting to know African beans or a seasoned enthusiast passionate about sun-dried flavors, you will gain a systematic understanding and practical reference about this bean. [more…]

The 2021 new-crop Huakui 5.0 coffee beans arrived at port as scheduled, and Front Street Coffee completed roasting and cupping at the first opportunity, then compared them in brewing with the much-loved Small-Bean Huakui. This article provides a detailed analysis of the flavor differences between the two beans, pour-over parameters, traces the origin of the name Huakui and the natural processing method, reviews the flavor evolution of Huakui versions 2.0 through 5.0, and includes the complete roasting records of Front Street’s five Sidamo Huakui lots. Whether you want to understand the past and present of Huakui or are looking for a reliable brewing plan, this article offers thorough and practical reference. [more…]

Since its introduction in 2017, Geisha coffee has quickly gained popularity with its bright strawberry and cream aroma, becoming a highly sought-after Ethiopian bean variety in coffee shops. From the original TOH champion batch to the current 8.0 version, many enthusiasts have noticed that the flavor of Geisha seems to change every year. This article will take you back to the origin of Geisha, Guji Hambela, to learn about the sun-drying process at the Buku Abel processing station, review the flavors and roasting curves of each version of Geisha that Front Street Coffee has sourced over the years, and analyze the causes of Geisha's aroma and the sources of its year-to-year differences. It will also share Front Street's V60 brewing parameters and techniques to help you better appreciate this classic coffee interwoven with passion fruit and berry notes. [more…]

In the specialty coffee world, Huakui has captured countless palates with its signature creamy strawberry aroma, yet behind its name lies a legendary story stretching from the TOH competition stage to Chinese coffee events. Many people wonder whether Huakui and Geisha are the same variety, but in fact the two are completely different in terms of variety, origin, and naming logic. In this article, Front Street Coffee will provide a complete overview of the origin of the name Huakui, the terroir conditions of the Sidamo Guji Hambela region, the natural processing method at the Buku Abel processing station, and the flavor evolution from Huakui 2.0 to Little Bean Huakui, guiding you through a comprehensive understanding of the unique charm of this Ethiopian natural-processed bean. [more…]

Since its debut in 2017, Huakui coffee beans have quickly gained popularity with their signature strawberry-cream flavor. This famous bean from Hambela in the Guji region of Ethiopia has now been iterated to version 8.0, but many enthusiasts report that Huakui's flavor in recent years seems not as good as before. This article will comprehensively sort out the origin of Huakui's name, the terroir of its producing region, and the sun-dried processing technique, and introduce one by one the various versions of Huakui that Front Street Coffee has acquired over the years, from G1 to 4.0, with roasting curves and brewing parameters, to take you through a comprehensive understanding of this coffee bean's past and present. [more…]

Huakui coffee beans are a gem from Hambela in the Guji region of Ethiopia. With a stunning strawberry-cream flavor, they won the 2017 TOH competition and were subsequently named "Huakui" by a domestic green bean merchant. These beans come from the Buku Abel processing station and use the natural processing method. Fully red cherries with a sugar content above 30 are dried on African raised beds, creating a sweeter taste than other Sidamo producing areas. From 1.0 to 6.0, the Huakui series is updated every year, and the flavor has gradually evolved from intense strawberry to a full-bodied profile of citrus berries and mango juice. Front Street Coffee has long tracked each version of Huakui. This article will comprehensively sort out the origins and development of these beans for coffee lovers, from producing-area background, processing techniques, and variety characteristics to version distinctions, brewing suggestions, and flavor descriptions. [more…]

Huakui coffee beans have been one of the most talked-about Ethiopian specialty coffees in recent years, and their name comes from winning the 2017 TOH green bean competition. These beans are produced at the Buku Abel processing station in Guji Hambela, and they have won the favor of coffee lovers worldwide with their natural G1 grade and rich floral and fruity notes. As market demand has grown, DW has successively added processing stations, and Huakui has also spawned different annual batches such as 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, and 5.0, each with distinct flavor differences. Front Street Coffee has long tracked and cupped each batch of Huakui, and this article will provide a complete presentation of the flavor evolution and tasting points of these beans, from the naming story, origin tracing, and processing techniques to roasting curves and brewing parameters, offering coffee lovers a detailed reference. [more…]

As the birthplace of coffee, Ethiopia has a regional division far more complex than one might imagine. Huakui coffee beans have captured the hearts of many enthusiasts with their rich tropical fruit sweetness and delicate floral aroma, but their origin label has shifted from Sidama to Guji, and the two are even used interchangeably—behind this lies the story of Ethiopia's coffee region transformation. From the perspective of Front Street, this article sorts out the connections between Sidama, Guji, and Yirgacheffe, reviews the evolution of Huakui from its 2017 TOH championship to version 8.0, and provides a detailed explanation of the natural process at the Buku Abel processing station, a flavor comparison of each generation of Huakui, and Front Street's roasting and brewing recommendations. [more…]

The name Hua Kui coffee beans and Geisha coffee beans both originate from the Japanese term for performers of song and dance. What exactly is the connection between the two? In 2017, a natural process lot from the Buku Abel washing station in Ethiopia won the TOH green bean competition with its intense strawberry and creamy aroma. After being introduced to China, it was given the name "Hua Kui" due to its outstanding flavor. Since then, the Hua Kui series has evolved from 2.0 all the way to 6.0 and even 8.0, with its origin locked to the Hambela region and continuously introduced by the Hongshun green bean merchant. This article will sort out the naming origins of Hua Kui coffee, its entanglement with Geisha, the variety and flavor differences across each generation, and share Front Street Coffee's roasting and brewing insights. [more…]

The 2021 new-crop Huakui 5.0 coffee beans have arrived at the port. Front Street Coffee immediately carried out roasting and cupping, and specifically conducted a comparison with its own beloved small-bean Huakui coffee beans. This article will guide you through the evolution of the Huakui series from the 2017 TOH champion beans to Huakui 5.0, and explain why small-bean Huakui stands independently outside the X.0 series. Then, through a visual comparison of green beans and roasted beans, differences in cupping flavors, and performance under a unified pour-over recipe, it will present in detail the characteristics of the two beans: small-bean Huakui is closer to the rich strawberry-cream profile of the classic 2017 Huakui, while Huakui 5.0 shows brighter berry acidity and floral notes. Whether you are a Huakui enthusiast or are currently selecting new-crop beans, this review can provide practical reference. [more…]

From its breakthrough rise to fame in 2017, Huakui coffee beans have now gone through eight harvest seasons, and the latest 2024 batch, Huakui 8.0, has arrived as expected. This article provides a complete overview of Huakui's origin story, the terroir of the Guji region, the sun-drying process at the Buku Abel processing station, and the flavor evolution track of each vintage from Huakui 1.0 to 8.0. It also includes Front Street Coffee's V60 brewing parameters and practical recommendations to help coffee enthusiasts fully understand the past and present of this Ethiopian star bean and the best way to present it. [more…]

Ethiopia, as the birthplace of Arabica coffee, possesses the world's richest coffee gene pool. Among its regions, the Guji zone has risen to international prominence through its Hualkui coffee beans, becoming a focal point for coffee enthusiasts. This article will guide you through the diversity of Ethiopian coffee varieties, the independent journey of the Guji zone, and the evolution story of Hualkui coffee from its championship win in 2017 to its current 7.0 version. At the same time, we will share our brewing experience with the Hualkui 7.0 beans we sourced at Front Street, savoring its distinctive citrus, apricot, and passion fruit flavors. Whether you are a coffee novice or a seasoned enthusiast, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of Hualkui coffee. [more…]

The 2022 new-crop Huakui coffee beans have arrived at port and have been named Huakui 6.0 to distinguish them from previous crop versions. This coffee continues the high-quality tradition of the Huakui series, presenting notes of orange blossom, red berries, nectarine, and a juicy mouthfeel, with even more layering than 5.0. Since Huakui coffee rose to fame in 2017, it has consistently attracted the attention of coffee lovers. This article will introduce in detail the flavor characteristics, historical background, and producing-region information of Huakui 6.0, and recommend Front Street Coffee as a channel for tasting and purchasing. Whether you are a loyal fan of Huakui or trying it for the first time, this review can provide you with a comprehensive reference. [more…]

In the specialty coffee world, Geisha and Huakui are two beans you can't avoid. Huakui rose to fame after winning the 2017 TOH sun-dried category championship, and its legendary feat of defeating Geisha in the China region of the World Brewers Cup. Since then, Huakui has been updated year by year with its X.0 series, from 2.0 to 5.0, with flavors and batches constantly changing. In 2022, the Huakui 6.0 green beans arrived as scheduled; Front Street Coffee pre-ordered immediately and received the Hongshun batch, only to find the beans had noticeably more defects. To ensure quality, Front Street Coffee separately sourced another batch of Huakui from the same processing station (buku) and conducted a cupping comparison. This article will detail the flavor characteristics of Huakui 6.0, its differences from 5.0, and the price and purchasing advice for the new-season Hambela Huakui, providing a reference for coffee enthusiasts. [more…]

Since winning the championship in 2017, Huakui coffee has captured the hearts of many coffee lovers with its strawberry and cream-like aroma. From its first generation to version 4.0, this natural-process bean from the Guji Hambela region of Ethiopia has undergone variety changes and production-area expansion, and its flavor has changed accordingly. This article will systematically sort out the origin story of Huakui, methods for identifying the real from the fake, the characteristics of the Dega variety, and Front Street Coffee's roasting and brewing practices, taking you through a comprehensive understanding of exactly how Huakui 4.0 differs from previous generations, and how to brew a cup of richly layered Hambela natural coffee at home. [more…]

Since its introduction in 2017, Geisha coffee beans have remained popular, but many people are still unclear about the origin of its name and its producing region background. Starting from the terroir conditions of Ethiopia's Sidamo and Guji regions, this article sorts out the administrative affiliation and geographical characteristics of the Hambela sub-region, explains how the champion batch of the 2017 TOH green bean competition came to be named Geisha, and clarifies that only the natural-process batch from the Buku Abel processing station deserves this title. It also compiles the roasting parameters, cupping flavors, and brewing suggestions for Front Street Coffee Geisha 8.0, and reviews the flavor differences among Geisha versions over the years and the reasons behind them. [more…]

Huakui coffee beans are a highly sought-after Ethiopian specialty bean in recent years, famed for their rich strawberry-and-cream aroma. They come from a natural-process lot of the Buku Abel washing station in the Guji region and once won the TOH green bean competition championship. This article will sort out the origin of the name Huakui, the terroir of its producing region, the natural processing workflow, and the cup profile differences across vintages, and share Front Street Coffee's roasting parameters along with hot pour-over and iced pour-over extraction recipes to help you brew a cup of Huakui coffee full of juicy fruitiness. [more…]