Front Street Coffee recently launched a highly anticipated coffee bean—the 2020 TOH Washed Group Champion, produced in Ethiopia's Uraga region. This bean impresses with its fresh flavors of citrus and green tea. Geographically, the Uraga region is close to Yirgacheffe and was often sold under the name Yirgacheffe in the past, until the ECX issued Announcement No. 1051 in 2017, after which it was able to be traded independently and gradually emerged. This article will introduce the region's background, the meaning of the TOH competition, the processing details of the champion lot, and the cupping flavors, as well as provide a horizontal comparison with the Yirgacheffe Gedeb Cooperative, giving you a comprehensive understanding of the unique charm of this champion coffee. [more…]

Many friends of Front Street Coffee beans like Front Street TOH coffee beans, but many are not clear about what TOH means. Starting from the TOH competition, this article provides a detailed introduction to the 2020 TOH washed category champion—this bean from Uraga in the Guji region of Ethiopia—covering its regional background, the washed process at the Sela Gajaba processing station, the curve design by Front Street roasters, and a brewing recipe that highlights jasmine, pomelo, and green tea flavors. Whether you want to understand what TOH actually is or master the key brewing points for this champion bean, you can find the answers below. [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…]

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…]

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…]

In 2019, the washed category crown at the Ethiopia TOH green bean competition went to a bean named "Hero" from the Uraga processing plant in the Guji region. It has a fascinating flavor profile weaving together jasmine, bergamot, lemon, apricot, and honey. Coffee Review gave it 88 points, it grows at an altitude of up to 2,150 meters, and it is washed processed and medium roasted. This article will guide you through the origin background of this champion bean, the uniqueness of Ethiopia's native Heirloom variety, and the significance of the TOH competition, and it also includes the pour-over parameters recommended by Front Street Coffee—90°C water temperature, a 1:15 coffee-to-water ratio, and extraction completed within two minutes—so you can recreate this bright floral aroma of the African highlands at home. [more…]

This coffee bean from Uraga in Ethiopia's Guji region took first place with 89.8 points in the washed group at the 2020 Taste of Harvest (TOH) competition in East Africa. Front Street Coffee has specially put together for coffee lovers an overview of this champion bean's growing region background, processing method, roasting approach, and brewing plan. Uraga town sits at an altitude of 2,300 meters and has fertile black soil along with a rich genetic potential for fruit flavors. After meticulous washing at the Sela Gajaba processing station, it displays the traditional Ethiopian floral aroma, citrus, and tea-like notes, while cleanliness is greatly improved. To preserve its clear mouthfeel, Front Street Coffee's roaster focused on amplifying the white floral and fruit notes, and developed targeted pour-over parameters to highlight the core flavors of jasmine, pomelo, honey, and green tea. [more…]

TOH stands for the Taste of Harvest competition, a green coffee cupping event initiated by the African Fine Coffees Association, and is ranked alongside Brazil's Cup of Excellence. In 2020, this washed bean from the Uraga sub-region of Ethiopia's Guji producing area won the washed group championship with a score of 89.8. It was carefully washed at the Sela Gajaba processing station at an altitude of up to 2,300 meters, displaying rich layers of jasmine, lemon, berry, pomelo, honey, and green tea. The roaster at Front Street Coffee used a Yangjia 800N roasting machine, adjusting the dehydration phase and first crack time to preserve its clean mouthfeel and white floral and fruity notes. For brewing, a coarser grind, 91°C water temperature, and a three-stage pour are used to highlight the floral and citrus juice character. This article will provide a complete analysis of this champion bean's origin background, processing method, roasting curve, and brewing parameters. [more…]

The results of the 2017 Taste of Harvest (TOH) East Africa competition's Kenya division have been announced. Fram Farm from the Kirinyaga production area took first place with a score of 85.3. This AA-grade auction lot was secured by Qingdao Fisher Coffee, making it another African TOH champion bean following Ethiopia's Gesha and Uganda's entries. Fram is a family-run private farm with its own washing station, and its main varieties are SL28 and SL34. This article will explore multiple angles including the farm's background, the development history of Kenyan coffee, the grading system, and the K72 washing process, along with Front Street Coffee's brewing recommendations and a flavor description of Kenyan small tomato beans, taking you through the full story behind this champion bean. [more…]

The Hero Washed coffee beans from Hambela in the Guji region of Ethiopia won second place nationally in the 2016/17 Ethiopian TOH competition and first place in the washed group. They are known for red grapefruit, tropical fruit, cherry, apricot, and a highly sweet, juicy mouthfeel. This article will introduce you to the origin background, competition journey, and flavor characteristics of this champion bean, and share a practical set of V60 pour-over parameters and staged pouring techniques to help coffee lovers recreate its bright, sweet flavor performance at home. At the same time, Front Street Coffee also takes this opportunity to exchange more coffee knowledge with everyone, so that more people can easily drink good coffee. [more…]

As the birthplace of coffee, Ethiopia is home to a wealth of native varieties and regions each with their own distinct character. Sidamo and Yirgacheffe are two of the most talked-about names among them. The former is known for its diverse flavors and rich fruity notes, while the latter is famous for its signature citrus acidity and jasmine aroma. Drawing on Front Street Coffee's actual cupping and brewing, this article sorts out the differences between the two regions in terms of varieties, processing methods, and flavor presentation, and shares the specific performance of Front Street's Uraga TOH champion bean along with products such as Gudingding and Red Cherry, helping coffee lovers understand the stylistic boundaries of these two major regions more clearly. [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…]

This washed Ethiopian Hero coffee bean brought to you by Front Street Coffee once won the 2019 TOH Washed Group championship, making it a premium bean with exceptional aroma, balance, and body. It displays refined, delicate flavor layers, a solid and well-balanced mouthfeel, and bright, uplifting acidity, with a cost-performance ratio comparable to Hambela. This article will detail the bean's origin background, TOH competition knowledge, and the floral-fruity aroma and juicy mouthfeel brought by washed processing, giving you a comprehensive understanding of the unique charm of heirloom varieties at 2,150 meters above sea level in the Sidamo Guji producing region. [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…]

Kenya, as a neighbor of Ethiopia, has a coffee-growing history that dates back to 1893, and was later promoted by the British for large-scale cultivation in the highland areas at altitudes of 1,400 to 2,100 meters. The volcanic ash soil rich in organic matter, annual maximum temperatures of 22 to 26°C and minimum temperatures of 10 to 14°C, along with suitable rainfall, together create ideal growing conditions for high-quality Arabica coffee beans. Thanks to its natural endowments and the joint efforts of coffee farmers and the government, Kenya became one of the world's major coffee countries within just a century. Its coffee is deeply favored by coffee lovers for its rich fruity aroma, strong red wine notes, and abundant, lingering aftertaste. This article will systematically introduce the cupping situation of Kenyan coffee-producing regions, and attach detailed information on Front Street's 2017 TOH Best Kenya green beans, as well as green bean information and flavor descriptions for the 2016 Brazil COE Natural Champion and the Guatemala COE 4th place Geisha Honey Process. [more…]

Stepping into a café and facing a bewildering array of single-origin coffees, drinkers often express their preferences in terms of bitterness and acidity. Front Street Coffee analyzes the origins of acidity and bitterness: genes and terroir lay the foundation (African beans are more acidic than Brazilian ones, and Colombian beans are more bitter than Kenyan ones), while roasting and brewing determine the final taste—light roasts highlight acidity, dark roasts emphasize bitterness. This article uses Front Street Coffee's bean lineup to take stock of the acidity-leaning camp: Ethiopian Yirgacheffe (lemon-citrus acidity with jasmine), the newly added COE #22 and TOH washed champion, Kenyan Asalia (cherry tomato and smoked plum acidity, 72-hour washed with a juicy mouthfeel), and Tanzanian Kilimanjaro (mineral-water sweetness with floral and fruity notes, the gentleman of coffees), with detailed coverage of roasting, cupping, and pour-over. Acidity-loving drinkers are advised to prioritize the above origins and choose beans according to taste. [more…]

Huakui coffee beans are an Ethiopian specialty bean that has attracted much attention in recent years. From winning the TOH competition to appearing on Luckin Coffee's menu, what story lies behind its name? What do the numbers after Huakui represent? From the perspective of Front Street Coffee, this article sorts out Huakui's producing region background and naming logic, compares the flavor differences among Huakui 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, 7.0, 8.0 and other versions, and answers whether Huakui can be used to make espresso as well as how to brew a good cup by pour-over, providing coffee lovers with a complete guide to Huakui knowledge. [more…]

Since its emergence in 2017, Huakui coffee beans have quickly become a popular choice in the specialty coffee scene, thanks to their intense juicy body and floral-fruity aroma. They come from Guji Hambela in the Sidama region of Ethiopia, and are known for their natural processing method and G1 grade. This article will walk you through Huakui's terroir, its TOH championship experience, its traditional natural processing technique, and the quality and flavor characteristics of Front Street Coffee's Huakui coffee beans—ideal reading for any coffee lover who enjoys naturally processed Sidama coffee. [more…]

Sidamo is not a single coffee, but a highly representative specialty coffee region in southern Ethiopia, known for its bright citrus acidity, smooth black-tea-like mouthfeel, and fuller tropical fruit notes than Yirgacheffe. This article will cover the region's history, changes in administrative divisions, the native heirloom system, and sun-dried processing methods, all the way to the most talked-about Huakui coffee—how it went from a TOH champion bean to the "leader of a hundred flowers" pursued by domestic consumers. At the same time, Front Street will also share the brewing parameters, flavor performance, and freshness recommendations for sun-dried Huakui, helping coffee lovers understand the origins and development of this Ethiopian coffee more systematically. [more…]

Ethiopia, as the birthplace of coffee, has nurtured many producing regions that captivate specialty coffee enthusiasts. Among them, Yirgacheffe is renowned for the floral and citrus-lemon notes brought about by its washed processing, while Sidamo showcases a rich berry-cream character through its natural process. This article will outline the flavor characteristics and processing methods of these two regions, and focus on introducing the origins of Huakui coffee, the evolution of its naming, and brewing suggestions. From its TOH championship in 2017 to the launch of Huakui 8.0, Front Street Coffee has continuously followed every batch of this bean, and the article also includes a flavor comparison between Xiaoli Huakui and Huakui 5.0, as well as practical V60 brewing parameters, making it suitable for coffee enthusiasts who want to gain a deeper understanding of the charm of Ethiopian coffee. [more…]