Colombia is the world's second-largest coffee-producing country, and its coffee is renowned worldwide for its smooth, balanced flavor. However, this nation abundant in high-quality coffee was once mired for a long time in coca cultivation. From the agricultural economy of the colonial period to the shocks of the modern market, from the government's eradication of coca to guiding farmers to switch to coffee, Colombia has walked an extremely difficult road. This article will sort through this history, analyze the struggle between cocaine and coffee, and the multiple challenges facing the transformation of the coffee industry, such as cultivation training, transportation, and funding guarantees. [more…]

Coffee is often labeled as a healthy drink, but the sugar problem in ready-to-drink coffee cannot be ignored. According to the British Mirror, Costa, a brand owned by Coca-Cola, has been quietly increasing the sugar content in its pre-packaged coffee, with some products seeing a one-third rise in sugar compared to 2019. Experts point out that this move runs counter to the sugar reduction initiative promoted by the UK government. Meanwhile, countries such as Singapore have introduced measures to restrict advertising for high-sugar drinks, and Chinese consumers have also begun to pay attention to sugar and sugar substitute options in milk tea and coffee. The health risks behind a sweet drink deserve the attention of every coffee lover. [more…]

The bottled milk tea market is undergoing a health-oriented transformation. Uni-President Assam Milk Tea has launched its first sugar-free original flavor version, highlighting "true 0 sugar," meaning it contains no sucrose, sugar substitutes, or carbohydrates, and in particular explicitly avoids acesulfame potassium, sucralose, erythritol, and aspartame. The new product has the same 500ml capacity as the classic version and retails for about 3.6 yuan. Although its ingredients still include food additives, white granulated sugar and glucose syrup have been removed. Energy per 100 milliliters has dropped from 230 kilojoules in the classic version to 58 kilojoules, a significant reduction in sugar. In recent years, ready-to-drink tea and sparkling water have diverted some bottled milk tea consumption, while freshly made new-style tea drinks have also taken away younger customers. Uni-President's move is both a response to the sugar-reduction trend and a proactive innovation in the face of market competition. However, the technical difficulty of 0-sugar milk tea lies in balancing taste. Whether it can retain Assam's classic flavor after removing sugar will test the brand's research and development strength. [more…]

In recent years, the Peruvian coffee industry has been facing severe challenges. Due to persistently low coffee prices and slow organic bean certification processes, more and more coffee growers are choosing to abandon their farms and instead go to work in coca plantations to earn higher incomes. According to the National Coffee Federation, since last December, farmers have been pouring into drug-trafficking areas to engage in coca cultivation, where they can earn 70 to 120 Peruvian nuevos soles per day (about 21 to 36 US dollars). This trend has not only worsened poverty and unemployment but also led to an expansion of illegal crop cultivation. Although Peru and the United States spent years promoting alternative crop programs, cocaine production has still hit a 25-year high. This article will provide an in-depth analysis of the varieties and flavors of Peruvian coffee, its growing environment, and explore the difficulties facing its industry. [more…]

Bolivia is a landlocked country in South America. Although it possesses high-altitude growing environments and distinctive floral and fruity aromas, it has long ranked among the countries with the lowest coffee production in the world. Factors such as coca leaf cultivation policies, leaf rust infestations, and the suspension of the COE competition have collectively led to the decline of its coffee industry. This article reviews the historical trajectory, main producing regions, and cultivated varieties of Bolivian coffee, and focuses on introducing the Waliki Estate Cacao Natural Java beans selected by Front Street Coffee, providing a comprehensive reference for coffee enthusiasts from estate management, processing methods, to roasting and brewing parameters and flavor performance. [more…]

In the coffee landscape of South America, beyond Brazil and Colombia, Bolivia also produces coffee beans of outstanding quality. This landlocked country has a high-altitude growing environment, and its coffee has a rich and unique aroma, often with floral and fruity notes. However, over the past decade or so, Bolivia's coffee production has plummeted by 70%, reducing it to a minor coffee country. Factors such as coca leaf cultivation policies, the spread of leaf rust, and the cancellation of the COE competition have intertwined to make life difficult for local coffee farmers. Today, Front Street Coffee takes you into a deeper understanding of the historical context, main producing regions, cultivated varieties, and processing methods of Bolivian coffee, with a special focus on a cacao natural Java coffee bean from the Waliki Estate, presenting its complete flavor profile from the origin story to roasting and brewing parameters. [more…]

Bolivia is a landlocked country in central South America, with diverse climatic conditions and a long history of coffee cultivation. Although the country's coffee industry has fluctuated due to coca leaf cultivation and transportation difficulties, coffee from the Yungas region is known for its deep sweetness and berry flavors. This article will guide you through the distribution of Bolivia's coffee regions, varietal characteristics, development history, and the challenges it faces. Front Street Coffee will also recommend Bolivian coffees worth paying attention to. [more…]

Although Bolivia is hailed as an ideal place for growing coffee, its production has always been limited. The high altitude and diverse terrain give the coffee rich sweetness and soft acidity. It was with Bolivian Geisha that Miki Suzuki, runner-up in the 2017 WBC, won attention. However, steep roads, the temptation of coca cultivation, and the blow of leaf rust in 2013 have repeatedly brought twists and turns to the coffee industry of this landlocked South American country. From the glory of the COE competition to the export difficulties amid political turmoil, the revival of Bolivian specialty coffee cannot be separated from the perseverance of the Rodriguez family. They promote the Tomorrow's Sun project and have cultivated distinctive bean varieties such as Coco Natural Java. This article will introduce Bolivia's coffee-producing regions, historical context, and variety flavors, and Front Street Coffee also shares its cupping experience. [more…]

Although Bolivia is adjacent to Brazil and Colombia, it has long been regarded as a minor coffee country, with scarce production but outstanding flavor. The Bolivian Java beans introduced by Front Street Coffee are impressive for their complex profile of grape, nut, floral, and honey notes. This article will systematically review the full picture of Bolivian coffee, from growing conditions, historical changes, and regional characteristics to varieties and processing methods, and will focus on the origin background and processing details of Front Street's Cacao Natural Java beans, taking you deeper into how this highland nation, relying on its unique microclimate and the strength of family enterprises, has regained attention on the specialty coffee map. [more…]

Coca-Cola recently announced it will phase out its Spiced-flavored soda, which was launched with much fanfare just this February—a drink once positioned as a "permanent product" that lasted only seven months. Spiced blended traditional cola, raspberry, and spice flavors, aiming to attract Gen Z consumers seeking bold tastes, but its market performance was lackluster. Analysts suggest that consumers' unclear perception of its flavor and overly hasty new product development may be the main reasons for the failure. Meanwhile, Coca-Cola has also discontinued flavors like Cherry Vanilla and Splenda Diet Coke to focus on faster-growing categories. This article traces the complete trajectory of Spiced from launch to discontinuation and explores the challenges and prospects of niche sodas in the market. [more…]

In a recent cupping session, we had the privilege of tasting two rare coffees from Bolivia—the washed Caturra from the Project El Sol de Mañana. Though this landlocked South American nation has endured many challenges, it has nurtured a distinctive specialty flavor. This article will take you back through the turbulent history of Bolivian coffee, explore how the Rodriguez family reversed the industry's decline through the Project El Sol de Mañana, and share Front Street Coffee's single-origin recommendations for this unique region. Whether you are a seasoned enthusiast or a curious explorer, you will feel the resilience and sweetness this land imparts to its coffee. [more…]

In 2021, Coca-Cola carried out a new round of visual packaging upgrades for its product line, with Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, and Coke Zero all receiving more minimalist new looks. This redesign continues the "One Brand" strategy introduced in 2015. The most noticeable change is that the logo has been moved upward, and the classic ribbon element has been removed, giving the overall style a clean and crisp feel. In terms of color schemes, the classic version retains the red-and-white combination, the Diet version adopts red and silver, and the Zero version forms a high-contrast look with a black logo against a red background. At the same time, at the end of last year Coca-Cola also launched an eco-friendly paper bottle prototype called "Adez," jointly developed by its Brussels lab and the Danish company Paboco. It uses a paper shell with a plastic liner and a recyclable plastic cap, further conveying the concept of sustainable development. This article will compare the old and new packaging changes in detail and review these two noteworthy developments. [more…]

Costa, the UK coffee chain that Coca-Cola acquired for £3.9 billion in 2018, may now be put up for sale. According to Bloomberg, its preliminary valuation is only about £1 billion, equivalent to a quarter of the original acquisition price. Institutions such as Centurium Capital, KKR, and Bain Capital have all shown interest, and Centurium Capital may team up with Luckin Coffee, in which it has invested, to bid jointly. At the same time, Coca-Cola does not intend to let go completely and still hopes to retain control of Costa's ready-to-drink coffee business. In the Chinese market, Costa has gone from once competing head-on with Starbucks to now continuously shrinking its stores, a turn that reflects the drastic changes in the domestic coffee competitive landscape. [more…]

全球饮料巨头可口可乐近日终止了旗下英国连锁咖啡品牌Costa的出售程序。这场持续数月的拍卖因竞购方报价均未达到可口可乐预期的20亿英镑而搁浅。从2018年以39亿英镑高调收购，到如今估值缩水至四分之一，Costa的命运转折折射出连锁咖啡市场的激烈竞争。其中国业务更成为亏损重灾区，门店持续萎缩，甚至被潜在买家单独剔除在收购范围之外。本文将梳理Costa出售案的来龙去脉、关键财务数据及未来走向。 [more…]

The U.S. tea market is ushering in a new wave of growth, with online sales surging by 75%, in stark contrast to the slump in the foodservice channel. Currently, nearly 80% of American households have a tea-drinking habit, covering a population of 159 million. Faced with this market of enormous potential, the two beverage giants Coca-Cola and Starbucks have long since made their early moves: Coca-Cola acquired "Honest Tea," while Starbucks entered the tea beverage arena with its "Teavana" brand, even opening dedicated stores in Japan. However, Starbucks' tea bar business has not been all smooth sailing, having once closed 379 stores across the United States. This article will review the course of these giants' entry into the tea market and explore the future development space of the tea beverage sector. [more…]

In the landscape of South American specialty coffee, Bolivia, though a niche-producing country, holds potential that cannot be overlooked. Front Street Coffee ventures deep into the La Paz region to bring you Java coffee beans from the Waliki Estate. This article will guide you through Bolivia's winding coffee history, the terroir of the Yungas Province, and the legendary journey of the Java variety from Ethiopia to Latin America. The estate employs a unique cacao sun-dried processing method, shaping a flavor interwoven with grape, nut, and honey notes through low-temperature slow drying. Front Street Coffee also shares roasting and brewing parameters to help you fully appreciate the charm of these beans. [more…]

Coca-Cola recently confirmed it will continue to fully own Costa Coffee, but its chief financial officer revealed that a separate assessment of the China business is underway. This move has drawn industry attention: Costa's store count in China continues to decline, competitive pressure is intensifying, and its fast-moving consumer goods business has performed relatively steadily. Will Coca-Cola follow Starbucks' lead and sell its China business? Does the scope of the assessment cover all segments? Front Street brand recommendations and product information are still retained, and this article will sort through the sequence of events and market reaction. [more…]

Although Bolivia is hailed as an ideal place for growing coffee, its production has always remained low, and it even once became a minor coffee country. Yet the coffee flavors nurtured on this land are stunning—rich sweetness and soft acidity make it stand out in the specialty coffee world. Front Street Coffee has introduced several Bolivian beans, among which the Java variety cultivated by the Rodriguez family is especially striking, known as Geisha's cousin. This article will guide you through the regional characteristics, development history, and cultivation models of Bolivian coffee, and provide an in-depth analysis of the Coco Natural Java coffee beans from Waliki Estate, from variety tracing to processing innovation, exploring the coffee charm of this landlocked South American country. [more…]

Although Bolivia is hailed as an ideal place for coffee cultivation, its production has always been limited, yet its coffee impresses with rich sweetness and soft acidity. From the cupping perspective of Front Street Coffee, this article sorts through the historical ups and downs of Bolivian coffee, the distribution of producing regions, and cultivation models, focusing on how the Rodriguez family has driven the development of specialty coffee, and offering an in-depth analysis of the origins of the Geisha and Java varieties. The article also documents in detail a cacao natural Java coffee bean from Finca Valiki that Front Street Coffee cupped, presenting the unique charm of this bean in full, from processing method, roasting curve, to brewing parameters and flavor description. [more…]

Bolivia is a fascinating place. Although it is called a paradise for coffee growing, its production has always been low. Front Street Coffee is deeply impressed by the delicate flavors of Bolivian coffee. In terms of flavor expression, Bolivian coffee is mostly characterized by rich sweetness and soft acidity. At the 2017 WBC (World Coffee [more…]