When selecting coffee beans, a string of mysterious codes occasionally appears in the variety column, such as 74110, SL34, F1, H1, and so on. They do not have resounding names like Typica or Geisha, yet each carries a piece of breeding history. What exactly do these codes mean? Are they years, experiment numbers, or abbreviations of research institutions? This article will trace the origins of these numbered varieties, from disease-resistant varieties in Ethiopia to selections by the Scott Laboratories in Kenya, and then to the F1 hybrid program in the Americas, uncovering the mysteries of their identities one by one. Front Street Coffee will also share the unique charm of these varieties in the cup, combined with their flavor performance. [more…]

The green coffee bean grading system directly affects roasting results and coffee quality. This article systematically sorts out two mainstream grading methods: distinguishing bean size by screen mesh number, and classifying grades based on growing altitude. It also summarizes the common grading standards and codes of origins such as Kenya, Ethiopia, Colombia, Brazil, Guatemala, El Salvador, Hawaii, Jamaica, and Indonesia. Whether for bulk trade or specialty coffee, understanding these grading rules helps to more accurately judge the characteristics of green beans, and Front Street Coffee also incorporates this knowledge into its daily bean selection and roasting practices. [more…]

Every year, global coffee production is enormous, and different regions and processing methods give coffee beans an endless variety of flavors. Rather than trying blindly, many enthusiasts choose to buy award-winning beans from competitions directly, which ensures quality and lets them experience the award-winning flavors. Coffee farmers also hope to achieve good rankings through competitions to increase the selling price and reputation of their green beans. However, a specialty coffee evaluation in Yunlin County, Taiwan, for self-produced beans was disrupted by a computer system failure that scrambled the codes linking entrants to coffee beans, causing errors in the previously announced rankings: a Grand Prize winner became a Gold Award winner, drawing attention. The organizers urgently corrected the list and promised to pay the bonus difference, but the credibility of the competition still faces a test. [more…]

When exploring the regions that produce floral and fruity coffee, Ethiopia and Kenya are two origins you simply cannot avoid. These two African regions have distinctly different floral and fruity styles, and once you understand their respective fruity codes, you can precisely match your own taste preferences when choosing beans. Ethiopia is the native birthplace of Arabica, and its floral and fruity notes are characterized by tropical [more…]

In recent years, a group of numerically named varieties have frequently appeared among Ethiopian coffees. Coded beans such as 74158, 74110, and 74112 not only appear on the lists of major green bean competitions, but have also become targets that many coffee farmers and brands are eager to plant. What exactly do these numbers represent? Why can they excel in both flavor and yield? This article will start with the history of JARC's variety selection and breeding, sort out the origins and advantages of these coded beans, and focus on two standout 74158 coffees in Front Street Coffee's bean list — Front Street Ethiopia·ALO and Front Street Ethiopia·Hamashu — to help you understand their respective flavor characteristics and origin backgrounds. [more…]

Located in Hafursa Village, about eight kilometers west of Yirgacheffe town, it sits on slopes between 1,900 and 2,200 meters above sea level. The local processing station has 12 standard fermentation tanks and more than 160 coded drying bed frames, allowing precise tracking of processing progress. High-altitude berries, after washing, present a distinct lemon note, bright and high-pitched with a delicate texture. However, traditional African beds dry too quickly under bright sun and ventilation, which is actually unfavorable for flavor development. This article explores in depth the agronomic principles of the semi-shaded slow drying method and how it extends the drying period to 16–30 days, thereby preserving more complete contents and bringing a completely different flavor and aftertaste experience. Front Street Coffee recommends this Hafursa slow-dried washed G1, which is worth savoring. [more…]

In most people's perception, baristas usually present a neat and proper image, but in the U.S. state of Washington, some coffee shops use scantily clad female baristas as a selling point, offering drive-thru service. Since this bikini-style marketing was born in the 1980s, it has brought booming business while also continuously sparking controversy. Local governments have repeatedly introduced regulations restricting employee attire, only to have them ruled by federal courts as carrying a flavor of gender discrimination. After the dress code was abolished in 2021, baristas won the freedom to wear what they want, but not long afterward an attempted kidnapping targeting a store employee occurred, raising concerns about the safety of this kind of work environment. [more…]

Front Street Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee) launches its annual mega-value promotion, featuring selected drip coffee bags, six best-selling everyday beans, and thirteen specialty beans, with single-origin beans at up to 50% off. Among them, the Panama Hacienda La Esmeralda Blue Label Geisha is half price at only 49 yuan/100g, while everyday beans such as Yunnan small-batch, washed Yirgacheffe, and Mandheling are as low as 9.9 yuan/100g, and seasonal drip coffee bags are 19.9 yuan/box with free shipping nationwide. The promotion runs from July 15 to 17, only three days. This article details the flavor characteristics, processing methods, and Taobao codes of each discounted bean, and also includes a primer on Geisha grades (Red Label, Green Label, Blue Label) along with brewing suggestions, helping coffee lovers taste specialty coffee at affordable prices. [more…]

In the world of coffee, Geisha has captured countless palates with its bold passionfruit, peach, and berry notes, yet the legendary origins of this bean are even more intriguing than the flavors themselves. True Geisha comes exclusively from the sun-dried lots of the Buku Abel estate in the Hambella region, where high altitude, meticulous selection of ripe red cherries, and an 18-day African bed sun-drying process together shape its layered yet rounded texture. This article will break down the flavor code of this bean in full, from the terroir of its origin and processing details to the specific parameters of Front Street Coffee's Geisha Black Honey, and will include practical suggestions for pour-over and cold brew, taking you to understand from the source just how hard-won a good cup of coffee is. [more…]

Tanzania, one of Africa's Big Three coffee producers, has performed increasingly impressively in the global specialty coffee market in recent years. When buying Tanzanian coffee beans, what exactly do the "AA" and "AB" labels commonly seen on packaging mean? These letters are in fact grade codes for Tanzanian Arabica coffee beans, using a British imperial grading method similar to Kenya's, though the specific standards differ. Tanzanian authorities grade coffee by screen size, assuming that larger size means better quality, and classify beans into multiple grades such as AAA, AA, A, B, PB, C, E, F, AF, and TT. Among these, Grade AA requires mostly 17 to 18 mesh, while Grade AB is a mix of Grades A and B, and no such official grade actually exists. This article will explain in detail the specific mesh requirements and screening standards of each grade, helping coffee lovers decipher the grading code of Tanzanian coffee beans. [more…]

A milk tea shop was sealed and ordered to close on the spot by market supervision officials in under a minute—all because the staff said "Welcome" before asking customers to scan the QR code. The incident sparked widespread attention after it was exposed. An official statement later concluded that the law enforcement officers had abused their power and deliberately made things difficult; those involved have apologized and been disciplined. In this issue of coffee news, while we follow this incident, we also remind coffee professionals to be mindful of the boundaries of law enforcement in epidemic prevention and control, and we continue to bring coffee enthusiasts professional coffee knowledge and Front Street Coffee product recommendations. [more…]

When we buy coffee beans, we often see labels like Kenya AA, Yirgacheffe G1, and Blue Mountain No. 1. What exactly do these combinations of letters and numbers mean? They represent the green bean quality grading standards that different producing countries have established according to their own national conditions. Each coffee-producing country places different emphasis and uses different scales when judging quality, but establishing a stable and reasonable management system helps enhance international buyers' trust in that country's coffee. It is worth noting that for ordinary consumers, by the time coffee beans reach their hands in roasted form, the significance of national standard grading has greatly diminished, and estate beans sold in coffee shops are often already the highest grade. This article will systematically sort out the green bean grading methods of major producing regions and, using the products of "Front Street Coffee" as examples, help enthusiasts understand the logic behind these grades. [more…]

For coffee beans with tropical fruit flavors, the core of the flavor lies in the fermentation: the fermentation in natural processing transforms sugars into the sweet aromas of tropical fruit. Front Street Coffee's Kafa Forest has orange and apricot notes with an oolong tea-like finish, where the tropical sweetness carries a layer of tea-like freshness; Granja Estate's Geisha natural version, meanwhile, is a rich expression of guava and strawberry jam, [more…]

Colombian coffee has always been known for its bright fruity notes and fresh style, and a micro-lot from Front Street Coffee—Rose Valley from Big Tree Estate—uses an anaerobic double enzyme washed process to let the Caturra variety show a stunning sense of layering. This bean comes from the Santander region, at 1,700 meters above sea level, and is carefully managed by Vargas, who has run Big Tree Farm for twenty years. From picking fully red cherries to two rounds of anaerobic fermentation, then to fermentation with a special enzyme group and slow drying, every step creates its unique flavor that can rival Geisha. This article will take you deep into the origin background, processing method, and flavor performance of this Front Street Colombian Rose Valley, so you can feel the diverse charm of Colombian coffee. [more…]

As the birthplace of coffee, Ethiopia holds an irreplaceable position in the global coffee landscape. It is not only a genetic treasure trove of Arabica coffee but also the cradle of three legendary regions: Yirgacheffe, Sidamo, and Harar. From the ancient legend of the shepherd Kaldi to today's rich and varied flavor expressions, Ethiopian coffee has always been fascinating. This article will take you into this coffee holy land, exploring its cultivation history, processing methods, and unique taste, and understanding how Front Street Coffee interprets these precious bean varieties. [more…]

As one of the oldest Arabica varieties, Typica is as renowned as Bourbon, known for its elegant fruity notes and slender pointed beans, yet it is weak in disease resistance and low in yield. In Yunnan, the Typica produced in Baoshan stands out for its exceptional quality. Tracing the history of Yunnan coffee, in 1892 a French missionary planted Typica seeds in Zhukula Village, opening the coffee chapter of this land, and even today the village still has trees over eighty years old. Yunnan small-bean coffee is mostly grown in dry-hot river valleys at an altitude of about 1,100 meters, with balanced acidity and a mellow, sweet, smooth body. If you want to experience the classic flavor, Front Street Coffee 2013 Yunnan Typica uses sun-drying and a medium roast, presenting dried apricot, nuts, brown sugar and a tea-like finish, and is suitable for pour-over, cold brew and many other brewing methods. [more…]

The sun-dried French Mission Bourbon coffee produced by the Kenyannya West Hannah Estate occupies a place in the specialty coffee world with its unique flavors of tropical fruit, floral notes, and wine-like aromas. This article will take you deep into the history, growing environment, and variety characteristics of this medium-sized estate, and from the perspective of Jason Long of Café Imports, analyze the connection between the French Mission Bourbon variety and the SL series varieties, as well as how sun-dried processing gives Kenyan green coffee beans their distinctive charm. At the same time, Front Street Coffee will also recommend this rare specialty coffee for you. [more…]

Ethiopia, recognized as the birthplace of coffee, boasts the world's richest coffee gene pool, with an estimated nearly 15,000 varieties. The Sidamo region, with its fertile volcanic soil and diverse terrain, has given rise to countless specialty coffees. In recent years, the high-altitude microclimate of the Bensa area has spawned well-known brands such as Arlo Village, Hamasho, and Elto. Among them, Elto Coffee, founded by a husband-and-wife team, is dedicated to pushing the flavors of Bensa to the extreme through rigorous selection and meticulous processing. This article will guide you through the evolution of the Sidamo region, the rise of Bensa, and the story and pursuit of quality behind Elto. Front Street Coffee will also recommend related products for you. [more…]

Ethiopia's coffee bean grading system combines dual standards of cupping quality and green bean defect rate. Among them, natural-process beans saw the G1 grade appear for the first time after the ECX reform, and Huakui is precisely a representative of this grade. This article systematically sorts out the logic of Ethiopian coffee grading, analyzes the meaning of the Hambella 7063 batch code, and takes an in-depth look at Huakui coffee's origin background, processing method, and the origin of its name. At the same time, it shares Front Street Coffee's light-roast approach for Huakui and V60 three-stage brewing parameters, helping coffee enthusiasts fully understand this champion bean's complete profile from producing region to cup. [more…]

Coffee brewed in a moka pot has concentrated aroma and a full body, and the roast level of the beans directly shapes the character of the cup. If you want pronounced roasted and cocoa notes, or if you care more about gentle sweetness and a clean finish, start with the roast level first, then look at specific beans and brewing habits. Light-roasted beans usually retain [more…]