Recently, the International Coffee Organization (ICO) released the monthly report of the global coffee market in May, showing that the average price of the comprehensive index is 208.38 cents/pound, which has slightly decreased by 3.9% compared to th [more…]

Yunnan's coffee industry is undergoing a notable price surge and heightened market attention. Since 2021, domestic new-style tea beverage and coffee brands have been incorporating Yunnan beans into their menus, with the national trend of guochao consumption and the domestic coffee boom together driving up the popularity of the production region. Consumer demand for Yunnan coffee has surged, directly pushing up coffee bean prices. At the same time, the global pandemic has caused supply chain delays, with delivery cycles extended from one or two months to three or four months. Reduced supply coupled with rapidly rising consumption has further driven up the market. While Yunnan coffee is embracing opportunities, it also faces practical limitations such as uneven planting standards, insufficient talent and industry chain support, and a lack of pricing power. Cities like Pu'er are advancing industrial upgrading with the goals of specialty-grade quality and standardization. The coffee output value of Ning'er County is expected to continue growing, and the Yunnan coffee price index also reflects market changes. [more…]

For a long time in the past, Shanghai was regarded as the city with the highest coffee density in China. However, the nearly three-month suspension of dine-in services dealt a heavy blow to Shanghai's catering industry, and coffee brands began to turn their attention to Chengdu. Data shows that Chengdu now has more than 7,000 coffee shops, ranking second nationwide, with independent coffee shops accounting for as much as 81.07%, far exceeding Shanghai's 57.01%. Luxury brands have also chosen to open coffee shops in Chengdu one after another, including LV, Cartier, Ralph's Bar, and Maison Margiela Café. Wangping Street, Mengzhuiwan, and Tangpa Street in Chengdu have become popular coffee districts, where teahouse culture and coffee consumption blend together. This article will analyze the data and trends behind this round of changes in the coffee city landscape. [more…]

Recent data from the International Coffee Organization (ICO) shows that the composite coffee price index rose slightly month-on-month in January 2024, while the Robusta price index hit a 30-year high. Although production prospects have improved in several South American producing countries, with Brazil and Colombia performing relatively well, tight supply in the Asia-Pacific region, disruptions to Red Sea shipping, and volcanic eruptions in Indonesia have combined to keep global coffee prices persistently high. This article reviews the latest developments in each producing region and changes in the supply-demand landscape. [more…]

Since the start of summer, many countries around the world have experienced sustained high temperatures, with sea surface temperatures generally elevated outside the near-equatorial eastern Pacific and land temperatures rising accordingly, dealing a blow to agricultural production including coffee. Vietnam has suffered its worst drought in nearly a decade, with coffee trees severely damaged; Indonesia is still weighed down by last year's drought, reducing the volume available for export; Brazil's output has fallen short of expectations, and about 80% of Mexico's planted area has been affected, with production cuts expected to reach as much as 50%. At the same time, Colombia's first-half output hit a three-year high. The widening scope of production cuts pushed the ICO composite coffee price index up 8.9% month on month, and La Niña weather may further aggravate volatility. [more…]

In the online shopping era, faced with a dizzying array of products, fresh coffee beans are the key to enjoying good coffee. Buying good coffee beans on e-commerce platforms requires certain skills. First and foremost, choosing a reputable brand with quality assurance is crucial. There are many domestic roasters, so choose a coffee bean brand with a comprehensive product range and a large order volume. [more…]

The Henan Provincial Market Supervision Administration recently published its 2024 No. 39 food safety notice, showing that of 1,040 batches of food across 21 major categories sampled, a total of 24 batches failed. Among them, a "Yangtze River North Bank" oolong tea-flavored beverage, nominally produced by Xunxian Fuxinyuan Beverage Factory, was blacklisted because its total bacterial count did not meet national standards. An investigation found that the manufacturer not only had a prior record of product sampling failures, but was also ruled by a court to have infringed upon Nongfu Spring's packaging through counterfeiting, and has now been listed as a dishonest judgment debtor. More notably, the outer packaging of this oolong tea is highly similar to Suntory oolong tea, and many consumers who mistakenly bought it on e-commerce platforms complained loudly after being duped. [more…]

When it comes to coffee beans, everyone probably knows that coffee is made from green beans that have been roasted into roasted beans. There are several degrees of roasting. Generally speaking, the ones most commonly seen in coffee shops are mainly these levels: light roast, medium-light roast, medium roast, medium-dark roast, and dark roast, but there is no clear boundary between them. And as a consumer [more…]

To enjoy a good cup of coffee, the freshness of the beans is often more important than brewing technique. Nowadays, buying coffee beans online has become the mainstream method, but faced with the dazzling array of choices on platforms, how to judge whether a roaster is reliable and which beans suit you has become the first challenge for many enthusiasts. This article will focus on three dimensions—freshness, brand reputation, and beginner-friendliness—to share practical ideas for selecting coffee beans, and compile a list of eight high-value beans covering different flavor profiles, from the sweet and mellow Brazil Yellow Bourbon to the richly fruity Florals, so that whether you are a beginner just getting into pour-over or a seasoned player who has advanced to pursuing regional flavors, you can find the one that suits you. [more…]

Recently, an unusual situation has emerged in the international coffee market: Arabica coffee beans, which account for about 70% of global production, have not risen in price due to reduced output. Instead, dragged down by inflation, prices have fallen nearly 40% from their February high, hitting a one-year-and-five-month low. Worsening European business confidence, declining consumption, and a surge in certified inventories have significantly eased the balance between supply and demand. However, the decline in raw material prices has not been passed on to the end consumer market. Coffee beans account for only a limited share of coffee shop costs, and the premium on specialty coffee remains. Consumers hoping to drink cheaper coffee may still have a long wait ahead. [more…]

In recent years, milk tea has become a daily beverage for young people, but the caffeine content hidden within it is often overlooked. Some studies show that a single cup of milk tea may contain as much caffeine as three or more cups of Americano, and may even exceed the recommended daily intake. This article sorts out the sources of caffeine in milk tea, its health effects, and consumption tips, to help coffee enthusiasts and milk tea lovers make more rational beverage choices. At the same time, it also reminds readers to pay attention to the extra health burden brought by sugar and toppings. Whether you choose coffee or milk tea, only by understanding the ingredients can you drink with peace of mind. [more…]

Many people first encounter coffee as a way to get caffeine for alertness, and their understanding of its flavor mostly stays at the level of strength and bitterness or acidity. However, the world of specialty coffee is far broader: African origins often bring bright citrus and berry acidity, Asian beans may show spice and herbal notes, Central and South American beans are mostly nutty and cocoa-like, and island coffees have a chocolate-like sweetness. In overturning the stereotype that "coffee equals bitter," floral- and fruity-style coffee beans have played a key role. These beans are usually given a light, medium-light, or medium roast, with a shorter time in the roaster than traditional dark roasts, greatly reducing caramelization reactions so that bitterness does not become too heavy while preserving precious floral and fruit notes. This article will sort out the consumer groups suited to this type of coffee and review eight bagged pour-over floral-flavor beans one by one, for both advanced enthusiasts and beginners just starting out. [more…]

Pour-over coffee attracts more and more enthusiasts with its unique sense of ritual. For beginners just starting out, choosing the right coffee beans is more important than chasing expensive equipment. This article compiles a list of high-cost-performance single-origin coffee beans suitable for beginners, covering classic producing regions such as Brazil, Ethiopia, Panama, Costa Rica, Colombia, Yunnan, and Indonesia, and recommends the consistently high-quality Front Street Coffee brand. Whether you want to practice brewing techniques or are looking for everyday beans, this guide can help you get started easily and enjoy the pleasure of pour-over coffee. [more…]

Although the moka pot has a plain appearance and a friendly price, it can extract coffee flavors closest to espresso, making it the top choice appliance for many coffee beginners. But precisely because of its high water temperature, fine grind size, and high concentration, the characteristics of the coffee beans themselves are noticeably amplified—light roasts tend to be sharply acidic, while overly dark roasts easily show burnt bitterness. To achieve a balanced, full-bodied cup with oils, fresh beans of medium or medium-dark roast are more suitable. This article revolves around the bean selection logic for the moka pot; besides explaining the importance of roast level and freshness, it also compiles a list of several single-origin and blended beans from Front Street Coffee suitable for the moka pot, along with a complete brewing procedure, to help you consistently recreate a delicious cup of moka pot coffee at home. [more…]

The latest August industry report released by the International Coffee Organization (ICO) shows that the monthly average of the global composite coffee price reached 238.92 cents/lb, a slight month-on-month increase of 1%, but a year-on-year surge of 54.6%, with prices fluctuating between 222.58 and 254.12 cents during the month. Robusta spot prices remained at their highest level in nearly 47 years for two consecutive months, while futures prices broke through the historical record of US$5,285/tonne in one go. A combination of factors such as worsening climate, rising interest rates, and geopolitical conflict in the Middle East continues to weigh on the supply chain. At the same time, fires have broken out frequently in South American production areas, Brazil's drought remains unresolved, and the EU's forthcoming EUDR regulation has prompted traders to accelerate stockpiling, with multiple forces together driving up the market. Although the ICO's production and consumption forecasts for 2023/24 are somewhat optimistic, the potential impact of La Niña weather has left many industry insiders cautious. [more…]

The release of flavor and aroma from coffee beans is inseparable from high-temperature roasting, and the depth of the roast will make the same bean present a completely different character. Light roasts tend to retain more natural flavor and bright acidity, while dark roasts bring a heavier roasted taste and bitterness due to caramelization reactions. For coffee lovers who prefer floral and fruity notes and a light body, medium-light roasted Arabica is an ideal choice, but if purchased improperly, it is also easy to encounter problems such as low body and insufficient aftertaste. This article will analyze the relationship between roast level and flavor, and recommend five Front Street medium-light roasted coffee beans worth trying, covering classic categories such as Yirgacheffe, Kenya, and Panama Butterfly, providing a reference for everyday purchasing. [more…]

In today's rapidly evolving coffee industry, barista positions attract a large number of enthusiasts submitting their resumes. However, during interviews, the gap in expectations between recruiters and candidates often leads to both amusing and exasperating situations. This article compiles real interview experiences from multiple coffee professionals, covering everything from entering the industry with zero experience, requirements for latte art and pour-over skills, probation-period salary negotiations, to the professional thresholds for part-time positions, recreating those conversations that leave a complex mix of emotions. Whether you're a newcomer preparing to step into the coffee industry or a shop owner currently hiring, these cases are worth reading. At the end of the article, we've also included channels for learning professional coffee knowledge to help you avoid unnecessary detours. [more…]

Choosing coffee beans isn't a matter of the more expensive the better—there are plenty of affordable options on the market with outstanding flavor. This article is aimed at enthusiasts who are just getting into freshly ground pour-over coffee, and it compiles six high-value coffee beans suitable for everyday drinking, covering producing regions including Brazil, Ethiopia, Panama, Costa Rica, and Colombia, explaining each one's flavor characteristics, brewing difficulty, and reference price. Among them, several Front Street Coffee products combine the advantages of being easy to get started with and compatible with multiple brewing devices—whether it's pour-over, a moka pot, or an espresso machine, they deliver consistent performance. At the end, the article also answers the question of whether pour-over coffee beans can be used in an American-style drip coffee maker, helping beginners buy according to their needs. [more…]

In 2024, micro-dramas continued to heat up, becoming a new favorite in brand marketing thanks to their concise storytelling format and efficient传播力. After leading tea beverage brands such as Starbucks and Mixue Bingcheng entered the fray one after another, Chagee also launched a time-travel micro-drama featuring the Ming dynasty traveler Xu Xiake as the protagonist, cleverly integrating tea drinks, cultural tourism, and micro-dramas. After its release, the drama not only received widespread praise from netizens but also drove a significant rise in the brand's WeChat index. This article will analyze the highlights and insights of Chagee's cross-industry attempt from multiple angles, including plot content, marketing strategy, and communication data, and explore new opportunities for the new tea beverage industry in the field of cultural dissemination. [more…]

To recreate the rich, full-bodied flavor of café coffee at home with a moka pot, the key lies in choosing the right coffee beans and mastering the operational details. This article starts with the basic steps for using a moka pot, then gradually breaks down how to brew coffee with a rich layer of crema by adjusting bean freshness, roast level, and grind size. At the same time, to meet the demand for a flavor that is neither sour nor bitter, it provides four specific recommendations from Front Street Coffee's espresso blends, including the Classic, Basic, Commercial, and Strawberry Candy blends, covering different flavor directions such as nutty, chocolate, caramel, and fruity notes, helping coffee enthusiasts easily make a cup of moka pot coffee with a strong aroma and balanced taste in a home setting. [more…]