The crema performance of espresso differs noticeably across growing regions. Mandheling, Brazil, and Blue Mountain are three representative origins, each with its own crema characteristics, suited to drinkers with different taste preferences. Mandheling is the choice for crema thickness. The Mandheling region uses wet-hulling processing, during which more pectin layer remains on the surface of the beans, add [more…]

Some friends often ask us for advice on espresso extraction issues. Many of them have encountered situations where the espresso shot lacks golden crema or the crema is thin. Since for espresso, that golden crema is its very soul, when the coffee has no crema [more…]

You often hear people say, "To judge whether an espresso tastes good, just look at the crema. The best espresso has a crema that is fine, thick, and golden." But can you really judge whether an espresso tastes good by the state of its crema? To find out whether this method works, Front Street only needs to give everyone two questions. [more…]

Some people drink espresso for the flavor, while others drink it for the mouthfeel. For those who love flavor, there are all kinds of SOE coffee beans to choose from—so what coffee bean options are there for those who enjoy a rich, intense mouthfeel? The signature characteristic of espresso—crema Espresso at its most fascinating [more…]

What is espresso? Espresso is a very, very small cup of coffee, about two or three sips and it's gone. Its flavor is extremely intense, and many people find it hard to accept. The small cup size and intense flavor are the reasons espresso has a very small audience in China, but latte made with milk and Americano made with water [more…]

A while back, when Front Street Coffee was tinkering with a moka pot in the shop, a friend saw that the moka pot coffee Front Street brewed had a very thick layer of crema, so they asked Front Street for the secret to brewing such thick crema, because the moka pot coffee they brewed at home had very thin crema. The same situation often occurs with espresso machine users as well. [more…]

很多咖啡爱好者在萃取浓缩时，会观察到表面浮着一层厚厚的金黄色油脂，也就是Crema，但喝起来却意外地单薄，没什么body。那么，Crema的厚薄是否直接决定了一杯浓缩的醇厚感？本文将从Crema的形成原理出发，剖析它和醇厚度之间的实际关联，并通过对比实验揭示口感差异。同时，我们也会介绍一款能带来丰富油脂的前街经典拼配，帮助你更好地理解与选择。 [more…]

As is well known, the coffee extracted from an espresso machine is not only very rich and intense, but also comes with a layer of golden crema. Because this layer of crema gives the coffee a rich aroma and a smooth, dense mouthfeel, and is also a product unique to espresso, people often call it the soul of espresso. But... [more…]

For more specialty coffee knowledge, please follow our WeChat public account: FrontStreet Coffee. An espresso with a clearly visible crema requires high-quality coffee beans with moderate grinding and rich oils, as well as a skilled barista. Compared to [more…]

Just a few days ago, a customer came to Front Street Coffee's store in Dongshankou, Guangzhou to drink espresso, and before leaving said, "I really love your espresso, the crema is the richest I've ever seen!" It happened that a friend also asked Front Street about that espresso. [more…]

Many people buy a home espresso machine with one first goal in mind: pulling a thick, velvety crema like the one you see in coffee shops. But after endless fiddling with grind size, dose, and water temperature, the crema still comes out thin—and the problem usually isn't the machine, it's the beans. Crema is the layer of foam formed when carbon dioxide and fats emulsify during espresso extraction. [more…]

Many people focus on roast level and bean variety when choosing coffee, yet overlook the true fuel for crema: carbon dioxide. All the bubbles in crema come from gases accumulated inside the beans during roasting. After the beans leave the roaster, they continue degassing every day, and the remaining gas determines the thickness of the crema. In other words, even the best dark-roasted beans [more…]

When it comes to rich, creamy body, many people first think of Mandheling. Mandheling is indeed a representative of full-bodied richness, but in the world of specialty coffee, it isn't the only region known for beans with abundant oils. Understanding the oil expression of beans from different regions allows you to move beyond the Mandheling framework when selecting beans, giving you a richer set of choices. Mandheling is full-bodied and oil [more…]

A deep understanding of the essence of crema will be of great help to baristas in making a delicious espresso. Today, the instructor of the Chongqing Barista Coffee Training Course will give you a detailed analysis of crema to help you understand espresso and improve your coffee-making skills. In searching for a cup that is not bitter and has excellent flavor, a rich [more…]

Crema（咖啡油脂）常被视作一杯意式浓缩是否合格的重要外观指标，它既关乎口感厚度，也透露出萃取是否充分。本文从前街咖啡的视角出发，梳理Crema的历史由来、Illy对浓缩的经典定义，以及泡沫层如何借助二氧化碳、类黑精和疏水性物质形成。同时还会解释Crema为何会消散、颜色深浅能说明什么，以及萃取时间与水温对油脂表现的影响，帮助咖啡爱好者和咖啡师更系统地理解这层金棕色泡沫。 [more…]

咖啡油脂（Crema）是意式浓缩表面那层细密气泡构成的泡沫层，常被视为判断萃取质量的重要指标。但Crema究竟如何形成？为何会消散？厚薄是否直接决定风味？本文将从物理与化学角度系统解析Crema的本质，探讨9bar压力与二氧化碳过饱和状态如何催生万千气泡，揭示重力与表面活性剂导致泡沫破裂的机制，并分析烘焙度、萃取时间、水温等因素对油脂颜色与持久度的影响。同时，文章还将针对油脂稀薄、香气不足等常见问题给出诊断思路，并推荐前街经典拼配咖啡豆，助你制作出口感醇厚、风味饱满的意式浓缩。 [more…]

Many people buy a home espresso machine with one first goal in mind: pulling a thick, creamy crema like the one in coffee shops. But after endlessly tweaking grind size, dose, and water temperature, the crema is still thin. The problem usually isn't the machine — it's the beans. Crema is the layer of foam formed when carbon dioxide and fats emulsify during espresso extraction. [more…]

Crema是意式浓缩咖啡的标志性特征，这层金黄油脂由不可溶性脂肪包裹二氧化碳构成，仅意式咖啡机的高压萃取才能形成。油脂的丰富度与咖啡豆配方密切相关，意大利人常添加少量罗布斯塔来增强油脂，但罗豆风味不及阿拉比卡。前街经典拼配与前街商业拼配均含少量罗豆，前者适合家用入门，后者适合开店商用。然而Crema并非越多越好，颜色过浅或过深、厚度过薄或过厚、结块粗糙等都会影响品质与拉花效果，豆子过于新鲜反而会导致油脂不稳定。 [more…]

Espresso has always been one of the most popular coffee extraction methods, and it is also the first stop for most coffee beginners—perhaps because a cup of sweet, silky milk coffee is simply irresistible, or because the unique richness and refreshing quality of an Americano is addictive from the first sip, or because coffee specialty drinks are so stunning [more…]

A proper espresso will have a delicate golden-brown foam floating on its surface, which Italians call Crema. It is the hallmark of espresso, yet it is often mistaken as the sole criterion for judging whether a coffee is good or bad. What exactly this layer of foam is and how it forms are worth discussing carefully. What is Crema? [more…]