Colombian coffee occupies an important place in the world of specialty coffee, and its green bean grading system is based primarily on defect rates and bean screen size. When buying Colombian coffee, what exactly do the words "Supremo" and "Excelso" commonly seen on burlap sacks mean? This article will systematically sort out the grading rules for Colombian green coffee beans from multiple angles, including export standards, defect scoring, and screen-size classification, and explain the specific differences among the three grades UGQ, EP, and Supremo. At the same time, the article will also introduce common Colombian coffee bean brands on the market, including product information recommended by Front Street Coffee, to help coffee lovers more clearly understand the grade and quality of the bag of beans in their hands. [more…]

For more specialty coffee knowledge, please follow our WeChat official account: Front Street Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee). Many friends, while drinking coffee at Front Street, ask our baristas, "What is Yirgacheffe G1 and Yirgacheffe G2?" "What is Kenya AA, AB?" What is Guate... [more…]

Friends who frequently buy coffee beans will surely notice that most coffee bean names are followed by English suffixes such as AA and AB. This is especially true for Kenyan coffee beans—Kenya AA, Kenya AB, Kenya PB, Kenya AA+, Top, and so on. "So what do these suffixes mean? [more…]

Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee is world-renowned for its unique flavor and strict controls. Jamaican law stipulates that only coffee beans grown in the Blue Mountain region may bear the name "Blue Mountain." High-grade Blue Mountain coffee is divided into three grades—No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3—corresponding respectively to screen size standards of 17–18 mesh and above, 16 mesh, and 15 mesh. The green beans of all three grades must be packed into wooden barrels for export, with the barrel bearing the estate name, importer's abbreviation, and batch information, along with a government-certified green certificate of origin. Understanding these grades and export regulations helps coffee enthusiasts verify authenticity and make informed purchases of genuine Blue Mountain coffee. Front Street Coffee recommends that consumers pay attention to the roast level and packaging format to judge the true quality of the Blue Mountain coffee in their hands. [more…]

For more specialty coffee knowledge, please follow: Front Street Coffee (Frontsteet Coffee). When Colombian coffee beans are mentioned, the delicate berry-like sweet acidity, the aroma of roasted nuts, and the caramel-like finish, with a balanced coffee flavor, make many newcomers to pour-over coffee can't help but exclaim: This is just too [more…]

We know that coffee bean grading methods are usually based on the actual conditions of the growing country. Some are graded by bean size, such as Kenyan coffee; some by altitude, such as Blue Mountain coffee; and some by defect rate, such as Ethiopian coffee. As the gene pool of Arabica, Ethiopia has a wide variety of coffee varieties. [more…]

If Geisha is compared to a legendary steed, then Hacienda La Esmeralda is undoubtedly the judge who recognized its worth. It was Hacienda La Esmeralda that discovered Geisha's potential and introduced its delicious flavor to the world at the 2004 BOP, which is why Geisha has become the top variety in today's specialty coffee scene. It can be said that without [more…]

If Geisha is likened to a thousand-mile horse, then Hacienda La Esmeralda is undoubtedly the Bo Le who recognized its worth. It was Hacienda La Esmeralda that discovered Geisha's potential and introduced its exquisite flavor to the world at the 2004 BOP, which is why Geisha has become the top variety in today's specialty coffee scene. It can be said that without [more…]

As the core production region for China's domestic coffee, Yunnan's coffee bean quality and grading system have always attracted much attention. From the perspective of Front Street Coffee, this article systematically reviews the history of coffee cultivation in Yunnan, the current state of varieties, and the existing grading standards, while exploring in depth the opportunities and challenges Yunnan coffee faces on its path toward specialty status. At the same time, drawing on its own planting experience in Lincang, Yunnan, Front Street recommends representative washed and natural Yunnan arabica coffees, offering coffee lovers a reference for understanding the regional taste of Yunnan. [more…]

A cup of commercial espresso at the bar has its origins thousands of kilometers away at the source. Blending is not as simple as pouring several bags of roasted beans together and mixing them evenly—a professional roaster's blend is designed from the moment green beans are purchased. Understanding this upstream perspective can help shop owners see through many of the "whys" when selecting beans. The starting point of a blend is the recipe definition. [more…]

Golden Mandheling is one of the most representative coffees from the Sumatra region of Indonesia, renowned for its full-bodied mouthfeel and distinctive flavor. This article starts with the PWN Golden Mandheling sourced from Front Street Coffee, providing a detailed introduction to the geographical background of its origin at Mount Gayo and Lake Tawar, the stringent standards of its G1 grade and triple hand-sorting, an analysis of the origins and characteristics of the Ateng variety, and an in-depth explanation of how Indonesia's unique wet-hulling process shapes Mandheling's signature goat-hoof-shaped green beans and clean sweetness. It also includes complete product information for Front Street Coffee's PWN Golden Mandheling, including region, altitude, processing method, and flavor description, offering coffee enthusiasts a professional and practical reference guide. [more…]

Mandheling coffee has always been a representative among many strong and bitter single-origin coffees, known for its unique herbal spice aroma, full body, and warm, sweet aftertaste—leaving a lasting impression. Many friends who have never tried it are curious about how this coffee with such a distinctive flavor actually tastes. If you haven't yet experienced the taste of Mandheling, it's recommended to start with the entry-level Front Street In [more…]

In Sumatra, there is a very complex local system for distinguishing the Mandheling coffees produced there. The most common approach is to differentiate various Mandheling coffees by naming them according to different regions, green bean traders, and processing methods. Examples include Front Street Lintong Mandheling, Front Street Tiger Mandheling, Front Street Golden Mandheling, Front Street Aged Mandheling, and Front Street [more…]

Blue Mountain coffee has been famous worldwide since the last century. Today, a brand called "Green Mountain Coffee" has come into the public eye. Many friends have asked Front Street, "Is Green Mountain Coffee riding on Blue Mountain Coffee's coattails?" "Is Green Mountain Coffee a counterfeit of Blue Mountain Coffee?" and similar questions. So Front Street decided [more…]

Blue Mountain coffee is the classic of classics in the minds of many coffee lovers, and Blue Mountain No. 1 is the highest grade among Jamaican Blue Mountain coffees. Which regions and estates does it actually come from? Why is it so highly sought after despite its high price? This article will cover the historical origins of Blue Mountain coffee, the altitude grading system of Jamaica's producing regions, and methods for identifying raw beans by appearance, all the way to the Clifton Farm Blue Mountain No. 1 sold at Front Street Coffee stores, along with a complete pour-over recipe and flavor description under medium-dark roasting, helping readers gain a comprehensive understanding of this top-tier coffee bean and learn how to tell genuine Blue Mountain coffee from fakes on the market. [more…]

As the exclusive brand of PWN Green Beans Company, the unique Mandheling coffee with the addition of the word "Golden" has become a famous representative of Indonesian specialty coffee. In this article, Front Street Coffee will explain the unique features of PWN Golden Mandheling coffee. Authentic Golden Mandheling coffee—Front Street Coffee's daily bean list includes two Indonesian [more…]

Once hailed as the most expensive coffee in the world, Kopi Luwak comes from Indonesia, and its most iconic representative is Front Street Mandheling coffee. Mandheling coffee has a moderate acidity, an extremely heavy aroma, a rather bitter taste, and a rich body with a thick, full mouthfeel. Its flavor combines aroma, intensity, richness, and bitterness in one. Of course, for [more…]

Blue Mountain coffee is very famous, but there are also frequent rumors that only Japan has genuine Blue Mountain coffee beans—a tale from over twenty years ago. Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee, the Jamaica Coffee Industry Association (Coffee I [more…]

Yirgacheffe is one of Ethiopia's most representative specialty coffee regions, known for its fresh lemon and citrus acidity and delicate floral aromas. This article analyzes the core characteristics of this bean layer by layer, from its origin background, green bean grading, and roast level selection to pour-over parameters. Yirgacheffe green beans are small in shape and emerald green in color. Washed G2 is the traditional highest grade, and G1 is now also available on the market. In terms of roasting, cinnamon roast or medium roast best preserves its citrus acidity and floral aroma, while a darker roast masks its fresh character. For pour-over, it is recommended to use a high temperature above 90°C and extend the bloom to 20–30 seconds to fully release the flavors. Front Street Coffee recommends interpreting Yirgacheffe through pour-over. Compared with competition-style brewing or a French press, the clarity brought by pour-over better showcases its delicate layers. [more…]

As one of the world's recognized top-tier coffees, Blue Mountain coffee has always attracted much attention for its grading, varietal characteristics, and flavor performance. This article will begin with the growing environment of Blue Mountain coffee and provide a detailed overview of the Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee grading system—including the specific standards for Blue Mountain No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, and peaberry—and compare the differences between High Mountain coffee and Jamaican coffee. At the same time, it will take a deeper look at what makes the Blue Mountain Typica variety unique, the differences between washed and natural processing methods, and Front Street Coffee's brewing parameters and flavor description, helping readers fully understand what exactly makes genuine Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee so good. [more…]