The global coffee market is once again experiencing price fluctuations. Arabica and Robusta coffee futures have rebounded after a brief decline, with the July 2024 Robusta contract touching $3,975 per tonne at one point, approaching the psychological threshold of $4,000. Behind this rally are not only tightening supply caused by ongoing droughts in Brazil and Vietnam, the two major producing countries, but also the new threat potentially posed by La Niña weather, while tensions between Israel and Iran have added further uncertainty to transportation costs. Local traders in Vietnam are accelerating their rush to buy coffee beans, with purchase prices having soared to more than 110 million Vietnamese dong per tonne, while Brazilian Robusta spot prices have also broken through the 1,000 reais mark for the first time. With multiple factors intertwined, coffee prices may continue to face pressure in the short term. [more…]

Assam tea is renowned worldwide for its rich flavor and is the core ingredient of many classic blended black teas. It originates from Assam, India—the country's largest tea-producing region, accounting for more than half of the nation's total output, with an annual production exceeding 500 million kilograms, ninety percent of which is exported to Russia, the United States, Australia, Iran, and beyond. Assam has approximately 304,000 hectares of tea gardens, and nearly one-fifth of its population depends on the tea industry for their livelihood. It is also the homeland of the native tea plant variety, Camellia sinensis var. Assamica. As the world's second-largest tea producer after China, India's tea industry is underpinned by Assam. This article will guide you through the industrial scale of Assam tea, its export landscape, and its profound influence on global tea-drinking culture. [more…]

Traders of the special processing method coffee should reduce the export of coffee with traditional processing methods. From February 6th to 10th, the 20th African Fine Coffee Conference and Exhibition was held in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia [more…]

After Starbucks withdrew from the Russian market, Stars Coffee, which took over its assets, is accelerating its expansion. On one hand, the brand has reopened in St. Petersburg and plans to restore 100 stores by the end of September; on the other hand, co-founders Timur Yunusov and Anton Pinsky revealed that they have received about 50 overseas partnership inquiries, with the first overseas branch to open in Armenia, and plan to open more than 20 locations across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. These regions see opportunities for Stars Coffee due to the absence of Starbucks. This article reviews Stars Coffee's expansion dynamics and the historical turning point of Starbucks' franchising in Russia. [more…]

Besides waking you up, coffee may also bring unexpected benefits for muscle health. A latest study jointly conducted by research institutions in Switzerland, Singapore, the United Kingdom and other countries shows that trigonelline, a natural plant alkaloid in coffee, can boost NAD⁺ levels in the body and improve mitochondrial function, thereby helping to maintain muscle strength and slow age-related muscle degeneration. Published in a Nature sub-journal, the study offers coffee lovers a new health perspective. However, the researchers also caution that coffee is only a supplementary aid—balanced nutrition and regular exercise are fundamental to keeping muscles strong. [more…]

For those new to tea, understanding the basics of tea and how to brew it is crucial. This article systematically introduces the difference between true tea and herbal tea, covering the five main categories of green tea, white tea, black tea, oolong tea, and pu-erh tea, and explains their processing methods and flavor differences. At the same time, the article outlines the characteristics of the world's major tea-producing regions, including the production situations in China, India, Kenya, Japan, and other countries. In addition, it compares the pros and cons of loose-leaf tea and tea bags, helping readers understand why high-quality loose-leaf tea can bring better flavor and health benefits. Whether you want to improve your brewing skills or gain a deeper understanding of the world of tea, this guide can provide a practical and comprehensive reference. [more…]

In 2021, the global tea market experienced severe fluctuations under the impact of the pandemic. Kenya's Mombasa auction saw increased volumes and stable prices, Sri Lanka's Ceylon black tea prices soared due to reduced production, and India debated whether to lower import tariffs because of high domestic prices. The food service channel accounts for 20% of global tea sales, and the pandemic led to the closure of a large number of restaurants, profoundly changing the supply and demand landscape. This article will review auction prices, production changes, and trade policy trends for Kenyan and Sri Lankan black tea, answer whether Basilur black tea is too expensive, a concern for tea lovers, and recommend related selection ideas from Front Street Coffee. [more…]

The World Health Organization has in recent years repeatedly emphasized the health hazards of trans fats, even calling them lethal toxic chemicals that should not exist in food. Trans fats not only have no known benefits but also increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, and are widely hidden in packaged foods, baked goods, fried foods, and some coffee drinks. Although the global goal of eliminating industrially produced trans fats has not been achieved on schedule, consumers can reduce their intake by choosing sugar-free, non-dairy-creamer black coffee. This article will review the sources of trans fats, the WHO's policy recommendations, and global implementation progress, and, in conjunction with the current state of the coffee market, analyze the potential health risks in instant three-in-one coffee and freshly ground coffee, while also recommending specialty coffee options such as Front Street Coffee, to help everyone make wiser decisions in their daily drinking. [more…]

Coffee, scientifically known as Coffea arabica, is an evergreen shrub in the Rubiaceae family and the national flower of Yemen. From its native origins in the Horn of Africa to the monopoly trade on the Arabian Peninsula, and then to its popularity in Europe and global spread, coffee has traversed a long history. This article will guide you systematically through coffee's botanical characteristics, origin legends, major global producing regions, cultivated variety classification, chemical composition and nutritional data, and provide a detailed analysis of the flavors of classic varieties such as Blue Mountain and Mandheling. Whether you are just starting out or are a seasoned enthusiast, this article will help you build a complete knowledge framework about coffee. Front Street Coffee will also recommend classic beans worth trying. [more…]