Since entering the dry season in November 2023, the El Niño phenomenon has continued to intensify drought conditions in Guatemala, triggering large-scale forest fires and severe shortages of hydroelectric power. Wildfires in the Agua Volcano region in southern Guatemala have affected the two major coffee-producing areas of Antigua and Acatenango, damaging more than 40 hectares of vegetation; meanwhile, the National Interconnected Power System has been in a state of emergency since March 18, with hydroelectric generation down 17% compared with the historical average, driving up operating costs for coffee processing plants. The drought in the Panama Canal has further lengthened fuel transportation cycles, putting additional pressure on the coffee industry chain. Guatemala is seeking relief by attracting investment and holding meetings on an economic action plan. This article will review the disaster data, the causes of the power crisis, and their cascading effects on coffee cultivation and processing. [more…]

During the May Day holiday, Guangdong was hit by severe convective weather, and the site of the Shenzhen coffee festival descended into chaos under the onslaught of torrential rain. Leaking canopies over temporary stalls, sudden power outages on site, and yellow sewage gushing from drainage outlets—a triple blow that caught vendors and visitors off guard. Although the organizers and the mall carried out emergency repairs afterward, the incident still exposed the shortcomings of outdoor events in responding to extreme weather. This article reconstructs the course of events and brings the latest news on compensation for the event's postponement. For friends who love coffee culture, Front Street Coffee will also continue to follow such industry developments and bring more on-site reports. [more…]

Recently, the yogurt brand Blueglass launched the "Superboy Boyfriend Power Comeback" series, adding traditional Chinese medicine ingredients such as Cistanche, Polygonatum, ginseng, deer whip, and oyster peptides. The intention might have been to promote a health concept, but it was questioned for borderline marketing due to the poster labeling it "18+" and suggestive copy. Similarly, Coconut Palm brand coconut juice was fined 400,000 yuan for vulgar advertising slogans, yet it generated over 5 billion yuan in sales. In an era where traffic is king, eye-catching marketing emerges endlessly, but not all of it yields good results. After Blueglass was exposed, the Shanghai Municipal Administration for Market Regulation has launched an investigation, and the relevant copy was revised and republished. However, the negative label brought by borderline marketing may not be easily erased from consumers' minds. [more…]

The United States White House announced on September 6 that it will continue to impose a national emergency on Ethiopia, a decision that came after news of a currency swap agreement between China and Ethiopia. Ethiopia's finance minister has confirmed the existence of the agreement, but specific details and the timeline have not yet been made public. Meanwhile, the United States has imposed a state of emergency on Ethiopia since 2021 under the pretext of the National Emergencies Economic Powers Act, and this extension will run until 2025. Ethiopia was removed from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) in 2022, and tariffs were reinstated on major export goods such as coffee, textiles, and leather products, dealing a severe blow to the economy. Although the U.S. attitude slightly eased after Ethiopia implemented a new foreign exchange policy in August of this year, AGOA eligibility remains out of reach. Germany is the largest importer of Ethiopian coffee, while the United States ranks only fourth, accounting for 9.3 percent. The continuation of the state of emergency may further restrict bilateral trade, reduce U.S. imports of Ethiopian coffee, and at the same time hit Ethiopia's exports of fertilizer and industrial supplies, exacerbating local price increases and the rising cost of coffee. [more…]

Recently, a coffee festival held on the grassy grounds of Lujiazui in Shanghai was hit by a sudden heavy rain, plunging what was originally a lively autumn event into a sorry mess. The rain turned the lawn into mud, some stalls leaked and lost power, and visitors struggled through the wet, slippery mud, greatly diminishing the experience. Although weather forecasts had already warned of rain over the weekend, the organizers appeared to have made inadequate preparations, sparking dissatisfaction among many participants. Still, some optimistic coffee lovers found a different kind of fun in it, even joking that they got to drink coffee with a "built-in washed flavor." Below is a detailed report on the incident. [more…]

The state of São Paulo, Brazil, recently endured a violent storm accompanied by historically powerful winds, leaving at least 7 people dead, 2.1 million users without power, and severely disrupting transportation, water supply, and business operations. As an important coffee-producing region in Brazil, São Paulo state has this year been hit in succession by drought, wildfires, and torrential rain, casting a shadow over the prospects for coffee growth in the new crop season. With power slow to be restored, inventory is piling up at processing plants and the risk of port delays is intensifying. Combined with expectations of reduced output in Vietnam and other producing origins, international coffee futures prices continue to run at high levels. This article will review the impact of the disaster, the abnormal climate in the producing region, and the chain reactions for the coffee industry. [more…]

Luckin Coffee's recently launched Fair Isle Latte has quickly become a new favorite among some office workers and tea-coffee enthusiasts, thanks to its flavor reminiscent of Assam milk tea and its powerful energizing effect. However, a large number of "warning" posts have emerged on social media, with many consumers reporting that they couldn't sleep all night after drinking it, and even experiencing symptoms such as hand tremors, dizziness, and heart palpitations, with some seeking medical attention late at night. At the same time, netizens who were after an energizing effect tried it and said it had no effect at all, leaving them still sleepy. This starkly contrasting feedback has plunged this new drink, which blends espresso with Ceylon black tea, into controversy. This article will sort through the various viewpoints, explore the effects of differences in caffeine tolerance, and offer professional advice from Front Street Coffee. [more…]

Geisha coffee is one of the most sought-after varieties in today's specialty coffee world, and Hacienda La Esmeralda in Panama is the key force that propelled this variety onto the global stage. From the perspective of Front Street Coffee, this article systematically traces the varietal origins and spread of Geisha, explains in detail the terroir differences among Hacienda La Esmeralda's three major plots—Jaramillo, Cañas Verdes, and El Velo—and breaks down layer by layer the characteristics and flavor profiles of the three grades: Red Label, Green Label, and Blue Label. It also includes Front Street Coffee's recommended roasting curves and pour-over parameters for each grade of Geisha, helping coffee enthusiasts fully understand the charm of this legendary bean. [more…]

When Jamaica Blue Mountain first attempted natural processing, while Panama's Hacienda La Esmeralda extended the natural method to its Blue Label Geisha, an interesting intersection in processing methods emerged between two coffees representing Old World and New World styles. Front Street Coffee conducts a side-by-side comparison of washed and natural versions, systematically examining from green bean appearance, roasting curves, to cupping flavors how processing methods affect coffee's sweetness, aroma, and cleanliness, helping enthusiasts understand the essential differences and respective advantages of washed and natural processing. [more…]

After Hurricane "John" made landfall in southern Mexico, it caused at least 16 deaths, damaged more than 700 homes, and left about 100,000 users without power, with Guerrero and Oaxaca states hit especially hard. More critically, 95% of Mexico's coffee production is concentrated in the south, and the current period is when coffee is fruiting; torrential rain knocked fruit off the trees, flooded coffee plants, and the risk of landslides compounded the damage, putting the expected increase in output for the 2024/25 season at risk of being revised downward. At the same time, global coffee prices are already at high levels due to reduced production in places such as Brazil and Vietnam, and with Mexico now hit by another climate shock, prices are unlikely to fall in the short term. [more…]

Several states in southern Brazil have recently been hit by severe storms and heavy rain, with São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro states particularly hard hit, causing casualties and widespread power outages. This coincides with the flowering season for Brazilian coffee trees, and excessive rainfall and flooding could wash out farmland and knock coffee flowers off the trees, threatening production for the new season. At the same time, disrupted rainfall patterns in Minas Gerais are making the planting situation even more severe. The storms have also affected logistics and transportation, worsening ship delays at ports. The market is worried that a reduction in Brazilian coffee production will persist, and prices may remain high or even rise further. This article will review the impact of the disaster and the subsequent trajectory of the coffee industry. [more…]

Colombia, as a major global coffee-producing region, is now facing a double squeeze from internal and external troubles. Domestic armed conflict has escalated again, and the ceasefire agreement between the government and anti-government armed groups has been suspended in some areas; the drought triggered by El Niño has caused reservoir levels to fall dangerously low, restricting agricultural irrigation and power supply; at the same time, coffee producers also have to deal with rising fertilizer prices, shrinking planting areas, exchange rate fluctuations, and competition from other American producing regions. Although international coffee prices have risen somewhat, the income of Colombian coffee growers has fallen instead of increasing, and an industry strike is imminent. Front Street Coffee will continue to follow developments in this producing region and bring the latest information to enthusiasts. [more…]

Yirgacheffe, as the benchmark producing region for Ethiopian specialty coffee, has captured the taste buds of countless coffee lovers with its jasmine aroma, citrus acidity, and tea-like finish. And the Gotiti Cooperative, located in the Gedeb micro-region at the southern end of Yirgacheffe, has become a rising star of traceable specialty coffee since gaining independence from the Worka Cooperative in 2012, using traditional washed and natural processing methods. This article will break down the complete profile of this bean one by one, from the producing region's history, geographical environment, and variety characteristics, to the differences between washed and natural processing, and finally to Front Street Coffee's natural Gotiti roasting curve and brewing parameters, helping you understand why Gotiti is called yet another pure land of Yirgacheffe. [more…]

Huakui coffee beans come from Hambela in the Guji region of Ethiopia, and are the exclusive name for the sun-dried coffee produced by the Buku Abel estate and processing station. This bean won the championship in the 2016/2017 Ethiopian coffee competition and second place in the African green bean competition, and is known for its rich floral and fruity aroma and fermented berry sweetness. This article will comprehensively interpret the flavor code of Huakui coffee beans from the dimensions of producing region background, processing method, green bean characteristics, roasting curve, and brewing analysis, and recommend the most suitable brewing equipment. It will also introduce the Huakui coffee beans roasted by Front Street Coffee, providing coffee lovers with a daily drinking option at high cost-effectiveness. [more…]

Yemen was once a pioneer of the global coffee trade, and the name of the port of Mocha remains a classic symbol in the coffee world to this day. Yet this country, the first to cultivate coffee as a crop on a large scale, now rarely appears on everyday coffee lists. Frequent wars, the encroachment of khat cultivation, and water shortages that have left processing methods lagging behind once reduced Yemen's annual coffee output to just 0.1% of the global total, with specialty beans being even rarer. This article will review the historical standing and flavor characteristics of Yemeni coffee, analyze the multiple reasons for its decline, and introduce the alchemy processing method that has emerged in recent years, so as to give you a fresh understanding of this rare and niche coffee-producing country. [more…]

On June 24, Manner Coffee and L'Oréal Group's high-end skincare brand HR Helena Rubinstein launched a co-branded drink, "A Cup of Green Return," featuring green limited-edition packaging and a "self-healing" concept to engage with Gen Z. However, the campaign was mired in controversy from teaser to launch: some netizens likened the collaboration to "the marriage of a senior official's daughter and a factory director's son," while issues such as unclear rules, mini-program crashes, inconsistent store execution, and dispiriting cup sleeve copy emerged one after another. Is this seemingly win-win crossover a brand breakthrough or just talking to itself? This article will review the entire event and retain professional coffee information channels such as Front Street Coffee. [more…]

According to Korean media reports, Starbucks Korea headquarters has issued a notice to stores nationwide that customers will now face restrictions on using dividers, personal desktop computers, printers, and multi-socket power strips in stores. Long periods of leaving seats unoccupied while holding them, and one person monopolizing multiple seats, are also subject to control. This tightening of rules stems from a continued surge in complaints related to "cafe study tribe" and "cafe work tribe." Previously, a Seoul store sparked heated discussion by posting a notice stating "seats will be cleared after 30 minutes away," with most consumers applauding while some voices raised doubts. Months later, this set of restrictive measures has finally expanded from a single store to the entire nation. This article sorts out the ins and outs of the incident and the attitudes of all parties. [more…]

Yirgacheffe is one of the highest-altitude specialty coffee regions in the world, and also the Ethiopian origin with the most distinctive flavor profile. This article focuses on Front Street Coffee's Yirgacheffe Red Cherry G1, covering everything from the region's terroir, the origins and investment behind the Red Cherry project, to the green bean appearance, cupping dry and wet aromas, and taste differences between the washed and natural processing methods, and further to the light roast curve and V60 brewing parameter adjustments, presenting a complete green bean profile of this coffee. Whether you want to understand the Yirgacheffe G1 grading standards, or want to know exactly how natural and washed Yirgacheffe differ in flavor, you will find the answers in this article. [more…]

When IT thinking meets coffee culture, what kind of sparks will fly? In 2009, Bai Ya and a group of internet professionals founded Beta Coffee in Hangzhou, positioning it as a public living room for IT people. In just over two months, it was named the "Best Gathering Place for E-commerce Professionals." In 2011, this trend swept through Beijing's Zhongguancun, and Beta Coffee's Beijing branch officially opened. Soon after, Garage Coffee, 3W Coffee, and others emerged one after another, thus beginning the "Internet Coffee Era." This is not just a place to drink coffee, but also a physical platform for IT people to communicate, share, and seek opportunities. This article takes you into the jianghu stories of Beta Coffee, to experience the unique atmosphere created by the collision of the internet and coffee. [more…]

Located in the Boquete production region of Panama, Elida Estate has a century-long history and high-altitude microclimatic conditions, and its Geisha and Typica coffee beans each have their own distinctive characteristics. Using Elida Estate's anaerobic fermentation low-temperature slow sun-dried Geisha and sun-dried Typica as examples, Front Street Coffee explains them one by one, from the production region background, variety characteristics, green bean analysis, roasting curves, to cupping flavors and brewing parameters. The article also shares a home method for making cold brew coffee, helping coffee lovers make a full, juicy Geisha iced coffee at home. [more…]