Thursday, September 17 2026

Coffee Flavor | Why Do Some Coffees Taste Like "Soy Sauce"? What Factors Affect Coffee Flavor? How to Avoid a "Soy Sauce" Taste in Coffee?

“Huh? Why does this coffee smell kind of like soy sauce?” a customer asked cautiously, full of confusion, after sniffing the dry aroma of the coffee grounds Front Street had handed over. This was not actually the first time Front Street had received such a question. Besides “soy sauce,” there were also things like “ [more…]

Coffee Flavor Map | How Can Coffee Beginners Train and Build Their Coffee Sensory System? Are Aroma Kits Helpful for Coffee Flavor Tasting?

As coffee has gradually become more widely recognized, specialty coffee promotion in cafés has emerged in response, and we too have begun tracing things back to their roots—we have come to treat coffee as culture. The rise of specialty pour-over coffee undoubtedly reflects the demands of the market and the needs that cafés have identified. Café counters have also begun to lower their "status," no longer featuring the early design of a bar raised a foot high. [more…]

Latte Art Illustrated Guide | How Can Coffee Beginners Learn Latte Art? What Should Be Noted in Latte Art? Instructional Guide on Swan, Tulip, and Rosetta Latte Art

Latte art mainly takes three forms: free pouring, etching, and stenciling. Stenciling uses a stencil to dust cocoa powder, chocolate powder, or cinnamon powder onto the coffee to create a pattern. Free pouring and etching are together known as Latte Art: the former involves pouring steamed [more…]

Starbucks Coffee Full-Series Tasting Guide: Flavor and Price Analysis from Classic Espresso to Creative Specialty Drinks

As a globally renowned coffee chain brand, Starbucks offers a dazzling array of drinks on its menu, from classic espresso to creatively crafted specialty beverages, each carrying its own unique coffee culture. This article will systematically outline the complete range of Starbucks coffee types, covering classics such as cappuccino, latte, Americano, mocha, and caramel macchiato, as well as the iced drink series and creative products like Frappuccino, while also detailing the general price ranges for each size. In addition, the article delves into the roasting origins of Starbucks coffee beans, the Italian roots of its size terminology, and the personalized options customers can customize, providing coffee enthusiasts with a comprehensive and practical ordering reference. [more…]

从嗅觉到触觉:系统化构建个人咖啡感官能力的实用路径

咖啡的品鉴远不止于味觉,它是一场视觉、听觉、触觉、嗅觉与味觉的协同体验。本文从精品咖啡门店的互动场景切入,深入解析如何通过日常积累与专业工具,训练并建立属于自己的咖啡感官系统。你将了解嗅觉如何牵引味觉记忆、舌头如何辨别五味、触觉如何感知醇厚与丝滑,以及如何利用36味咖啡鼻子与100味风味地图等闻香瓶进行刻意练习。不论你是咖啡爱好者还是从业者,这套方法都能帮你更清晰地读懂杯中风味,让每一次品尝都更有趣、更精准。 [more…]

Origins of the Coffee Flavor Wheel | What's the difference between the old and new coffee flavor wheels? What are the limitations of the SCAA Coffee Flavor Wheel? How do you use the flavor wheel to taste and describe coffee?

On the journey of learning about specialty coffee, I believe everyone is especially impressed by a colorful ring. It is the SCAA 2016 Coffee Flavor Wheel that has tormented you countless times. Of course, this is already a "simplified" version; the first edition of the flavor wheel in 1995 had two, one on the front. [more…]

Mocha Recipe | What's the Difference Between Italian Milk Coffee, Mocha, and Latte? How Can Coffee Beginners Make a Starbucks-Style Mocha at Home?

Recently, more and more friends have been visiting Front Street Coffee stores to ask about Mocha coffee. Unfortunately, Mocha coffee has already been removed from Front Street Coffee's menu, so these friends have been turned away one after another. "Since we can't buy it outside, we'll just make it ourselves and take care of our own needs." Most friends, holding onto this idea, went home [more…]

Mocha Coffee Tutorial Illustrated | What Is Espresso Milk Coffee Mocha? Which Coffee Beans Are Suitable for Making Mocha? How to Make a Delicious Mocha at Home?

For more specialty coffee knowledge, please follow: Front Street Coffee (Frontsteet Coffee) Recently, more friends have been visiting Front Street stores to ask about Mocha coffee. Unfortunately, Mocha coffee has already been removed from Front Street's menu, so these friends have all hit a dead end one after another. "Since [more…]

Mocha Coffee Beans Recommendation | Which coffee beans are suitable for making mocha coffee? How to make mocha coffee at home? Introduction to the key points of iced mocha coffee making techniques

For more specialty coffee knowledge, please follow: Front Street Coffee (Frontsteet Coffee) Recently, more friends have been visiting Front Street stores to ask about Mocha coffee. Unfortunately, Mocha coffee has already been removed from Front Street's menu, so friends have been disappointed one after another. "Since [more…]

Italian Milk Coffee | What Is Mocha Coffee? How Do the Ratios Differ Between Mocha and Latte Preparation Methods? Which Tastes Better at Starbucks, Mocha or Latte?

Many people think that mocha coffee and latte coffee are about the same. Although both belong to Italian coffee and use Espresso and milk, they still differ greatly in taste and preparation ratios. Today Front Street Coffee will talk about the differences between mocha coffee and latte coffee. Latte originates from the Italian word L [more…]

Illustrated Latte Art Tutorial: Key Points on Milk Foam Thickness and a Full Analysis of Milk Selection

Many friends who are just getting into coffee think latte art looks simple—just pour casually and you'll get a heart or a tulip. But when they actually try it, they discover the milk always floats on the surface in clumps. In fact, the key to latte art lies in the condition of the milk foam, the pouring technique, and the way you hold the pitcher and the cup. This time, Front Street Coffee focuses on latte art, breaking down the operational details of each step—from the required foam thickness, steam wand positioning, and steaming temperature, to pouring practice and how to hold the milk pitcher—to help everyone avoid detours and pour a decent-looking pattern as quickly as possible. [more…]

Selection of Coffee Beans for Latte Recommendations | Which Tastes Better, Latte or Mocha? What Are the Differences in Taste, Texture, and Preparation Between Latte and Cappuccino?

At Front Street Coffee, many friends order latte and mocha, two very popular coffees, and the baristas at Front Street Coffee are also very fond of them. But when it comes to the difference between them, many people probably don't know. Front Street tells you: actually [more…]

Mocha Coffee | What's the difference between pour-over mocha coffee and espresso mocha coffee? What is the flavor of Yemeni mocha beans? How is espresso mocha coffee made?

When it comes to mocha coffee, many people think of the espresso-based milk coffee with chocolate sauce added that is served in coffee shops today. A small number of people think of Yemeni mocha coffee. In this article, Front Street Coffee will explain the difference between espresso mocha coffee and single-origin mocha coffee! What is single-origin mocha coffee? Yemeni mocha [more…]

Coffee Basics | What Does Mocha Mean in Coffee? Is Mocha Coffee a Black Coffee Made from Mocha Coffee Beans? Is There Any Connection Between the Moka Pot and Yemeni Mocha?

For more specialty coffee knowledge and sharing, please follow our WeChat official account: Front Street Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee). Many newcomers to coffee feel very confused when they see coffee terms containing "Mocha." Views on Mocha coffee differ between those who start with espresso-based coffee and those who start with single-origin coffee. [more…]

The Triple Identity of the Word "Mocha": From Yemeni Coffee Beans to Espresso Drinks and Home Moka Pots

The word "Mocha" appears with extremely high frequency in the coffee world, but what exactly does it refer to? Friends new to coffee are often confused by the three things: mocha coffee beans, the mocha coffee drink, and the moka pot. In fact, their origins may span one or two centuries, and there is no direct derivative relationship between them, yet they all happen to share the name "Mocha." To sort out this relationship, the clues trace back to the Port of Mocha in Yemen. This article will break down the true meaning of these three "Mochas" one by one from three angles: historical origins, flavor characteristics, and brewing principles, and will also include Front Street Coffee's practical advice on choosing beans for the moka pot. [more…]

Types of Italian Milk Coffee | What are the differences in flavor, taste, and preparation ratios among Americano, Latte, Cappuccino, Mocha, Flat White, and Macchiato?

With the entry of international freshly ground coffee brands such as Starbucks and Costa direct-operated stores into China, a coffee craze has risen in the country. Many businesses continuously make a big fuss over coffee beverages. In addition to the relatively expensive freshly ground coffee, affordable instant coffee and coffee drinks also have very high popularity. So what are the current mainstream co [more…]

Coffee Type Flavor Comparison | What Are the Mainstream Coffee Drinks? What's the Difference Between Americano, Latte, Cappuccino, Mocha, and Pour-Over Coffee? Which Coffee Tastes Good Without Being Bitter?

For more specialty coffee knowledge, please follow the WeChat public account: Front Street Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee). As international freshly ground coffee brands such as Starbucks and Costa have entered China with their directly operated stores, a coffee craze has risen in the country, and many businesses keep making a big fuss over coffee drinks. In addition to [more…]

How to Choose Dark Roast Coffee Beans: Three Full-Bodied Flavors for Pour-Over

Dark roast coffee beans are not only suitable for espresso machines; pour-over can also produce a thick, sweet, and smooth black coffee. Its flavor usually leans closer to cocoa, roasted nuts, caramel, and toasty aromas, with a milder acidity on the palate. It's great for pairing with bread at breakfast, and also for when you want a cup of steady, grounded coffee without pronounced fruity acidity. According to the roasting process [more…]

From Surfactants to Foam Stability: A Beginner's Guide to Latte Art and the Principles of Fluid Dynamics

Latte art is a romantic expression of a barista's skill, with white milk foam blooming into heart or leaf patterns on the surface of dark brown espresso. Latte art is divided into two types: free-pour latte art and etched latte art created after pouring. The wonder of the former lies in the pattern forming simultaneously with the pour, while the latter offers a wider range of designs because the stable foam allows for leisurely drawing. From a physics perspective, the core of latte art lies in surfactants—molecules that possess both hydrophilic and hydrophobic groups, capable of stabilizing the interface between air and liquid to form lasting foam. Milk proteins and coffee lipids act together as surfactants, enabling the two micron-scale foams to remain clearly separated for a long time after mixing, thereby allowing the pattern to persist. This article will guide you from the basic principles of surfactants to understand espresso's crema, the formation of hot milk foam, and why foam mixing rather than liquid mixing is the key to successful latte art, while also revealing the widespread applications of surfactants in daily life and industry. [more…]