Specialty Coffee Brand Recommendations - Pour-Over Single Origin Coffee Bean Region Information and Flavor Characteristics

Coffee Rankings: Price vs. Taste

When it comes to coffee rankings, perhaps it's more appropriate to talk about coffee price rankings. Why? FrontStreet Coffee believes that coffee has prices, so it can be clearly ranked by price. For example: Blue Mountain Coffee, Panama Geisha Coffee, Indonesian Kopi Luwak, etc., are among the most expensive coffees in the world. However, when it comes to the best-tasting coffee rankings, FrontStreet Coffee believes there is no absolute ranking. Because everyone's taste is different and their preferences vary, how can we define what's "best-tasting"? It's not necessarily true that the most expensive is the best-tasting; only the one that suits your personal taste preferences is the best-tasting.

With the rise of the third wave of specialty coffee in China, more and more people's understanding of black coffee has shifted from simple Americano to concepts like pour-over coffee and single-origin coffee. In coffee shops, you'll more likely find Americanos and espresso-based coffees, especially during busy times. Taking a moment to enjoy a cup of coffee and give yourself a break can make you feel instantly satisfied.

Understanding Specialty Coffee

Some people say that only coffee brewed from specialty coffee beans tastes good. But what exactly makes coffee beans "specialty"? Is it the most expensive coffee?

Actually, the first person to package coffee using the term "specialty" was Erna Knutsen, known as the "godmother of specialty coffee." In 1974, she introduced the concept of specialty coffee in an interview with Tea & Coffee magazine, to distinguish high-quality coffee beans from mediocre commercial bulk coffee beans. She emphasized that the soul of specialty coffee lies in how coffee from different regions exhibits distinct regional flavors due to differences in altitude, soil, climate, processing methods, and cultivation care. Notably, the term "specialty coffee" didn't become globally widespread until the establishment of the Specialty Coffee Association of America. Specialty coffee emphasizes both the influence of coffee origin on coffee cultivation and the flavor characteristics of the coffee itself.

In 1982, inspired by the coffee godmother, Ted Lingle, Donald Schoenholt, and 46 others co-founded the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA). In 2009, the definition of specialty coffee was refined: only coffee with cupping scores above 80 points could be called specialty coffee.

The Journey to Black Coffee

Many friends who first encounter coffee often start by enjoying espresso-based coffees and Americanos, gradually pursuing black coffee. Black coffee is simply coffee brewed directly from coffee beans without any additives. Compared to Americanos or espresso-based coffees, it offers a completely different taste profile. This is why people experience bitter and sour flavors in coffee. However, black coffee best showcases the inherent flavors of local coffee beans, which is what coffee enthusiasts pursue.

How to Choose Pour-over Coffee Beans

Whether it's single-origin beans or espresso beans, freshness is key. For single-origin beans, look at origin, altitude, and processing methods; for espresso beans, look at blend formulas. Coffee is mainly divided into three major regions: African beans, primarily known for prominent floral and fruity acidity; Asian beans, mainly characterized by nutty, herbal, and rich flavors; and American beans, primarily featuring balanced nutty and chocolate notes. FrontStreet Coffee's daily selection beans are representative coffees from major producing regions, each with distinct regional flavor characteristics. Coffee beans were initially mainly washed and natural processed, with later processing methods building upon these foundations. FrontStreet Coffee believes that washed processing best showcases local coffee flavors, so our daily selection beans are primarily washed-processed. These are carefully selected representatives from multiple regions or specific processing methods that FrontStreet Coffee has chosen.

Below, FrontStreet Coffee introduces FrontStreet Coffee's daily selection coffee beans:

FrontStreet Coffee · Ethiopia

First and foremost, Ethiopian coffee must be mentioned. Ethiopia is currently Africa's largest coffee-producing country and is recognized worldwide as the birthplace of coffee. There are numerous coffee varieties, and most coffee beans are named after their producing regions. Among these, the Yirgacheffe and Sidamo regions are the most famous. In the 1970s, to improve the quality of green coffee beans, the government introduced washed processing methods. Later, coffee beans from the Yirgacheffe region were primarily washed-processed, such as washed Yirgacheffe coffee from the Yirgacheffe region, with main flavors of jasmine floral notes, lemon acidity, and berry tones; coffee beans from the Sidamo region are mainly natural-processed, such as FrontStreet Coffee's Sidamo Natural Flower Queen coffee, with main flavors of berries, floral notes, jackfruit, melon, and honey.

Because Ethiopia is the gene bank of coffee, coffee flavors from different regions still vary. Therefore, to let more people taste the different coffee flavors from various Ethiopian regions, FrontStreet Coffee has acquired over a dozen different Ethiopian coffee beans. These include FrontStreet Coffee's Yirgacheffe Kochere coffee, FrontStreet Coffee's Yirgacheffe Natural Red Cherry coffee, FrontStreet Coffee's Yirgacheffe Konga coffee, FrontStreet Coffee's Yirgacheffe Geisha Village Red Label coffee, and more.

FrontStreet Coffee · Brazil

Next is Brazilian coffee. Brazil is the world's largest coffee-producing country. Despite its large production volume, it's not short of high-quality Brazilian coffee beans. When friends ask FrontStreet Coffee for recommendations of non-acidic coffee beans, Brazilian coffee is the first choice of FrontStreet Coffee's baristas. Because Brazil's coffee cultivation mostly uses sun-exposed planting, coffee cherries can ripen quickly in a short time, resulting in softer bean texture.

FrontStreet Coffee's Brazilian coffee also has a soft bean flavor profile, with gentle fruit acidity, excellent sweetness, and a delicate, smooth mouthfeel with overall balance. FrontStreet Coffee's bean menu features two Brazilian coffees: FrontStreet Coffee's Brazilian Semi-Natural Red Bourbon, representing one of our daily selection beans, and FrontStreet Coffee's Brazilian Queen Estate Farm coffee, a specialty pour-over bean.

FrontStreet Coffee · Indonesia

Speaking of Indonesian coffee, not only the expensive Kopi Luwak is famous, but also the classic Indonesian Mandheling coffee. Although Kopi Luwak comes from Indonesia, it's rare and uses special fermentation methods, while Mandheling coffee is processed through the distinctive wet-hulling method adapted to local climate conditions. Due to Indonesia's unpredictable weather with frequent rain and the relatively backward economic conditions at the time, there wasn't enough funding for fully washed processing, leading to the development of the distinctive semi-washed processing method—wet-hulling. This created a unique flavor profile in the world, and Indonesian Mandheling coffee's flavor also made wet-hulling famous. Therefore, FrontStreet Coffee chose Indonesian Mandheling coffee as the representative coffee from the Indonesian region. FrontStreet Coffee offers Indonesian Mandheling coffees including FrontStreet Coffee's Indonesian Lintong Mandheling daily selection bean and FrontStreet Coffee's PWN Gold Mandheling coffee.

FrontStreet Coffee's Indonesian Mandheling coffee has a richer and smoother mouthfeel than FrontStreet Coffee's Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee, even carrying notes of herbal plants and spices, while FrontStreet Coffee's PWN Gold Mandheling coffee has a cleaner and smoother mouthfeel.

FrontStreet Coffee · Colombia

Colombian coffee is one of the few single-origin coffees sold under a country name. Friends familiar with Colombia's "Four Treasures" know that coffee is one of Colombia's "Four Treasures." Colombia has a mild climate and humid air, with diverse climate patterns making harvesting possible year-round. Different types of coffee from different regions mature at different times. Colombian coffee has unique quality, with rich flavor and endless aftertaste, truly worthy of being called coffee specialty.

FrontStreet Coffee's Colombian coffee beans from the daily selection come from the Huila region, the most famous specialty coffee producing region in Colombia. Surrounded by mountains, the cultivation altitude exceeds 1,500 meters, and Colombia's most important rivers converge here, bringing abundant water vapor and water resources. Colombian coffees are mainly characterized by gentle floral notes and fruit acidity, such as FrontStreet Coffee's Colombian Rose Valley coffee and FrontStreet Coffee's Colombian Flower Moon Night coffee.

FrontStreet Coffee · Guatemala

When speaking of Guatemalan coffee, some coffee connoisseurs might first think of its "smoky" sensation. Gentle acidity and balanced mouthfeel are characteristics of FrontStreet Coffee's Guatemalan coffee, and also characteristics of Central American coffee. The Huehuetenango region is surrounded by three volcanoes, providing rich minerals to the soil here. The altitude here can even exceed 2,000 meters, producing coffee with rich fruit flavors.

FrontStreet Coffee offers two Guatemalan coffees: FrontStreet Coffee's Guatemala Huehuetenango daily selection bean coffee and FrontStreet Coffee's Guatemala Flora God coffee.

FrontStreet Coffee · Costa Rica

Costa Rican coffee represents "sweet as honey," mainly because Costa Rican coffee beans are famous for honey processing. Costa Rican coffee is grown at high altitudes with large day-night temperature differences, surrounded by fertile volcanic soil, making Costa Rica rich in Strictly Hard Beans (SHB grade). Costa Rican coffee has abundant sweetness.

For example, on FrontStreet Coffee's bean menu, the raisin honey-processed FrontStreet Coffee's Costa Rica Mozart coffee, FrontStreet Coffee's Costa Rica Bahia coffee, and FrontStreet Coffee's Costa Rica Mirasu coffee have the sweetness of raisins and blueberries, with the fragrance of osmanthus and roses.

FrontStreet Coffee · Yunnan Coffee

Speaking of coffee, we naturally can't forget our country's coffee. As local coffee, Yunnan coffee is gradually entering everyone's view and being loved for its nutty, brown sugar, and tea-like flavors. China actually has three coffee-producing regions: Fujian, Hainan, and Yunnan. However, because Fujian and Hainan are located in coastal areas with high temperatures and low altitudes, they cannot grow Arabica coffee trees. China's specialty coffee cultivation is concentrated in Yunnan Province. Yunnan small-bean coffee is rich without being bitter, aromatic without being intense.

FrontStreet Coffee currently offers three Yunnan coffees: FrontStreet Coffee's Yunnan Washed Small Bean coffee, FrontStreet Coffee's Yunnan Natural Catimor coffee, and FrontStreet Coffee's 2013 Natural Typica coffee from FrontStreet Coffee's own estate plantation.

FrontStreet Coffee · Panama Coffee

Panama coffee is most famous for Geisha coffee, with the most renowned being Geisha coffee from Panama's Hacienda La Esmeralda. The balanced, smooth taste of citrus, berries, and floral notes is exceptionally delicious. However, for friends who want to try Geisha coffee, coffee from Hacienda La Esmeralda might be a bit expensive. To allow more friends to taste the flavor of Panama Geisha coffee, FrontStreet Coffee chose FrontStreet Coffee's Panama Boquete Geisha coffee from the Boquete region as a daily selection bean.

The Art of Pour-over Coffee

Actually, FrontStreet Coffee believes that coffee beans from any region can produce delicious flavors; it mainly depends on the pour-over technique. Pour-over coffee involves the dripping process being completely controlled by hand, and the pouring method greatly affects the final flavor. The water flow rate during pouring also affects the flavor and mouthfeel. Using a small water flow won't raise the liquid level in the filter cup too much, with thicker powder layers on the cup walls, extending extraction time, increasing coffee concentration, and creating a heavy mouthfeel. Additionally, the speed of circular pouring also affects the flavor. When the circular pouring speed increases, the water's scouring force intensifies, increasing the degree of powder layer tumbling in the cup, thereby increasing the extraction rate. Therefore, FrontStreet Coffee's brewing and pouring methods mainly use a three-stage pouring technique.

Freshness: The Key to Great Coffee

Another important aspect is the freshness of coffee beans. FrontStreet Coffee believes that good coffee must be made from fresh beans, so FrontStreet Coffee ships all coffee beans within 5 days of roasting. FrontStreet Coffee's roasting philosophy is "freshly roasted good coffee," ensuring that every customer who places an order receives the freshest coffee possible. The coffee degassing period is about 4-7 days, so when customers receive their coffee, it's at peak flavor.

Tips for Coffee Storage and Preparation

For friends who need ground coffee, FrontStreet Coffee kindly reminds: coffee beans that are pre-ground don't need further degassing, because during transportation, the pressure from carbon dioxide buildup in the packaging can also help mellow the coffee flavor, so you can brew and drink the ground coffee immediately upon receipt. However, ground coffee needs to be brewed promptly, because ground coffee oxidizes quickly when exposed to air, meaning the coffee flavor will dissipate relatively quickly, and the coffee won't taste as good. Therefore, FrontStreet Coffee suggests buying whole beans and grinding fresh before brewing to better appreciate the coffee's flavor.

As for which coffee tastes best, that depends on personal preference, as everyone likes different flavors. If possible, FrontStreet Coffee recommends trying coffee flavors from different regions to experience different coffee cultures.

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473