What is SOE Coffee? How to Make SOE Coffee? Is SOE Coffee Better Tasting Than Blend Coffee?

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What is S.O.E.?

S.O.E. is the abbreviation for Single Origin Espresso, which means "single origin espresso coffee." The entire flavor presentation will be very distinctive. The full English name for the abbreviation S.O.E. is Single Origin Espresso, which can be called single-origin bean espresso coffee, where Single Origin means coffee beans from a single estate, and Espresso means transforming single-origin coffee beans into espresso.

The Evolution of S.O.E.

Speaking of S.O.E., Chen Zhihuang, founder of Fika Fika Café, who won the Nordic Cup Coffee Roasting Championship in 2013, believes that traditional espresso in the past was based on the Italian traditional blending concept, where different beans were mixed to showcase the best balance, providing a smooth mouthfeel with comfortable sensation and stable performance throughout the front, middle, and back notes. However, the advantages of blended espresso, besides balance, naturally become the most favorable version in commercial choices because they can stabilize formulas and control prices.

Important Clarifications

However, it's important to know that:

• S.O.E. does not equal specialty coffee
• S.O.E. does not equal delicious
• S.O.E. does not equal higher quality than blended beans
• S.O.E. does not equal light-roast espresso

Coffee beans from different estates carry different terroir aromas, and when combined with the amplifying effect of espresso, along with different professional baristas' roasting and barista interpretation, technical skill becomes the key to successful performance.

Technical Challenges

The reason why higher technical skill is required is that single-origin beans come from different regions. Although their characteristics are prominent, their relative drawbacks are also amplified. Therefore, the roast degree and grind size naturally affect the flavor, which is also the most difficult part of making SOE. Additionally, besides focusing on flavor nowadays, it's actually necessary to introduce and explain to consumers the flavor and representative meaning of Single Origin coffee beans. Beyond tasting, storytelling is even more important.

Example: FrontStreet Coffee's Sidamo Guji

Taking FrontStreet Coffee's [Sidamo Guji] as an example, 20 grams of coffee extracted for 25 seconds, it smells like honey-like sweetness with some orange citrus aroma, and the first sip reveals rich strawberry and berry flavors.

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473