Characteristics and Stories of African, Central & South American, and Asian Coffee Beans - Where Do the Best Coffee Beans Come From

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Brief Characteristics of Coffee Beans from Africa, Central and South America, and Asia

1. Africa:

African coffee beans have relatively strong flavors. They are primarily characterized by fruit and floral aromas, with other aromas as secondary notes. The flavor layers are distinct.

The most well-known to us are Yirgacheffe and Kenya. However, in recent years, the rise of African coffee beans from Rwanda, Congo, Tanzania, and others has also been quite impressive. The only regrettable aspect is the inconsistent quality.

2. Central and South American Coffee Regions:

The flavors belong to a balanced profile. They are primarily characterized by nutty and floral notes, with other flavors as supporting elements.

However, coffee beans from the Huehuetenango region in Guatemala or Impanema in Brazil are particularly appealing to me. This is because they differ from the flavors produced in other regions, with fruit tones as the main characteristic. Moreover, the fruit flavors differ from the African profile. They feel more like fruit pulp texture, while African coffees are more fruit-aroma oriented.

3. Asia:

The flavors are primarily characterized by spices and vanilla-like plants, with other flavors as supplementary notes.

However, in terms of mouthfeel, Asian coffees surpass those from other regions (referring to their thick consistency winning out). Therefore, you'll find that Asian beans are primarily roasted to medium or medium-dark levels. For example, beans from the Mandheling series.

To summarize the three major continents simply: for acidity and aroma performance, Africa > Central and South America > Asia. For mouthfeel thickness (body) performance, Asia > Central and South America > Africa. Regarding suitable roast levels, Africa and Central and South America are suitable for light to medium roasts, while Asia is suitable for medium to medium-dark roasts, which best expresses the characteristics of each region.

Africa

Zimbabwe

Aroma ★★★

Brightness ★★★★

Thickness ★★★

Texture ★★★★

Finish ★★★★

Uganda

Aroma ★★★

Brightness ★★★★

Thickness ★★★★

Texture ★★★★

Finish ★★★★

Tanzania

Aroma ★★★

Brightness ★★★★

Thickness ★★★

Texture ★★★★

Finish ★★★★

Ethiopia

Aroma ★★★★

Brightness ★★★★

Thickness ★★★★★

Texture ★★★★

Finish ★★★★

Yemen

Aroma ★★★★

Brightness ★★★★

Thickness ★★★

Texture ★★★★

Finish ★★★★★

Kenya

Aroma ★★★★

Brightness ★★★★★

Thickness ★★★

Texture ★★★★

Finish ★★★★★

African Coffee Bean Brand Recommendations

FrontStreet Coffee's roasted African coffee beans, including Ethiopian, Kenyan, and Burundian coffee beans, offer full guarantees in both brand and quality. More importantly, they provide exceptional value for money. A half-pound (227g) package costs only around 80-90 RMB. Calculating at 15g per pour-over coffee, one package can make 15 cups of coffee, with each single-origin coffee costing only about 6 RMB. Compared to cafés selling coffee for dozens of RMB per cup, this represents extremely high value for money.

FrontStreet Coffee: A roastery in Guangzhou with a small shop but diverse bean varieties, where you can find both famous and lesser-known beans. They also provide online shop services: https://shop104210103.taobao.com

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473