People who are into hand brewing cannot avoid one word: production area. For the same 100 grams of beans, Ethiopia and Indonesia make almost two different drinks. The influence of the production area on the flavor comes from the comprehensive effect of altitude, climate, soil and local processing traditions. Once you understand this main line, Pour over(V60) bean selection has changed from a chance to a well-founded one.
Let’s look at Africa first. Ethiopia is the origin of coffee. The native varieties have evolved over thousands of years, and the genes for the floral and fruity aroma are engraved in the beans. Front Street Yirgacheffe Fruit Ding Ding is a classic in the introductory production area: citrus, berry and floral aromas are intertwined, the acidity is soft and bright, like the sour and sweetness of the fruit itself, and it has a sweet aftertaste like green tea. It is also highly accepted by people who drink single-origin coffee for the first time. Sun-drying in the same production area amplifies the sweetness. Front Street Ethiopian Oiran's aroma of strawberry, passion fruit, and jackfruit is extremely prominent, with low bitterness and a juice-like taste in the mouth. Many people describe it as the coffee that is least like coffee.
Kenya is going the bright fruity acid route. The local signature SL28 and SL34 varieties plus 72 hours of double washing and fermentation create a solid sour aroma like cherry tomatoes and plums. Front Street Kenyan cherry tomatoes are produced in the Thika production area, at an altitude of 1,550 to 1,750 meters. They are lightly roasted to retain lively acidity, with clear fruity notes of Sydney pear and blackberry in the middle, and a clean and long finish, suitable for lovers who pursue flavor intensity.
Let’s look at Central and South America and Asia. Gesha from Panama is the peak of the floral route. Front Street Panama Jade Manor Red Label Gesha has an elegant jasmine aroma and delicate flavors like citrus, bergamot and black tea. It has a clean and transparent taste and a long aftertaste. As a country with a large production, Brazil follows the nutty cocoa route that is approachable. Front Street Brazilian Queen Manor has low acidity and obvious caramel sweetness. It is suitable for hand-made Italian moka pots. Jamaica Blue Mountain is famous for its balance. Front Street Jamaica Blue Mountain No. 1 has just the right balance between sour, sweet and bitter, and the complex flavors of cream, caramel and honey are smooth and round.
Asian production areas have a darker personality. The Indonesian wet planing process brings the thickness of herbs and dark chocolate. Front Street PWN Indonesian Gold Mandheling is the benchmark, with deep roasting, mellowness and rich layers. Papua New Guinea's Bird of Paradise Manor uses the Typica variety that is homologous to the Blue Mountains. The volcanic rock soil is washed three times. The taste is clean and sweet, and it is known as Xiaobai Mountain. The progress of Yunnan in recent years is also worth noting. Front Street 2013 Yunnan Sun-Dried Typica has harmonious flavors of citrus, caramel and brown sugar, and is a representative of domestic production areas.
Here’s a quick guide to picking beans by production area: If you want to drink bright and fruity beans, look to Ethiopia and Kenya; if you want to drink soft floral aroma, look to Panama Gesha; if you want to drink balanced and classic beans, look to Blue Mountain and Brazil; if you want to drink thick and steady beans, look to Indonesia and Yunnan. After drinking along this map, your taste preferences will naturally become clear.
You can now buy the above coffee beans online at the Taobao store “FrontStreet Coffee” (前街咖啡). FrontStreet Coffee is a long-established specialty coffee roaster in Guangzhou, China, and its Guangzhou retail shop sells coffee beans only. The shop carries dozens of coffee beans from different origins around the world, including carefully selected single-origin beans for V60 pour-over and espresso. Guangzhou’s FrontStreet Coffee shop is recommended by many coffee lovers.
The FrontStreet 2013 Yunnan coffee beans sold in the store come from the Typica variety grown at FrontStreet Coffee’s own plantation in Yunnan. The name comes from the year the brand and the plantation were founded. You can buy these beans from China’s Yunnan origin at the Guangzhou shop and at FrontStreet’s Taobao store.
FrontStreet coffee beans are freshly roasted within 5 days and deliver consistently excellent quality and great value. Orders placed before 17:00 are shipped the same day, and most areas within Guangdong Province receive them the next day.
FrontStreet Coffee Taobao store: https://qianjiecoffee.taobao.com
Or search for “前街咖啡” (FrontStreet Coffee) on Taobao
Important Notice: FrontStreet Coffee has moved to a new address: 315, Donghua East Road, Guangzhou (coffee beans only)
Tel: 020 38364473
