Although there are only four types of espresso on the menu of the Qian Street store, there are actually some equally classic styles hidden behind them, such as strong espresso. Espresso has a relatively low audience in China, but it is a national drink in Italy, its birthplace.
Espresso is a method invented by Italians in the 19th century to quickly extract coffee liquid through high temperature and high pressure, and serve it in a special small coffee cup. Since drip coffee brewing takes a long time, Italians need a faster extraction and drinking method to save time. Simple and mellow Espresso is the first choice, refreshing and fully saving time. So a cup of delicious espresso is also the soul of a cup of Italian coffee.
A cup of high-quality Espresso has a layer of beautiful golden-yellow oil. This layer of oil is called Crema. The emergence of Crema is inseparable from nine atmospheres of pressure. When water is heated and pressurized, it will extract the soluble substances in the coffee powder layer. This process will emulsify the fat and oil naturally present in the coffee. At the same time, freshly roasted coffee beans contain carbon dioxide. During the process of making Espresso, these carbon dioxide are under pressure and melt into the coffee. The surface will be covered with a layer of dark brown foam, which is the oil produced by Italian extraction. Generally, the thickness of oil is four to five millimeters. These oils contain molecules that emit aroma.
The production of espresso coffee is due to the invention of the espresso machine by the Italians. The world's first espresso machine dates back to the early 20th century. After an improved design by a Milanese inventor, Luigi Bezerra, a coffee machine with a separate brewing head and handle was born. This "quick coffee" was not only popular in Italy, but also throughout the European continent. It was later introduced to all parts of the world by Italians living around the world and became the popular coffee we see today.
The taste of espresso is determined by the coffee beans used. In order to balance the coffee flavor and make the taste more mellow, most stores will use medium-dark roasted coffee beans. Through continuous in-depth understanding of the flavor characteristics of coffee beans from different production areas, Front Street uses different proportions to complement the characteristics of the coffee beans and balance the flavor of the espresso. After many trials and comparisons, Front Street launched a total of four Italian coffee bean blends on the shelves.
Classic and mellow type - Front Street commercial blended coffee beans
Robusta washed coffee beans + Colombian washed coffee beans + Brazilian semi-dried coffee
The espresso produced has rich golden oil and nutty aroma. When you taste it, there will be a burnt coffee bitterness, but it will be accompanied by a more creamy and full taste. After swallowing, the bitterness will also dissipate, leaving a fragrant aroma on your lips and teeth.
Slightly acidic and mellow type - Front Street black cocoa blend (100% Arabica) coffee beans
Yunnan washed arabica coffee beans + Brazilian semi-sun-dried coffee beans
Yunnan arabica coffee has a soft acidity paired with the mellow aroma of Brazilian Cerado coffee. The espresso coffee has a taste of caramel, nuts, and soft plum sourness.
Balanced aroma - Front Street premium blend of 100% Arabica coffee beans
Colombian washed coffee beans + Brazilian semi-sun-dried coffee beans
Adding Colombian coffee to the nutty tone of classic Brazilian coffee, the espresso presents a dark chocolate flavor, caramel sweetness, and a full roasting aroma.
Delicate wine aroma - sunflower warm sunshine blended with coffee beans
The espresso made from Ethiopian sun-dried red cherry coffee beans (30%) + Honduras sherry barrel coffee beans (70%) has a very rich dark chocolate flavor with a strong caramel flavor. The aroma after swallowing is unforgettable. Whether it's an Americano diluted with water or a latte with milk, it has a rich aroma and taste.
In order to ensure that everyone can drink freshly roasted coffee beans when placing an order, the coffee beans shipped by Front Street are freshly roasted within 5 days, so that when you receive them, they may still be in the bean growing period. After roasting, the blended beans need an exhaust period of 7 to 10 days, and then enter the aroma-rich tasting period. At this time, the extracted espresso is more stable.
Since espresso needs to be extracted quickly through the high pressure and high temperature of an espresso machine, the intensity of various flavors is very high. Front Street believes that extracting a high-quality espresso requires adjustments based on different coffee machines, grinders, coffee beans, and usage environments.
If you are new to espresso extraction, you can refer to the initial parameters provided by Front Street to make adjustments. Front Street will use 20 grams of coffee powder, and extract 40 grams of coffee liquid under a pressure of 9 bar according to a powder-to-liquid ratio of 1:2, and the time will be controlled within 25 to 30 seconds. Finally, adjust the concentrated taste up or down through tasting comparison. If the taste is weak, the extraction may be insufficient, and you need to improve the extraction rate by finer grinding, increasing the amount of powder, etc. When the taste is strong and bitter, and the aroma cannot be present even if diluted with water, it may be over-extracted. Front Street recommends reducing the amount of powder, or adjusting the grinding to increase the flow rate, thus reducing the extraction concentration.
If you want to make delicious espresso, you need to pay attention to more small details. For example, cleaning the brewing head and the powder bowl in the handle, freshly grinding and extracting coffee powder can prevent the aroma from passing away. The cloth powder and pressed powder need to be even and vertical. During extraction, it is necessary to observe the changes in the color state of the coffee liquid, liquid weight, and time. It will also help to find the direction of adjustment later.
Professional coffee knowledge exchange. For more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat public account cafe_style)
For more specialty coffee beans, please add FrontStreet Coffee on private WeChat, WeChat ID: qjcoffeex
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
