Pu’er Coffee

 When we talk about Colombia as a coffee-producing country, if this conversation had happened a decade or more ago, the first thing that would likely come to mind is water. Thanks to its abundant water resources, Colombia traditionally relied heavily on washed processing methods. For many coffee lovers who were once captivated by the bright, elegant acidity of classic Colombian washed coffees, Colombia left a lasting and positive impression. In traditional espresso blends, Colombian washed coffees also played a crucial role in providing balance and cleanliness of flavor. Yet somehow, at an uncertain point in time, the image of Colombia began to shift. Today, when people mention Colombian coffee, what often comes to mind is a dazzling array of so-called innovative processing methods—especially eye-catching co-fermentations. At one point, simply hearing “Colombia” made people instinctively ask: What process is it? Is it another bold experiment? What exactly happened behind this dra...

 In a gold washed coffee, I tasted unmistakable notes of lemongrass and ginger. A few days ago, I shared a dedicated introduction to what gold washed processing is—a relatively new method that combines the strengths of both washed and natural processing. The first time I encountered a gold washed coffee was last November at the Shanghai Coffee Expo. At the booth of Direct Coffee from Kyoto, this particular coffee immediately caught my eye. That moment marked the beginning of a flavor experience that completely amazed me—one that has stayed with me ever since. I placed an order for the beans on the spot. This coffee is a Gold Washed Red Bourbon from Popayán, Cauca, Colombia. The barista at the booth was also the roaster of this very coffee, and the way he presented its flavors was incredibly impressive. It was the first time I had ever tasted such distinctly clean and vivid lemongrass and ginger notes in a Colombian coffee built on an innovative twist of traditional processing met...

 When choosing coffee beans, many people focus on factors like flavor and origin—but “variety” is another angle some coffee lovers consider. Since our Front Street Coffee shops, both online and offline, specialize in selling beans, we often meet customers who pick their beans based on variety alone. The two requests we hear most often are: “I want Gesha,” or, “I want something special that isn’t Gesha.” And Sidra happens to be one of the varieties we recommend for the second group. Since its breakout performance on the world coffee competition stage in 2022, Sidra has become an absolute star—everywhere and impossible to ignore. The reason is simple: this variety truly is special in many ways. So today, we’re going to dive into what makes Sidra so unique, and how you can brew this distinct coffee properly if you’ve purchased our Front Street Sidra. What Exactly Is Sidra? Sidra (also spelled “Sydra” or “Bourbon Sidra”) is a phonetic transliteration of Sidra , a Spanish word me...

 The coffee that greets our souls every morning, much like wine, carries the imprint of the terroir —the land and climate—from different corners of the world. From a single bean to the rich brew in your cup, every sip tells a story of its homeland. Today, let’s embark on a global taste journey and explore the distinct flavors of five classic coffee origins. 🌍 Ethiopia When we talk about coffee, where else can we begin but its birthplace? On the ancient plateaus of Ethiopia, coffee trees still grow in their most primitive and natural way . The region is home to tens of thousands of coffee varieties, many of which even botanists can't name. When you taste a cup of Yirgacheffe , the first thing that often awakens the palate is a bright, lively citrus acidity , accompanied by notes of jasmine and honey sweetness—a true symphony for the senses. Coffees from the Sidama region, on the other hand, are often fuller-bodied, featuring wild berry notes and a tea-like finish. The most captiv...

  The World Barista Championship (WBC) has long been a stage for showcasing some of the world’s most fascinating and distinctive coffees. In recent years, more and more competitors have chosen to feature lesser-known Arabica varieties — and even different coffee species — in their presentations. Interestingly, many of these coffees come from Colombia . While the country has always been famous for producing high-quality coffee, a growing number of Colombian farmers are now cultivating and exporting rare and forgotten varieties. These beans are increasingly being used by WBC competitors in their championship routines. Even many of the Geisha coffees used on the WBC stage in recent years have come from Colombia. So, why has Colombian coffee become such a favorite among competitors? And will this trend continue? To find out, we spoke with Elias Bayter of Forest Coffee , Maria Alejandra Escobar Huertas of Café Granja La Esperanza , and Daniele Ricci , runner-up at the 2023 WBC. ...

 On October 22, Café Granja La Esperanza, one of Colombia’s most prestigious coffee estates, hosted the 2025 Cumbres de Colombia Specialty Coffee Global Auction on the V-Auction platform. During the event, a lot of “Mavicure Hills – Laurina Natural” coffee beans set a new national record, fetching the highest price ever recorded for Colombian coffee. The winning bid came from Brew92 , a well-known Saudi Arabian specialty coffee company, at an astonishing $995.25 per pound (that’s $2,194.1 per kilogram , or roughly ¥15,600 RMB per kilogram of green beans ). Only 13.2 pounds of this batch were available, totaling $13,137.30 . As the saying goes—when Middle Eastern coffee connoisseurs step in, prices soar! The winning variety, Laurina (also known as Bourbon Pointu , nicknamed the “slender Bourbon” because of its long, pointed bean shape), is prized for its naturally low caffeine content and exceptional flavor profile . It’s also extremely rare. Interestingly, this same variety w...

  This October marked a defining chapter for Colombia’s coffee industry. According to La República , citing the National Federation of Coffee Growers (FNC), total production for the 2024–2025 coffee year (October 2024 to September 2025) reached 888,000 metric tons — a 17% jump from the previous year and the highest yield since 1992. This remarkable rebound isn’t just a record on paper; it has injected new stability into the global supply chain and renewed Colombia’s reputation as the beating heart of premium Arabica coffee . For a country whose identity is intertwined with its beans, this milestone feels both like a comeback and a transformation. 01. The Triple Force Behind a Record Harvest As FNC’s General Manager Germán Bahamón explained, Colombia’s bumper crop was far from a stroke of luck. It was the outcome of a threefold synergy — healthier coffee farms, modern technical support, and favorable weather conditions. Over the past few years, both the government and coffee ...