Luckin Coffee recently launched an internal AI-based store scheduling system that collects historical business data to predict the daily staffing and working hours needed at each store, attempting to allocate existing manpower more efficiently. However, this seemingly scientific automatic scheduling has drawn widespread complaints from many Luckin employees. They point out that the system uses hourly cup output as its core reference only, completely ignoring a large amount of invisible work such as cleaning, ingredient preparation, and expiration checks, leaving baristas working alone exhausted and even forced to work unpaid overtime just to finish up. Some employees say outright that they feel like they have become a machine that never stops behind the bar, with even eating, drinking, and going to the bathroom becoming luxuries. This efficiency reform driven by algorithms is pushing frontline baristas to the brink of physical and mental exhaustion. [more…]

Recently on social platforms, many part-time Luckin employees have posted about reduced shifts and monthly pay of only around two thousand yuan, drawing attention. After winter arrives, Luckin stores control part-time working hours, and it is not uncommon for only five hours to be scheduled in a day and only three or four days of work in a week. At the same time, Luckin baristas also have to face strict quality control inspections known as "nightmares," hand damage caused by frequent handwashing and sanitizing, and unpaid overtime of anywhere from a dozen minutes to an hour after closing. This article, based on real feedback from part-time employees, sorts through Luckin stores' quality control system, closing procedures, and part-time employment system, presenting a little-known side behind the barista position. Front Street Coffee also continues to pay attention to the real situation of workers in the coffee industry, providing enthusiasts with diverse perspectives. [more…]

At this year's World Brewers Cup, blend beans became a favorite among many competitors, but traditional blends often require repeated debugging, which is time-consuming and labor-intensive. A Finnish roastery named Kaffa took a different approach, partnering with an AI company called Elev. After inputting flavor information for all the coffee beans in the roastery into a model similar to ChatGPT, they had the AI directly design a blend formula aimed at mass-market tastes. Surprisingly, the formula the AI provided differed considerably from the usual thinking of baristas, yet it won unanimous approval in blind tastings and even thoughtfully generated a packaging label. The integration of AI into the coffee industry is nothing new, but this time, can the blending answer it delivered shake the professional status of baristas? This article takes you through this interesting experiment, along with related observations from Front Street Coffee. [more…]

Artificial intelligence is permeating every industry, and the coffee retail sector is no exception. Some coffee shops have introduced AI monitoring systems, allowing managers to track employee productivity and customer dwell time through surveillance footage and real-time data, thereby optimizing operational decisions. However, this practice has sparked sharply divided opinions: supporters argue that transparent management helps ensure fair treatment of employees, while opponents worry about privacy exposure and a tense atmosphere. The clash between technology and humanity is particularly thought-provoking in the cafe, a space that is supposed to be relaxed. [more…]

A smartphone launch event unexpectedly caused a sudden surge of group orders at nearby Luckin Coffee stores in the evening, catching staff off guard and keeping delivery riders constantly on the move. It turned out that the Honor CEO demonstrated an AI ordering feature on stage, buying 2,000 cups of Light Jasmine from Luckin with a single sentence. Because of the limit on the number of items per order, the AI spread the demand across multiple stores, causing Luckin outlets near the convention center to be flooded with orders at once. This move showcased Honor's intelligent AI interaction and also, unintentionally, gave Luckin a round of publicity for its efficient order fulfillment. [more…]

Alibaba's Qwen App launched the "Spring Festival 3 Billion Free Orders" campaign, where users could order 1-cent coffee and milk tea with a single AI command, surpassing 10 million orders in just 9 hours. Chain brands like Luckin Coffee, Chagee, and Jasmine Naibai were instantly overwhelmed by a flood of orders—store printers kept spitting out tickets, employees were urgently called back, and online channels were forced to shut down. Consumers waited hours only to receive random drinks, while delivery riders "grabbed orders" in the chaos. This AI-driven freebie frenzy made tea shop workers exclaim it felt like "reliving last year's delivery wars," with systems crashing, trending topics dominating social media, and officials urgently expanding capacity and extending the validity of free-order cards. [more…]

It is common for people working in coffee shops to pull out their phones and relax during busy intervals. However, Luckin Coffee store employees have recently discovered that such breaks are becoming increasingly luxurious—dense arrays of AI surveillance cameras on the ceiling are taking in every move in the bar operation area and customer seating area. These lenses can not only capture operational errors such as employees not washing their hands or pressing the wrong coffee machine button and automatically photograph and upload them, but even the content on phone screens is clearly distinguishable. Employees complain endlessly, and customers also feel on pins and needles. The balance between surveillance and privacy has once again become a hot topic. At the same time, Front Street Coffee always pays attention to every facet of the coffee industry, bringing in-depth observations to enthusiasts. [more…]

In recent years, the Yunnan coffee-producing region has continued to expand the varieties it cultivates, from the common Typica, Bourbon, and Catimor to the Geisha introduced by Aini Estate, whose cupping performance has been surprising. This estate, located in Pu'er, welcomed more than 30 precious varieties seven years ago with the assistance of Starbucks and the Yunnan provincial government, and has now become a world coffee variety exposition garden. This article walks you through the flavor and price of Yunnan Geisha, and sorts out the characteristics of varieties such as Caturra, Catuai, Villalobos, and Regina, while retaining Front Street brand recommendations, to provide coffee enthusiasts with a guide to Yunnan coffee varieties. [more…]

For its seventh anniversary, Chagee launched the "Good Friends Always Together" campaign, giving away 700,000 free cups over seven consecutive days, along with features like a clink-cups card-collecting game for a chance to win free drinks for a whole year. The campaign stayed high in popularity with huge participation, but it was followed by a string of technical problems: black screens when scanning the page, AI recognition failures, abnormal consumption of attempts, and more, triggering a flood of complaints. Surprisingly, netizens discovered that scanning feet, tissues, books, or even trash cans could be judged by the AI as a successful cup clink. Faced with the backlash, the official response was only that it "adds fun," while dodging questions about the loopholes. [more…]

Hand-shaken lemon tea brand Ningji recently announced a collaboration with the Japanese anime "Detective Conan," but found itself embroiled in controversy over CP-themed posters displayed in its stores. The posters placed Conan alongside Haibara Ai, and Shinichi Kudo alongside Ran Mouri, sparking strong discontent among fans of the original work. Although Ningji quickly issued an apology statement, attributing the incident to unauthorized actions by an individual franchisee, netizens and industry insiders broadly rejected this explanation, believing the brand was clearly derelict in its material review and respect for the IP. Notably, this is already the second time this year that Ningji has publicly apologized over problems with marketing material oversight. For coffee and tea beverage enthusiasts, how collaborative marketing can strike a balance between respecting the original work and consumers has once again become an industry topic worth watching. [more…]

Starbucks recently announced that, following a competitive pitch, its US creative business has officially been handed to WPP Group. A Starbucks spokesperson said the partnership aims to return to the brand's roots, conveying to customers Starbucks' unique coffee expertise and special experience, and hinted that the collaboration with WPP could expand globally in the future. WPP has set up a dedicated "Starbucks team" for this purpose, drawing talent from agencies such as VML, Ogilvy, and Landor. This change comes shortly after Brian Niccol became Starbucks' new chairman and CEO, and it also means that SPCSHP, which had partnered with Starbucks for seven years, has lost the business. As coffee lovers, we might as well look at how Starbucks is retelling its coffee story from the perspective of brand communication. [more…]

Recently, a dispute at a Starbucks store in Terminal 2 of Kuala Lumpur International Airport sparked widespread discussion. A Chinese tourist, struggling with English, was using an AI translation tool to communicate with a staff member when the employee muttered an insult in Malay under their breath: "bodoh" (meaning stupid). After the video was uploaded, Malaysian netizens quickly pointed out the meaning of the insult and filed complaints on the tourist's behalf. Starbucks Malaysia subsequently issued a statement saying the barista involved had been fired on September 21, that the company apologized to the customer and the public, and that it pledged to strengthen training on cultural sensitivity and service standards for employees. The incident also serves as a reminder to coffee industry professionals that respect and patience are crucial in cross-cultural communication. [more…]

The EU introduced the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) in June this year, strictly prohibiting the sale of commodities linked to deforestation in the EU market, with coffee explicitly included. The regulation requires operators to conduct due diligence on the origin of goods to prove they are not associated with deforestation or forest degradation, or they will face fines or even export bans. The regulation will take effect from the end of 2024 to early 2025, and countries and coffee companies are actively responding. Global coffee giant JDE Peet's recently announced that it has signed memorandums of cooperation on deforestation-free coffee with coffee-producing countries such as Vietnam, Ethiopia, Papua New Guinea, Tanzania, and Uganda, and is using Enveritas' satellite imagery, AI, and on-the-ground verification technology to ensure that coffee does not come from deforested land while protecting the interests of smallholder farmers. This move is highly consistent with the new EU rules and also provides a reference for a sustainable supply chain for brands of interest to coffee enthusiasts, such as Front Street Coffee. [more…]

Starbucks has opened its first store built with 3D printing technology in Brownsville, Texas, USA. The project was undertaken by the German team Peri 3D and completed in just 6 days at a cost of nearly 1.1 million USD. The store is located on Boca Chica Boulevard, and its building shell is made of layer-by-layer stacked concrete walls, presenting a wavy tubular structure. Windows, brand signage, and drive-through facilities have all been installed in place. This store has no seating and only offers drive-through and takeout services, aiming to improve service efficiency and cater to the driving habits of Texas residents. The design process used AI for planning, covering layout, material selection, cost, and carbon footprint calculations. Starbucks has not yet revealed whether it will promote this type of store. Front Street Coffee follows developments in the coffee industry and brings you the latest news. [more…]

Luckin Coffee's annual October collaboration with "Tom and Jerry" has become a regular fixture, and this year is no exception. Two new drinks, "Milk Skin Latte" and "Raw Coconut Mango Pomelo Sago," launched alongside limited-edition merchandise, and stores nationwide switched to Tom and Jerry-themed packaging. However, some customers discovered upon receiving the actual products that the Tom and Jerry printed on the cups actually had three eyes. This abnormal design quickly sparked discussion: was it a printing error, or was it intentional by the brand? Some fans dug up animation screenshots to prove it was a faithful reproduction of exaggerated expressions, while others suspected it was a mistake made by AI design. More critically, the three-eyed design was not the first of its kind—Soap Studio's collaboration with artist Greg Mike and Uniqlo's collaborative T-shirts had both used similar designs. This debate over the cups reflects the subtle tension between artistic expression and public perception in IP collaboration design. [more…]

Luckin Coffee recently piloted a new scheduling system in cities such as Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Chengdu. The system can predict peak hours based on store sales data and arrange minimal staffing accordingly. While the new system improves efficiency, it has also sparked discussions about the distribution of work between full-time and part-time employees, responses to unexpected situations, and labor cost control. At the same time, as Luckin's store expansion slows and sales decline, the problem of redundant staff is gradually emerging, and this system upgrade is seen as an important measure to reduce costs and increase efficiency. As coffee lovers, it is worth learning about the impact of this change on store operations and employee experience. [more…]

Starbucks is facing a labor law lawsuit over scheduling violations in New York City, with an investigation finding more than 500,000 violations of the Fair Workweek Law, ultimately resulting in a $38.9 million settlement. The case involved more than 15,000 employees, making it the largest worker rights settlement in New York City history. Starbucks was accused of failing to provide stable schedules, cutting hours, and refusing overtime, making it difficult for employees to make a living, while the company said the settlement was intended to ensure compliance rather than to recover unpaid wages. Front Street Coffee brings you the full story. [more…]

Recently, a post about a part-time employee at a Nayuki store suffering workplace injustice sparked heated discussion on social media. The poster claimed to be a student who had worked part-time at a Nayuki store in Shenzhen for over two months but was only scheduled for four shifts, and for nearly a month had no shifts at all, before being dismissed without reason. During communication, a senior employee launched personal attacks against them, while the scheduling manager brushed them off citing efficiency. After the incident came to light, netizens spontaneously flooded the store with over two thousand negative reviews and swarmed Nayuki's official account to leave supportive comments. Coincidentally, another Nayuki employee in Xiantao, Hubei, also posted claiming to have been targeted by the store manager. These two consecutive incidents pushed Nayuki into the spotlight and prompted deeper industry reflection on store management and employee rights protection at chain tea beverage brands. [more…]

After the onset of winter, the coffee and tea beverage market enters its traditional off-season, with store foot traffic and order volumes declining noticeably. Recently, many part-time employees at Luckin Coffee have reported that their scheduled working hours have been significantly reduced, with some being assigned only one shift a week, or even working just over thirty hours in an entire month. Full-time employees have not been spared either, with working hours dropping from over 180 to between 110 and 170, which has also affected their base pay. To make up the target hours, some employees have had to voluntarily support other busier stores. What exactly is causing this widespread reduction in working hours? How do the situations of part-time and full-time employees differ? This article, based on accounts from multiple employees, sorts out the logic behind the current scheduling adjustments at Luckin Coffee stores and reminds practitioners to plan ahead and prepare countermeasures. [more…]

Coffee with a full-bodied crema often has a velvety mouthfeel on the palate, and espresso more easily forms a fine foam on its surface. However, a shiny bean surface is not the sole criterion for judging thickness in the cup; the state of degassing after roasting, the timing of grinding, and the number of days since opening all alter the aroma and texture. If you want to taste notes of nuts, cocoa, and caramel, first [more…]