Monday, September 21 2026

Luckin SOE Yirgacheffe launches 16oz large black cup; after free upsizing, coffee strength accused of being noticeably diluted

Luckin Coffee's SOE Little Black Cup series has always presented itself as a single-origin specialty line, with beans like Yirgacheffe, Huakui, and Geisha maintaining consistently high popularity, priced 20% to 30% higher than regular coffee, with its 12oz small cup size and rich flavor as its signature. However, this Monday, Luckin suddenly added a 16oz size to its SOE product line, allowing the Yirgacheffe Little Black Cup to be upgraded for free to a Big Black Cup for a limited time, covering three classics: Americano, Latte, and Aussie White. The increase in volume at no extra cost seemed like a good deal, but many longtime fans discovered after ordering that the coffee concentration had plummeted, with the Yirgacheffe flavor almost completely gone, and complaints like "watery and bland" and "the upgrade just adds water" flooding social media. Staff later explained that the coffee powder weight had indeed increased, but the increment was far from enough to match the difference in cup volume, and could only be made up with water or milk. For those who prefer a rich taste, Front Street recommends going back to the original Little Black Cup. [more…]

Latte Art Beginner Tutorial: Detailed Guide to Milk Foam Requirements, Pouring Techniques, and Step-by-Step Instructions for the White Heart Pattern

Latte art is one of the techniques that many coffee enthusiasts are most eager to master after stepping into the world of espresso. Common patterns include the solid white heart, multi-layered heart, swan, tulip, and rosetta, among which the solid white heart is regarded as the most basic yet most skill-testing design. Based on the latte art teaching experience of Front Street Coffee, this article systematically explains the two major prerequisites for making a solid white heart—a qualified espresso and milk foam suitable for pouring—and breaks down in detail the key steps such as the amount of milk used for incorporation, the pouring point for forming the pattern, and the injection technique. It also introduces how espresso beans such as Front Street Classic Blend perform in latte art practice, helping beginners stably produce espresso with golden crema at home and laying a solid foundation for subsequent latte art. [more…]

Moka Pot Americano Black Coffee | Is there a big difference in taste between brewing espresso with a moka pot and making an Americano or latte with a moka pot?

The moka pot is the top choice brewing device for countless beginners, simply because it is not only attractive and portable, easy to operate, but also very affordable compared to coffee machines that easily cost thousands of yuan. But in Front Street Coffee's view, if you want to rely on a small moka pot to brew a delicious Americano or latte, you still need a certain [more…]

Luckin Coffee's winter-limited "Big Winter Pear Americano" has launched, but frozen pear fans found that their beloved white moonlight has changed its taste.

Last winter, the Northeastern specialty frozen pear unexpectedly went viral, and Luckin seized the moment to launch its "Big Frozen Pear Americano," which won over a large batch of loyal fans with its refreshing taste. As this year's cold winter arrives, many "frozen pear heads" have been calling for its return in the official comment section, and Luckin, ever responsive to feedback, promptly rolled out the winter-limited "Big Winter Pear Americano." However, delighted fans who placed orders soon noticed the taste didn't match the white moonlight in their memories. A closer look at the description revealed the new version uses seasonal fresh pear juices such as Akizuki pear and Dangshan pear, completely different from last year's pear-flavored concentrated fruit pulp formula. Longtime fans declared it hard to accept and clamored for the official to bring back the original; new users felt the fresh pear juice greatly weakened the coffee's presence, making it taste more like rock sugar snow pear. Is this winter limited edition a pleasant surprise or a disappointment? Let's take a look. [more…]

Black Coffee Category | Is there a big difference in flavor and mouthfeel between pour-over coffee and espresso? Which tastes better, pour-over or Americano?

Nowadays, pour-over coffee and espresso are the two most mainstream brewing methods, so coffee beans on the consumer market are almost entirely developed around these two uses. Pour-over and espresso have different extraction principles: pour-over coffee is a normal-pressure drip extraction, a bit like brewing tea, with a relatively refreshing taste; while espresso is brewed under in [more…]

Does Drinking Black Coffee Help You Lose Weight | How Many Calories Are in an Americano? What Is the Ratio of Water to Espresso in an Iced Americano? Is There a Big Difference Between Hot and Iced Americano?

The habit of having a cup of coffee every day has become part of many people's lives today, and pure black coffee, which is extremely low in calories, not only puts no burden on the body when consumed in moderation, but can also boost metabolism. However, with the rise of many flavored coffees, such as coconut milk lattes, mochas..., they have a sweet and sugary taste, and the calories they contain [more…]

Benefits of Drinking Americano Black Coffee | Is There a Big Difference Between Iced Americano and Hot Americano? Is Americano Black Coffee High in Calories? Can It Help with Weight Loss?

Coffee has become a daily necessity in everyone's life. Some people use it to stay alert, some to lose weight, and more people drink it simply out of habit. Coffee contains caffeine, which can indeed help with fat burning, but it shouldn't be used as a weight-loss tool—it's just a beverage. Americano is a type of coffee, without [more…]

Drip Bag Coffee Brewing Tips | Is There a Big Difference Between Drip Bag Coffee and Pour-Over Coffee? What Are the Key Points of Water Pouring Techniques for Pour-Over Drip Bag Coffee?

Among all drip coffee methods, drip bags are the most convenient: just prepare a drip bag, a cup, and hot water to brew a decent single-origin black coffee. There is no complicated technique or parameters to worry about, and no need to think much about cleanup afterward—it couldn't be more convenient. However, although [more…]

American Coffee Recipe Steps | How Big is a Standard Americano? What Are the Steps to Make an Americano? Hot Americano and Iced Americano Ratios

Each region has its own way of drinking coffee, and because some regional coffee-drinking methods are quite representative, they have given rise to a kind of local culture—just like Turkish coffee or Italian coffee. When it comes to these coffees, a picture may already have formed in your mind. But when it comes to Americano, everyone's mind... [more…]

Pour-over black coffee drinking method | What is the best temperature for tasting coffee? Is there a big difference in coffee flavor at different temperatures? Can pour-over coffee be reheated after it cools down?

The saying "coffee should be drunk while it's hot" is something people often keep on their lips, and not without reason! Front Street Coffee remembers a coffee friend describing coffee after it had gone cold like this: "After one sip my head hurt so much, that bitter/sour + woody taste lingered in my mouth and wouldn't go away, and it made me withdraw for a long time~" Hot coffee left to cool [more…]

How big is a Dirty? | What is a dirty coffee? Where does dirty coffee come from? What's the difference between a dirty coffee, a latte, a flat white, and a cappuccino?

For those who love milk coffee, Dirty is certainly no stranger. Although Front Street Coffee hasn't listed "Dirty" on its menu, many in-the-know friends will actively order this drink after entering the shop. After all, it has long been popular nationwide and has even become a signature item for many coffee shops. Facing the first sip, [more…]

How to Make Americano Black Coffee | Is There a Big Difference in Taste Between Americanos at Different Temperatures? Which Has More Calories, Hot Americano or Iced Americano?

Coffee has become a necessity in everyone's life. Some people use it to stay awake, some to lose weight, and more people drink it out of habit. Coffee contains caffeine, which can indeed help with fat loss, but it shouldn't be used as a weight-loss tool—it's just a beverage. Americano is a type of coffee, without [more…]

How to Make Americano Black Coffee | Is There a Big Difference in Flavor and Mouthfeel Between Espresso and Americano? Recommended Espresso Beans with Rich Crema

For more specialty coffee knowledge, please follow: Front Street Coffee (Frontsteet Coffee). Did you know? Espresso has a rich mouthfeel and intense flavor, which often makes it hard for people to accept, but once you get used to it, you actually find it has a unique charm. Moreover, espresso [more…]

Caffè Americano | Is iced Americano less acidic than hot Americano? Is there a big difference in taste and mouthfeel between iced and hot Americano?

For more specialty coffee knowledge, please follow: Front Street Coffee (Frontsteet Coffee). Every region has its own way of drinking coffee, and because some regions' coffee-drinking methods are quite representative, a local culture has emerged, just like Turkish coffee or Italian coffee. And speaking of [more…]

Black Coffee | Does black coffee mean Americano? Is there a big difference in taste between Americano and Long Black?

What does Americano taste like? The answer is almost self-evident—the taste of Americano comes from the coffee beans. Americano is simple to make, favoring convenience, speed, and a free, easygoing style. Compared with espresso, Americano has a relatively lighter, more refreshing mouthfeel and can better restore the coffee beans' original flavor. So Americano is basically available at every coffee shop [more…]

Americano Calories | Is There a Big Difference in Taste and Mouthfeel Between Iced and Hot Americano? Introduction to Hot and Iced Americano Brewing Methods and Coffee-to-Water Ratio

Coffee has become a daily necessity in everyone's life. Some people use it to stay alert, some use it to lose weight, and even more people drink it simply out of habit. Coffee contains caffeine, which can indeed help with fat loss, but it shouldn't be used as a weight-loss tool—it's just a beverage. Americano is one type of coffee, without hand [more…]

Golden Mandheling|Is there a big difference in flavor and variety between Indonesian Mandheling and Golden Mandheling? Does Golden Mandheling coffee beans make good pour-over black coffee?

For more specialty coffee knowledge, please follow our WeChat official account: Front Street Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee). Although fruity coffee is very popular and tastes sweet and sour, not all coffee lovers enjoy drinking a cup of "sour water." Instead, they prefer coffee without acidity. [more…]

Iced and Hot Americano Methods | Is There a Big Difference Between Espresso and Americano Coffee Beans? Which Coffee Beans Are Suitable for Iced Americano? What Are the Steps for Tasting Americano Coffee?

For more specialty coffee knowledge, please follow: Front Street Coffee (Frontsteet Coffee). Americano is made by diluting espresso with water, typically using dark-roasted Italian-style coffee beans. The Americano beans used by Front Street are a blend of single-origin beans from two different regions. This [more…]

Types of Espresso Drinks | Are There Big Differences Between Iced Americano, Iced Latte, Cortado, Flat White, and Dirty? What Is the Espresso Extraction Ratio? An Introduction to Making Black Coffee and Milk Coffee

Every time you go to a coffee shop, you'll probably start agonizing over whether to have an Americano or a pour-over today... or whether to go with a latte or a Dirty! Faced with a dazzling coffee menu and coffee products that all seem to look pretty much the same, what's actually the difference? In this article, Front [more…]