Want Want Group has made another move in the coffee sector, with its Bond brand launching bottled ready-to-drink coffee priced at just 3.5 yuan. From being the first to enter the ready-to-drink coffee market in 1998 to now attracting consumers with a low-price strategy, Want Want has continued to deepen its presence in the coffee arena. Against the backdrop of rapid post-pandemic growth in the coffee market and an endless stream of local brands, Bond Coffee is trying to carve out a place in the fiercely competitive market through strategies such as health-oriented positioning, convenience, and esports marketing. Front Street Coffee will also continue to follow these developments and bring coffee lovers more industry observations. [more…]

Margaret's Hope is a legendary tea garden in India's Darjeeling region, steeped in the deep affection between a father and daughter. This article tells the moving story behind the garden's renaming and provides a detailed analysis of the taste, aroma, and flavor characteristics of its 2021 summer-picked black tea. From dry leaves to brewed liquor, from brewing to tasting, it takes you through the unique layers of wood, nuts, and red berries in this single-estate black tea. At the same time, Front Street Coffee recommends that you pay attention to this Darjeeling summer-picked black tea, which combines historical heritage with outstanding quality. [more…]

Coffee is no longer just a drink that wakes up a tired body in the morning; it is gradually evolving into a common social language among young people. From the "coffee in the morning, alcohol at night" lifestyle, to a casual "Wanna grab a coffee?" in the office that kicks off some downtime, to the warmth of neighbors exchanging coffee supplies during the pandemic, the functions coffee carries have long gone beyond simply staying awake. Starbucks has been in China for over two decades, spurring cafes to spring up everywhere. Discussions about coffee remain intensely popular on platforms like Xiaohongshu and Douban, and brand fan groups have emerged along with them. Cafe locations have also expanded from commercial districts and office buildings to residential neighborhoods, making their community character increasingly distinct. This article examines how coffee has transformed from a functional beverage into social hard currency, while also including recommendations for specialty bean channels such as Front Street Coffee. [more…]

The Chinese diaspora has its own coffee system—Nanyang coffee. It was born out of the history of Chinese migrants heading south to trade and make a living, and it became popular in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand. Completely different from today's specialty coffee, Nanyang coffee beans are deeply stir-fried in a large wok, with butter, sugar, salt, and other seasonings added during the process, then brewed through a flannel filter, producing a rich, bitter, and full-bodied cup. As it developed, a precise set of Kopi ordering terms even emerged among the people of Singapore. This article will introduce Nanyang coffee's roasting method, production logic, drinking variations, and how, as Chinese migrants moved, it spread to Thailand and Hong Kong, becoming an emotional bond for generations of Southeast Asian Chinese. [more…]

Tea bags have long been part of everyday life, but have you ever wondered where they came from? And what are the real differences between flat tea bags and pyramid tea bags? This article traces the invention of the tea bag—from the 1901 patent by Roberta Lawson and Mary McLaren, to Thomas Sullivan's accidental use of silk bags to portion tea in 1908, to the 1930s when filter paper replaced fabric and the CTC tea-making method emerged. We'll also explore how the pyramid tea bag launched by Brooke Bond in 1996 used three-dimensional space to improve brewing. Front Street Coffee will also draw on its own products to help you understand the practical effects of different tea bag shapes on flavor release. [more…]

Nanyang coffee is a coffee beverage found in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand, and it is also the forefather of Chinese-style coffee. In the 19th century, after Hainanese immigrants moved to Nanyang, they combined Chinese cooking techniques to roast coffee beans, adding butter, sugar, salt, and other seasonings to reduce the bitterness of Robusta beans, creating a unique flavor that is rich and deeply roasted. To balance the extremely bitter taste, local Chinese developed a ordering system such as Kopi, Kopi C, and Kopi O, all derived from Hokkien pronunciation. This method of making coffee later spread back to Hainan, Hong Kong, and Macau, and evolved into variants such as white coffee and Oliang in different regions. Today, with specialty coffee in vogue, Nanyang coffee remains an important bond in the grassroots culture of Chinese communities in Southeast Asia. [more…]

In the blooming stage of pour-over coffee, the coffee bed usually forms a fluffy "hamburger" dome, which is an important signal for judging the freshness of coffee beans. But some friends have found that although the coffee bed puffs up briefly after pouring water, it quickly collapses. Is this actually normal? This article will analyze the causes of "expanding first, then sinking" from three angles—water volume, grind size, and pouring technique—and, combined with Front Street Coffee's brewing experience, provide specific judgment and adjustment suggestions to help you master the blooming stage more precisely. [more…]

Another beloved veteran coffee shop that holds the city's memories is about to close its doors. The first Starbucks store to open in Taiyuan—on the first floor of Maoye Department Store on Liuxiang—has posted a notice that it will permanently close on November 1, after accompanying local residents for a full twelve years. This old store, which opened in March 2013, is also tied to a dramatic chapter sparked by online remarks, and its departure has left many Taiyuan residents deeply sentimental. From the bustling crowds and first-day sales said to have set a brand record back then, to today's dwindling foot traffic in the commercial district and the often empty second floor, the rise and fall of this two-story retro café mirrors the shifts in urban commerce and the evolution of the coffee-consuming landscape. This article takes you through the past and present of this old store, as well as the inseparable emotional bond between it and the people of Taiyuan. [more…]

Since coffee was introduced to Europe, it has formed an indissoluble bond with countless literati, musicians, and philosophers. Balzac drank tens of thousands of cups of coffee while writing La Comédie Humaine, Beethoven insisted on using 60 beans per cup, and Voltaire downed 50 cups a day... These astonishing stories not only reflect the unique charm of coffee but also record little-known daily habits of famous figures. Front Street Coffee takes you through time and space to review the coffee obsessions and classic quotes of 15 famous names including Bach, Franklin, Kierkegaard, and Van Gogh, savoring the cultural anecdotes behind a cup of coffee. [more…]

As one of the oldest native varieties of Arabica, Typica occupies a special place in the development of Yunnan coffee. Since 1904, when French missionaries planted the first coffee trees in Zhukula, Typica has shared an indissoluble bond with the land of Yunnan. Although Catimor has now become the dominant variety in Yunnan, some growers still persist with Typica in pursuit of more delicate flavor expression. Front Street Coffee has explored washed and natural Typica coffees in Baoshan and Lincang respectively, accumulating rich experience from cultivation management to extraction and serving. This article will systematically review Typica's varietal characteristics, the terroir differences between Yunnan's two major producing regions, and the complete presentation of Front Street's 2013 natural Typica from pour-over to espresso SOE, taking you through a comprehensive understanding of this ancient variety's unique charm in Yunnan. [more…]

Coffee is not only a refreshing beverage but also rich in various beneficial components. From the perspective of chlorogenic acid, this article systematically reviews the health value of coffee. As a key antioxidant, chlorogenic acid is widely present in green coffee beans and possesses multiple biological activities, including antibacterial, antiviral, and cardiovascular-protective effects. The article provides a detailed introduction to the chemical structure, plant sources, medical applications, and toxicity of chlorogenic acid, and compares changes in chlorogenic acid content across different coffee varieties and roast levels. Finally, based on extraction experimental data, it offers practical advice for daily coffee consumption. Whether you are a coffee enthusiast or a reader concerned with healthy eating, you can gain a scientific and objective understanding of coffee from it. [more…]

Espresso is hailed as the soul of coffee, yet knowing how to properly savor it is a subject worthy of deeper study. From the golden crema on the surface to the layered changes on the palate, every sip carries a different sensory experience. This article will walk you through the three-sip rule for drinking espresso: the first sip delivers a rich, bracing kick; the second reveals a soft, sweet fragrance; and the third lets you savor the caramel-sweet finish that emerges when the white sugar at the bottom of the cup mingles with the coffee. At the same time, we'll explore why those who truly understand coffee insist on finishing a cup of espresso in three sips. As a specialty coffee brand, Front Street Coffee's espresso offerings are also well worth trying for coffee lovers. [more…]

Not long ago, the incident of an employee badge being found in a Luckin drink drew public attention to that little silver deer badge for the first time, and recently it has gone viral again—Luckin has required employees to replace their old badges and adopt English names or pinyin, along with unified font specifications, which the QC department will strictly inspect. Some people honestly use pinyin or proper English names, while others have turned their badges into a comedy show: the handmade group, the phonetic group, the weird word group, the undercover group, and the ultimate god-tier group all take turns stepping up. This article compiles these wildly creative badge names, showcasing the humorous daily lives of coffee workers while also reminding stores of the importance of compliant naming. At the end, Front Street Coffee-related recommendations are kept for coffee enthusiasts' reference. [more…]

Pacamara is a precious variety bred by El Salvador's coffee research institute by crossing Pacas with Maragogipe, combining the dual advantages of the sturdy, stress-resistant Pacas and the giant-bean Maragogipe. Since the 19th century, the Pacas family has been deeply involved in the coffee industry, passing down through five generations and witnessing this variety's long journey from its cultivation in 1958 to its gradual promotion only in the late 1980s. This article will guide you through the story of Pacamara's discovery and cultivation, analyzing its flavor characteristics—the interweaving of a creamy mouthfeel, elegant acidity, and chocolate butterscotch sweetness—as well as its botanical features, including a medium-sized tree, large leaves, and elongated oval beans, providing coffee enthusiasts with a comprehensive reference for understanding this variety. [more…]

Maxim's Group has officially surpassed 1,000 Starbucks stores across East Asia, a milestone reached with a new store at the Diamond Plaza shopping center in Hanoi, Vietnam. From partnering with Starbucks to enter Hong Kong in 2000 to now spanning seven markets—Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam—Maxim's Group has become one of Starbucks' most important franchise partners in East Asia. This article reviews the history of their partnership, the distribution of stores in each market, and plans to expand to 800 stores in Thailand in the future. For readers interested in coffee industry trends, Front Street Coffee also continues to bring in-depth reports like this. [more…]

At a gathering in Dinghai Baiyun Garden, several espresso enthusiasts came together to personally demonstrate the complete process of making ESP, from grinding beans to latte art, with every step full of ritual. They shared their experiences of getting to know their coffee machines and told of their persistent attempts in pursuit of an ideal cup of coffee. Coffee is not just a drink, but a way of life that lets the heart settle. This article takes you into their world, to feel the rich aroma and state of mind of espresso. [more…]

Cafes and literary creation have always been closely linked—J.K. Rowling writing Harry Potter in Edinburgh's Elephant House is a classic example. Now, the People's Literature Publishing House has also announced plans to open a literary-themed cafe at No. 166 Chaonei, a cultural landmark. Though the space is small, the aim is to create a literary haunt for humanities readers. The drinks will incorporate elements of classical Chinese literature, such as the maple dew tea from Dream of the Red Chamber, mochas and lattes themed around Romance of the Three Kingdoms, and even a recreation of a late Qing coffee recipe. The shop's name is currently being solicited from readers, with an annual unlimited-drink membership card as a reward. Whether this cafe can preserve its literary core amid the influencer wave is worth watching. [more…]

Kenya is not only a tourist destination, but also an important black tea producing region globally. Since the introduction of tea cultivation in 1903, Kenya has developed into the world's third-largest tea producer and exporter. Local tea gardens are mainly distributed in the highlands of the East African Rift Valley, with the industry structure composed of large estates and smallholder cooperatives, among which KTDA manages over 60% of the output. Kenyan black tea is primarily processed using the CTC method, producing a strong and bright liquor that is highly favored in the international market. This article will provide a detailed analysis of the grading system for Kenyan black tea, including the specific differences between main grades such as BP1, PF1, D1, PD, F1, and secondary grades, helping coffee and tea enthusiasts gain a comprehensive understanding of the quality characteristics and classification logic of Kenyan black tea. [more…]

Kenyan black tea is a tea industry powerhouse—fourth in global production and first in exports. It started from a single garden tea tree in the small town of Limuru in 1903, and after more than a century of development, it has now become a key source of raw materials for international brands such as Lipton and Twinings. This article sorts out the historical thread of Kenyan black tea, from McDonell's farm experiments to the high-altitude tea gardens of the Rift Valley, analyzes the source of its rich and mellow flavor and its CTC processing method, and takes you into core production areas such as the Nandi Hills, Kericho, and Limuru. Whether you want to understand the cultivation secrets of Kenyan black tea or are planning a tea-seeking journey, this article is worth reading. Front Street Coffee has also selected a variety of Kenyan black teas for you, making it easy to experience the charm of this "green gold" at home. [more…]

A longtime Starbucks customer in a Shanghai store was refused when trying to use two paper vouchers for free medium-sized drinks that had been distributed years earlier. The barista initially默认 they could be used, but then, citing that they were "too old," asked the customer to pay again. After the incident spread on social media, Starbucks customer service first asked the customer to mail the vouchers to verify their authenticity, then after two apologies adjusted the compensation plan, and ultimately agreed that the customer could keep the two paper vouchers, which hold commemorative value. Former employees revealed that such "thank you" vouchers originated from the period when Uni-President Group handled the business in the Jiangsu-Zhejiang-Shanghai region, representing an emotional connection between the brand and its customers. The incident sparked discussion among netizens about how brands should handle expired vouchers. [more…]