Sunday, November 1 2026

Manner's delivery minimum sparks debate: hard to order a single cup, the reasons behind the high spending threshold and consumers' voices

Recently, many loyal customers of Manner Coffee have been complaining on social media that they keep getting stumped by the minimum order fee when trying to order a drink through delivery—a 30-yuan minimum is now the norm, and in some areas it is as high as 80 yuan. To get a cup of coffee, some people search everywhere for a "coffee buddy" to pool an order with, some are forced to add bottled water or bread to their cart, and others end up drinking two cups in a single day. By comparison, brands such as Starbucks and Luckin have lower delivery thresholds, which makes Manner's delivery strategy stand out all the more. What exactly is the reason Manner sets such a high delivery threshold? And how should consumers respond? This article takes you through it. [more…]

Manner handheld fan merch tested: weak airflow but sounds like a drill, the three-drink bundle threshold sparks heated debate

Manner has long been famous for its wide variety of branded cups, jokingly dubbed a "cup factory" by fans, but its latest campaign broke with tradition and instead gave away handheld mini fans. What was expected to be a practical summer favorite instead drew complaints from customers who received the actual product: the airflow was too weak to dispel the heat, while the noise was as loud as an electric drill, a hair dryer, or even a tractor — switch it to level three and you become the center of attention. What made some people hesitate even more was that getting the fan required buying a three-drink extra-large set, and without a coffee buddy it was hard to handle. This article compiles feedback from netizens to see why this merch item leaves people with mixed feelings. [more…]

Starbucks Buy-One-Get-One promotion sparks employee complaints, the problems behind store order surges and consumer voices

Recently, Starbucks' buy-one-get-one-free promotion has sparked heated discussion on social media. A netizen claiming to be a Starbucks employee posted a complaint that the promotion led to a surge in store orders and excessive work intensity, and even called for the promotion to be canceled. At the same time, some consumers also agreed, saying that two drinks for one person is too much and hoping it could be changed to half price for a single cup. Despite the ongoing controversy, delivery platforms still show free shipping and a 50% discount on two cups. The brand has not yet explained the reason for the cancellation of the promotion. This article will sort out the course of the incident, the different voices of employees and consumers, and the current actual status of the promotion. [more…]

SOE Latte | What's the difference between an SOE latte and a regular latte? What are some recommendations for good-tasting, affordable, high-quality SOE espresso beans for making lattes?

In everyday life, you may hear terms like SOE latte or SOE Americano—these simply mean using single-origin coffee to make an espresso base, which is then combined with milk to become a latte or with water to become an Americano. This is a way to distinguish it from traditional blended coffee, and the separate name comes from "single [more…]

Where IT Thinking Meets Coffee Culture: How Beta Coffee Went from Hangzhou to Beijing and Became a Gathering Place for Internet People

When IT thinking meets coffee culture, what kind of sparks will fly? In 2009, Bai Ya and a group of internet professionals founded Beta Coffee in Hangzhou, positioning it as a public living room for IT people. In just over two months, it was named the "Best Gathering Place for E-commerce Professionals." In 2011, this trend swept through Beijing's Zhongguancun, and Beta Coffee's Beijing branch officially opened. Soon after, Garage Coffee, 3W Coffee, and others emerged one after another, thus beginning the "Internet Coffee Era." This is not just a place to drink coffee, but also a physical platform for IT people to communicate, share, and seek opportunities. This article takes you into the jianghu stories of Beta Coffee, to experience the unique atmosphere created by the collision of the internet and coffee. [more…]

Cold Brew Coffee Grounds-to-Water Ratio | How to Make Cold Brew Coffee at Home? Should the Finished Cold Brew Concentrate Be Diluted with Water? How Long Does Cold Brew Last?

The arrival of autumn has cooled the stuffy weather, but many friends in the south can still feel the enthusiasm of the sun at noon. Drinking pour-over coffee in this dry season often leaves the throat feeling parched, and at times like this, ice-cold cold brew coffee becomes everyone's favorite. Some friends may ask about cold brew coffee's [more…]

Manner partners with British bone china brand Wedgwood, sparking discussion over how to get the co-branded mug.

Manner is teaming up for another collaboration, and this time the partner is no small name—Wedgwood, a British porcelain brand with over two hundred years of history. As soon as the news broke, social media exploded. Some people are looking forward to the image of sipping coffee from an exquisite bone china cup, while others are already worrying: how many cups of coffee will they have to drink to get this cup? Looking back at Manner's past collaborations, most of the merchandise required purchasing a limited-edition drink set to obtain, which left many consumers feeling troubled. Whether this collaboration with Wedgwood can change the rules has become the issue everyone cares about most. [more…]

A New Cross-Industry Coffee Trend in Local Cuisine: Ningbo "Choking Crab" Latte Sparks Heated Discussion, Crab Shell as Cup Wins Recognition from Some Netizens

The world of creative coffee is always full of surprises and shocks. From Douzhir Americano to stinky tofu latte, baristas are obsessed with forcibly pairing local foods with coffee, yet often creating off-putting flavor bombs. Now the trend has shifted: instead of mixing ingredients, they let the food itself become the vessel. Green pepper latte, fish ball latte, and naan latte have appeared one after another. Recently, a barista in Ningbo even used a crab shell as a cup, launching Ningbo Drunken Crab Latte. Netizens reacted in two polarized ways: some cried out to spare the drunken crab, while others said they would be willing to try it as long as food isn't wasted. Is this exploration of the boundary between food and coffee gimmickry or innovation? [more…]

Luckin's Pingu collaboration merchandise meets a cold reception: Controversy arises after high-priced bundles are switched to free giveaways

Luckin Coffee's recent collaboration with the claymation character Pingu has sparked considerable discussion. In the early stage of the campaign, consumers had to buy designated set meals or two cups of the new drink to get the merchandise, and many fans placed orders at full price or even stockpiled coffee coupons for this. However, not long after the campaign ended, Luckin released the same merchandise again with a lower threshold or even for free, leaving consumers who had bought at a high price earlier feeling dissatisfied. At the same time, employees reported on social platforms that the merchandise was selling poorly, with inventory piling up at some stores, and materials such as stickers even being discarded or given away. From the teaser phase to the rerun, this collaboration reflects the gap between a brand's marketing节奏 and consumers' expectations. [more…]

Peet's Coffee's new Pistachio Cocoa Latte hits the market, its appearance mocked as resembling Tianjin noodle tea, sparking heated discussion

Peet's Coffee's "Cheese Molecule" series is now in its third year, and the newly launched "Pistachio Cocoa Latte" is inspired by Dubai chocolate, blending cocoa, espresso, cheese cream, and crushed pistachios. However, after the new product hit the shelves, the buyer photos shared by consumers sparked heated discussion—the coffee covered in crushed pistachios was jokingly compared to Tianjin miancha, gabacai, or even sesame paste, and the takeout version, where customers sprinkle the nut crumbs themselves, looked even more like a multigrain porridge. Beyond the appearance controversy, some pointed out that the nut crumbs create an odd texture, while others felt the taste was acceptable once the lid was on. So how does this new product actually perform? Let's take a look at everyone's real feedback. [more…]

Cold Brew Coffee Single-Origin Bean Recommendations | What's the Difference Between Cold Brew and Iced Coffee? How Many Days Can Cold Brew Coffee Be Stored in the Fridge? How to Make a Single Serving of Cold Brew?

For more specialty coffee knowledge, please follow our WeChat public account: Front Street Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee). If you have ever tried cold brew coffee, you will surely be captivated by its uniquely smooth mouthfeel and "pure" character. Why is cold brew coffee so popular? Compared with regular [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…]

The Correct Way to Drink Americano | What Factors Cause Under-Extraction of Espresso? What Is the Coffee-to-Water Ratio for Americano?

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

Coffee Equipment | What equipment is needed to make ice drip cold brew? How long can ice drip cold brew coffee be stored? Why does cold brew ice drip taste better after sitting overnight?

For more specialty coffee knowledge, please follow our WeChat public account: Front Street Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee). Recently, more and more friends have been making cold brew coffee, ice drip coffee, and other cold-brewed coffees at home. The ice drip coffee that Front Street prepares in advance is also in short supply. Many friends have also asked, [more…]

Manner's new cup campaign officially announced: buy a 75 yuan set to get a straw cup, three extra-large hot drinks spark heated discussion among netizens

Manner Coffee has always been a "cup powerhouse" in the coffee world, but its previous travel mug drew heavy criticism for its looks and quality control. Recently, the company finally teased a new cup, and its stylish design has netizens eagerly anticipating it. However, the activity rules officially announced this morning have sparked huge controversy: starting November 8, customers must buy a designated 75-yuan set meal in-store to get a randomly colored stainless steel straw cup, and all three drinks in the set must be extra-large hot beverages. Many netizens said outright that "three cups is too much to finish" and "hot drinks are too cloying," arguing the threshold for the promotion is too high. Manner has long attracted customers with its "bring your own cup and get five yuan off" campaign. Can this new cup marketing win back its reputation? Let's keep watching. [more…]

Ice Drip Coffee Powder-to-Water Ratio | What Are the Steps and Brewing Parameters for Making Ice Drip Coffee? Which Coffee Beans Are Suitable for Ice Drip Cold Brew?

For more specialty coffee knowledge, please follow: Front Street Coffee (Frontsteet Coffee) The cicadas in the distance never stop chirping, the dog days of summer have just begun, heat waves roll through the streets, and the tap at home runs hot water. No sooner had Front Street's barista just opened the door than a friend stepped into the Front Street shop to ask [more…]

Pour-over Coffee Tutorial and Equipment Recommendations | How Can Coffee Beginners Learn the Three-Pour Technique for Pour-over Coffee? What Is the Coffee-to-Water Ratio and Water Temperature for Pour-over Coffee?

Nowadays, more and more people are beginning to enjoy the pleasure of pour-over coffee, but are some steps unfamiliar, or are some key points still difficult to master? In this article, Front Street Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee) will share some tips about pour-over coffee~ Pour-over coffee is a type that requires the use of [more…]

The Origin Story of Indonesian Coffee | What Is the Sumatra Mandheling Coffee Bean Variety Grading System? An Introduction to the Flavor, Taste Characteristics, and Price of Indonesia's PWN Pwani Golden Mandheling Coffee

Mandheling coffee is a single-origin coffee commonly found in specialty coffee shops. It is said that before Blue Mountain coffee was discovered, Mandheling was once regarded as the finest of coffees and swept the world for a time. Mandheling coffee is considered the most full-bodied coffee in the world; when tasting Mandheling, you can distinctly feel the tongue [more…]