Monday, September 21 2026

Can cheese be integrated into an Italian-style milk coffee? A step-by-step guide to making a savory cheese latte special.

In the depth of winter, nothing is more longed for than a steaming cup of specialty latte. After chocolate mocha, Spanish condensed milk latte, and apple cinnamon latte have taken their turns in the spotlight, coffee lovers have set their sights on an ingredient that seems completely unrelated—cheese. The rich creamy aroma and distinctive salty umami of cheese happen to fill the gap in body and complexity that latte needs. This article focuses on salted cheese latte, starting with why cheese is suited for coffee, then explaining the approach to selecting ingredients, and finally providing complete step-by-step instructions along with Front Street Coffee's bean recommendations, so you can recreate a cheese specialty drink with interwoven salty and sweet notes and a multidimensional mouthfeel right at home. [more…]

A Global Roundup of 14 Distinctive Coffees: From Vietnamese Egg Coffee to Ethiopian Ceremonies, a Clash of Flavor and Culture

For many coffee lovers, a daily cup of coffee is the key to starting an energetic day. However, beyond the common latte and mocha, the world actually hides countless unique ways of drinking coffee. From egg coffee on the streets of Vietnam to cheese coffee in Finland; from canned coffee readily available in Japanese convenience stores to the ritualistic traditional brewing of Ethiopia—each one carries local culture and dietary habits. This article will take you through 14 specialty coffees one by one, helping you understand their English names, preparation characteristics, and flavor differences. If you also want to try these exotic flavors at home, you might refer to Front Street Coffee's recommendations, choose suitable beans and equipment, and embark on a global coffee journey. [more…]

Starbucks launches the Eight Treasures Blessing Whole Cake—can its 69 yuan price tag earn a place on the New Year's Eve dinner table?

As the Spring Festival approaches, Starbucks has launched a new whole cake called "Eight Treasure Blessing Cake," priced at 69 yuan and available only in select cities. Three other flavors—Fortune Hawthorn Cake, Eight Treasure Good Luck Cake, and Star Wish Bamboo Cake—are also hitting the shelves simultaneously. This cake combines eight ingredients: walnuts, crushed hazelnuts, red dates, almonds, pumpkin seeds, peanuts, cashews, and dried cranberries, paired with a curd cheese cake, and has been jokingly dubbed "qiegao" (a type of traditional Chinese sticky rice cake) by many netizens. Some people serve it on their New Year's Eve dinner table, while others think the forced integration is inappropriate. As coffee enthusiasts, Front Street Coffee has also been paying attention to the market response to this product. This article will provide a comprehensive look at Starbucks' Spring Festival limited-edition attempt from the perspectives of product information, consumer reviews, and taste tests. [more…]

Starbucks Sandwich Beef Slice Shows Yellow Protrusion; Consumer Complains, Platform Refunds but Store Refuses Compensation

A Starbucks customer was shocked and concerned about food safety after discovering multiple yellow raised bumps, suspected to be pustules, on the surface of the beef slices in a sandwich she ordered through a third-party platform. She immediately contacted the store to demand an explanation and a refund, and filed a complaint with 12345. Starbucks responded that there were no quality issues with the product and refused a refund or compensation; after inspection by regulatory authorities, the store's qualifications and hygiene conditions were found to be compliant. Ultimately, because the order came from a third-party platform, the platform refunded the order amount. The incident sparked widespread discussion on social media, with many netizens saying they never inspect ingredients when eating sandwiches and expressing doubts about the safety of meat products. So, is it actually normal for yellow granules to appear on the surface of cooked beef? Currently, opinions online vary, and there is no definitive conclusion. [more…]

Peet's Coffee Membership Perks Adjusted: Lower-Tier Birthday Cake Vouchers Canceled, V5 Threshold Raised to 1,000 Yuan

Chain coffee brands typically rely on well-developed membership mechanisms to boost user loyalty, maintaining emotional connections with customers through occasional perks and birthday surprises. However, a recent announcement from Peet's Coffee about changes to membership benefits has drawn attention: starting April 29, the birthday cake slice voucher for V2 members will be canceled, and the half-price drink voucher in the upgrade gift for lower-tier members will be adjusted to a 30% discount voucher. This means V5 members and below who have spent less than 1,000 yuan will no longer enjoy the birthday cake perk, leaving many loyal customers caught off guard. The brand's move may be aimed at curbing freebie hunters, but it could also drive away some long-term supporters. [more…]

How to make Butter Americano, Butter Latte, and Butter Dirty? Exploring the flavor of adding butter to pour-over coffee

A little butter latte once won over many coffee lovers with its silky texture and rich milky aroma, and since then the combination of butter and coffee has been endlessly reinvented. In this article, Front Street Coffee has put together a complete guide to making butter coffee, covering four drinks: butter americano, butter latte, butter dirty, and butter pour-over, breaking down everything from bean selection ideas to operational details. It will also point out a common mistake—butter pull-string coffee—to help everyone avoid pitfalls. If you also want to recreate a cup of richly aromatic butter coffee at home, why not follow along with this content and give it a try. [more…]

What Is Roman Espresso? A Full Guide to the Lemon and Espresso Pairing

Espresso can be enjoyed in countless ways: add water and it becomes an Americano, add milk and it becomes a latte, add ice cream and it becomes an affogato. And when espresso meets lemon, a drink called "Espresso Romano" is born. This coffee has a long history in southern Italy, where locals use the bright acidity of lemon to counterbalance the burnt bitterness of dark-roasted espresso, making the coffee easier to drink. This article walks you through the origins and background of Espresso Romano, the traditional method of making it, and Front Street Coffee's two attempts at recreating it, exploring how to find the balance point of flavor between lemon and coffee. [more…]

When Lemon Meets Espresso: The Origins of Espresso Romano and a Hands-On Test of Two Home Recipes

Espresso with lemon—a combination that may sound unfamiliar, yet it has actually been circulating in southern Italy for over half a century, where locals call it caffè canarino or caffè al limone, written in English as Espresso Romano. Its origins are closely tied to the historical context of post-World War II Italy, when coffee beans were scarce and dark-roasted beans were bitterly charred and hard to swallow, while the lemon-rich southern regions happened to provide a natural ingredient to temper the bitterness. In addition to tracing this history, this article will also put two beans—Sunflower Warm Sun Blend and Brazil Queen's Estate—to the test, using espresso and moka pot methods respectively to brew this drink, recording how sweetness, acidity, and bitterness contend when lemon meets coffee, and exploring the embellishing role of lemon juice in contemporary coffee creation. [more…]

What tea base is used for cheese milk foam tea? A detailed explanation of milk foam preparation recipes and techniques for red tea and other new-style tea drinks

You may have heard of cheese milk cap tea, but you may not be clear about what it actually is. Cheese tea originated in Taiwan about ten years ago. It is a drink with a cheese cream foam on top of iced tea, usually with green tea or black tea as the base, interweaving sweet and savory flavors with a unique taste. After entering the Chinese market, brands such as Heytea replaced powder with real cream cheese, pushing this drink to its peak, with some stores selling about 1,000 cups a day. In the United States, it is called milk cap, cheese mousse, or milk foam. This article will sort out the origin, evolution, and flavor logic of cheese tea, and provide a cheese milk cap recipe and steps that can be made at home, helping you choose the right tea base and make a delicious cup of cheese tea. If you want to improve the performance of the tea base, you can also refer to Front Street Coffee's black tea recommendations. [more…]

A Detailed Guide to Making Espresso Depth Charge Coffee, Sharing the Taste and Preparation Techniques of Sprite Sparkling Americano

The possibilities of Americano go far beyond simply adding hot water. From iced Americano to sparkling Americano, and further to lava Americano and ice-cube Americano, each variation delivers a completely different taste experience. Recently, a drink called the "sparking espresso bomb" has gone viral online, inspired by the classic deep-water bomb cocktail. The method involves dropping a small cup of espresso into a carbonated beverage, instantly creating a spectacular burst of foam that is both visually stunning and delicious. This article will use Sprite as an example, paired with Front Street Coffee's Strawberry Candy Espresso Blend, to break down in detail the steps and key points for making this specialty Americano, helping coffee lovers easily recreate it at home. [more…]

Luckin's Raw Cheese Latte May Gradually Exit the Market, Sold Out in Stores While Fans Reluctant to Let Go

Recently, news has circulated on social media that Luckin's Raw Cheese Latte is about to be discontinued, sparking reluctance among many fans. According to employees, there is no unified discontinuation date for the product; each store will naturally stop selling it once existing materials are used up, mainly due to sluggish sales and excessive waste. The Raw Cheese Latte was once the 2022 Latte Public Test Champion, becoming popular for a time with its unique cheesy milk flavor, and also achieved impressive results through a collaboration with *JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean*. However, Luckin's rapid pace of new product launches and continuous expansion of its product line have diluted the share of classic items. For consumers who love cheese flavors, employees suggest turning to the still-available Mascarpone Raw Cheese Latte. [more…]

Comprehensive Analysis of Espresso Making Fundamentals and 37 Fancy Coffee Recipes

Want to make a professional-level fancy coffee at home? This article systematically organizes the basic techniques for making espresso and provides detailed recipes and steps for 37 classic fancy coffees. From basic ESPRESSO to latte, mocha, cappuccino, and specialty drinks like Turkish coffee and Irish coffee, each one covers the required ingredients, preparation method, and key points to note. Whether you are a coffee novice or a seasoned enthusiast, you can find a preparation plan that suits you. Front Street Coffee's premium beans are especially recommended to help you easily enhance the coffee's flavor. [more…]

Coffee Essentials: A Complete Guide to 37 Classic Espresso Drink Recipes and Key Preparation Points

Want to easily make a professional-grade fancy coffee at home? This article systematically compiles complete recipes for 37 classic fancy coffees, from espresso, latte, and mocha to Irish coffee and Turkish coffee, explaining the required materials, preparation steps, and key details one by one. Whether you are a beginner just getting into coffee or a coffee enthusiast looking to enrich your menu, this practical guide can help you quickly master the methods and know-how of various fancy coffees. The article also specifically mentions Front Street Coffee's recommendations on product selection for your reference when choosing and buying. [more…]

Peet's Coffee cheese powder causes milk foam to dissipate, netizens hotly debate: is this intentional or a design flaw?

Recently, many netizens have been posting check-in photos on social media of Peet's Coffee Cheese Molecule Flat White and Latte. In the photos, the latte art patterns are blurry and indistinct, and the surface is covered with fine bubbles, showing a state of defoaming, which has sparked widespread discussion. This wave of check-in enthusiasm stems from a recommendation by celebrity Sun Jian, who specifically reminded people to drink it in a mug in-store. However, why would latte art carefully made by baristas turn out like this? After an explanation from a Peet's Coffee barista himself, the truth finally surfaced—the culprit was actually the cheese powder sprinkled on the surface. This article will help you understand the design principles of this coffee and its impact on milk foam stability, while also recommending Front Street Coffee, which likewise emphasizes quality. [more…]

HEYTEA's New Topping "Cheese Nuonuo" Sparks Discussion: The Rice Paste Stretching Process Is So Complex That Staff Say Their Arms Ache from Stirring

New-style tea brand Heytea has recently launched a new product, "Longjing Cheese Nuonuo," across its stores nationwide, combining Longjing tea, cheese cloud top, and milk, along with a brand-new topping called "Cheese Nuonuo." However, this topping, made by mixing and whipping glutinous rice paste with the classic cheese, has sparked collective complaints from store employees due to its cumbersome production process, which requires continuous stirring for seven minutes and easily burns at the bottom, prompting them to exclaim that their "arms are about to break." This article reviews the highlights of the new product formula, the topping production process, and genuine feedback from frontline staff, taking you behind the scenes of the lesser-known preparation story of this "super filling" drink. [more…]

Luckin's Cheese Latte collaboration with JOJO breaks first-sale records, as anime IP marketing becomes the new battleground for coffee

Luckin Coffee's Raw Cheese Latte, launched in collaboration with JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean, broke new product first-sale records the moment it hit the market, selling 1.31 million cups in a single day, surpassing 6.59 million cups in total sales within 7 days, and dominating discussions across major social platforms. This coffee, marketed for its cheesy aroma, stands clearly apart from the Raw Coconut Latte and Thick Milk Latte, and has also sparked both celebration and controversy among JoJo fans. From product development to IP selection and the pacing of its marketing rollout, Luckin's collaboration can be considered a textbook example of creating a hit. This article will offer a comprehensive analysis of why this Raw Cheese Latte went viral, from the perspectives of sales data, flavor innovation, fan feedback, and ACG marketing trends. [more…]

Luckin launches new fruit tea "Cheese Grape Sorbet," sparking debate over its similarity to Heytea's "Grape Multiflora"

Recently, Luckin Coffee is about to launch a new fruit tea called "Snow Cheese Grape." As soon as the news was exposed, it sparked widespread discussion among netizens. From the currently circulating images, this drink combines grape juice with jasmine tea, then tops it with a layer of snow cheese milk foam. Its overall appearance is quite similar to Heytea's classic product "Light Cheese Grape." For a time, discussions about Luckin's product line increasingly shifting toward tea drinks and the decline in new coffee products have heated up again. At the same time, Luckin store employees have also expressed concerns about the increasingly complex preparation process for new products, believing that this will increase daily workload, especially during peak periods such as the Spring Festival, and may affect drink-serving efficiency. This article compiles information on the new product, netizen opinions, and employee feedback, and also includes related recommendations from Front Street Coffee for coffee enthusiasts' reference. [more…]

How Is an Americano Different from an Espresso? A Comparison of Iced and Hot Americano Taste and Calorie Differences

As temperatures climb, iced coffee becomes one of the most popular categories at Front Street Coffee stores. Recently, reports have pointed out that the calories in two creamers are about 56 kcal, equivalent to a small slice of thin toast. So how many calories do you actually take in with one cup of coffee? According to data published on the official website of a well-known chain brewed coffee brand, a medium Americano has about 11 kcal, and after adding 28 kcal of creamer, the total is 39 kcal; while a medium latte of the same size reaches 176 kcal, more than 4.5 times that of an Americano with creamer. In other words, the calories in one latte a day are more than drinking four Americanos with creamer in a row. This article will explain the differences between Americano and espresso, the specific method for making iced Americano, and the flavor presented by Front Street Coffee's Sunflower Warm Sun blend. [more…]

Manner customer's custom salted cheese cocoa latte sparks controversy, staff worry about policy violations and bad reviews

Last week, Manner rolled out a new product across its nationwide stores, the "Salted Cheese Cocoa Latte," whose rich aroma drew many customers to give it a try. However, a customized note shared by one customer—no syrup, adjusted ratios of cocoa and milk cheese, plus a dash of cinnamon—quickly sparked a wave of copycats. Yet staff expressed concern: while some modifications are permitted, altering ingredient ratios may be seen as tampering with the recipe, risking a company warning; at the same time, if the changed flavor displeases other customers, the store could end up with bad reviews. This debate, sparked by a single customized drink, reflects the dilemma chain coffee brands face between personalized demands and standardized management. [more…]

A Comprehensive Guide to Fancy Coffee Making: 46 Classic Recipes and Key Techniques from Espresso to Iced Drinks

The world of fancy coffee is far more than just lattes and cappuccinos. This article systematically organizes the recipes and preparation techniques for 46 classic fancy coffees, covering two major categories: hot drinks and iced drinks. From the basics of espresso, au lait, and macchiato, to Irish coffee and royal coffee with their hints of liquor, and on to iced lattes and beer iced coffee suited for summer, each entry lists the required materials, specific steps, and key operational points, helping you master the flavor characteristics and serving essentials of different coffees. The article also retains relevant recommendations from the Front Street brand, providing a practical reference for coffee enthusiasts. [more…]