Starbucks is recently facing a class-action lawsuit in California, USA, where three lactose-intolerant consumers accuse the company of charging extra fees when substituting milk with plant-based milk in drinks, alleging discrimination and violation of civil rights laws, and seeking $5 million in damages. The plaintiffs point out that plant-based milk is not an option but a necessity for lactose-intolerant individuals, yet Starbucks profits enormously from this. Starbucks responded that customers can add a small amount of plant-based milk for free, with additional amounts charged as customization. Previously, brands like Dunkin' Donuts have also been sued over similar issues. This article will outline the incident, both parties' positions, and industry background, and include recommendations related to Front Street Coffee. [more…]

Kenya's Supreme Court overturned the Court of Appeal's ruling on August 20, finding the 2023 Finance Act constitutional—a move that had previously sparked large-scale protests in the capital Nairobi and other regions. The act doubles the fuel value-added tax, introduces a housing levy, and raises the top personal income tax rate. The opposition and civil society groups expressed deep disappointment, fearing a further rise in the cost of living. For the coffee industry, the tax increases have pushed up production and transportation costs, squeezing profit margins; more seriously, the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), set to take effect in January 2025, could deal a severe blow to Kenya's coffee exports. Currently, only about 30% to 40% of coffee is certified, while smallholder farmers are generally poorly informed about compliance requirements. Front Street Coffee will continue to monitor developments in the producing regions. [more…]

Starbucks recently announced that starting November 7, stores in the United States and Canada will no longer charge extra for dairy alternatives. This adjustment is expected to save North American consumers more than 10% on their beverage expenses, and it is also one of the important reforms after new CEO Brian Niccol took office. Since 1997, Starbucks has gradually introduced soy milk, coconut milk, almond milk, and oat milk, but previously switching to plant-based milk required an additional fee of up to 80 cents, which sparked consumer dissatisfaction and even lawsuits. Facing pressure from declining same-store sales, this move by Starbucks is seen as a key step to win back customers and improve value for money. Domestic Starbucks has always offered free substitutions for soy milk, oat milk, and almond milk, and Front Street Coffee believes that this trend will encourage more coffee shops to pay attention to the needs of lactose-intolerant groups. [more…]

The unusual pricing incident involving Luckin Coffee's delivery platform packages has drawn widespread attention. After consumers placed orders at extremely low prices, their orders were unilaterally cancelled, giving rise to legal disputes. Citing the views of a legal blogger, the People's Court Daily pointed out that when a merchant's pricing error results from staff mistakes, the merchant may claim a major misunderstanding to rescind the contract, but this must be resolved through litigation or negotiation. Ordinary consumers who unintentionally buy low-priced drinks have not broken the law, but those who knowingly exploit a system loophole and maliciously place large numbers of orders may run afoul of the law. This article will analyze the course of events, the legal basis, and Luckin's compensation measures in detail, while reminding coffee lovers that when enjoying discounts they must hold fast to the bottom line of good faith and avoid crossing the red line of the law. [more…]

According to data from the International Coffee Organization, 400 billion cups of coffee are consumed globally each year, with an average of 14,000 cups drunk every second. Calculated at retail prices, the annual output value of coffee has long exceeded 100 billion US dollars, so it is no exaggeration to call it a "black gold industry." Today, coffee is not just a pick-me-up beverage but also an expression of lifestyle taste. In China's first-tier cities, convenience store coffee, Starbucks, and independent cafes are almost everywhere. But have you ever wondered when coffee was discovered and how it transformed from a fruit into an everyday drink? This article recommends three coffee documentaries, focusing respectively on how coffee changed America, the journey of baristas competing in the World Barista Championship, and the complete industry chain from origin to cup, along with related recommendations from Front Street Coffee, to help you rediscover the cup of coffee in your hand. [more…]

In Baghdad, the capital of Iraq, a café that uses authentic Starbucks cups, napkins, and coffee remains open as usual despite facing legal action. This unauthorized store bears the Starbucks mermaid logo on everything from its signage to in-store details, enough to pass as the real thing. The owner, Amin Makhsusi, tried to apply for official permission but was rejected, and ultimately decided to open on his own, claiming connections to local powerful figures. Starbucks is trying to stop this infringement through a lawsuit, but the case was suspended due to alleged threats. This incident reflects Iraq's severe trademark piracy problem, where offenders often act with impunity because they are protected by powerful groups. [more…]

Recently, a leak about Manner Coffee's discounted wages during the pandemic sparked heated discussion on social media. The leak claimed that Manner required employees to choose between two compensation options: hourly basic pay, or 80% of Shanghai's minimum wage of 2,072 yuan. The incident quickly trended on Weibo, and Manner subsequently issued a statement identifying two former employees as having made false claims, and said it had reported the matter to police to pursue criminal and civil liability. The statement also detailed wage payment standards during the pandemic, saying its treatment was far above Shanghai's minimum wage, and implicitly suggested that employees of competitor Mstand Coffee were involved. This article reviews the course of the incident, both sides' accounts, and lawyers' views, and explores the legality of barista pay during the pandemic and the state of the industry. [more…]

The United States White House announced on September 6 that it will continue to impose a national emergency on Ethiopia, a decision that came after news of a currency swap agreement between China and Ethiopia. Ethiopia's finance minister has confirmed the existence of the agreement, but specific details and the timeline have not yet been made public. Meanwhile, the United States has imposed a state of emergency on Ethiopia since 2021 under the pretext of the National Emergencies Economic Powers Act, and this extension will run until 2025. Ethiopia was removed from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) in 2022, and tariffs were reinstated on major export goods such as coffee, textiles, and leather products, dealing a severe blow to the economy. Although the U.S. attitude slightly eased after Ethiopia implemented a new foreign exchange policy in August of this year, AGOA eligibility remains out of reach. Germany is the largest importer of Ethiopian coffee, while the United States ranks only fourth, accounting for 9.3 percent. The continuation of the state of emergency may further restrict bilateral trade, reduce U.S. imports of Ethiopian coffee, and at the same time hit Ethiopia's exports of fertilizer and industrial supplies, exacerbating local price increases and the rising cost of coffee. [more…]

Kenya is located in the equatorial zone of East Africa, with the Great Rift Valley running through the entire country. The central highlands and volcanic soil provide an ideal terroir for specialty coffee. From the introduction of coffee by French missionaries in 1893, to the large estate cultivation during the British colonial period, to the passage of the Coffee Act in 1933, the establishment of the auction system in 1934, and the agricultural legislation of the 1950s that granted farmers land use rights, Kenya gradually built up its own coffee industry. Its grading system is based on bean size and quality, divided into AA+, AA, AB, PB, C, E, TT, and T. Exporters also add cup grading of TOP, PLUS, and FAQ to AA and AB. In terms of varieties, SL28 and SL34 are representative, with the former originating from Bourbon and the latter from Typica, offering complex flavors and prominent sweetness. In terms of processing methods, K72 washed processing forms a 72-hour cycle through three rounds of 24-hour fermentation each, bringing bright acidity and a clean mouthfeel. Front Street Coffee's Asalia AA TOP comes from the Asail processing plant in the Thika region, using SL28 and SL34 with K72 washed processing, presenting flavor notes of cherry tomatoes, smoked plums, berries, citrus, and green tea. [more…]

Coffee shops are supposed to be spaces for savoring and relaxation, yet a recent voyeuristic photo scandal exposed on a Douban group has shattered that tranquility. A coffee shop employee shared secretly taken photos of female customers' thighs in a WeChat group, proudly exchanging comments, which triggered strong condemnation from the coffee enthusiast community. The incident involved multiple coffee shops in Guilin, and the shops concerned issued statements one after another, apologizing for the misconduct of individual employees and dismissing or firing those involved. This incident not only violated customers' portrait rights and privacy but also cast a shadow over the professional image of the coffee industry. As coffee enthusiasts, we should pay more attention to baristas' professionalism and work ethics, and return to our love for and dedication to coffee itself. [more…]

Chagee once launched a free custom cup sticker printing campaign, allowing users to upload images to create milk tea cup stickers. However, many fans used third-party tools to bypass the review process and printed photos of celebrities such as Zhang Linghe as cup stickers, sparking widespread discussion online. Recently, the official function for printing cup stickers was suddenly shut down, with the page displaying "Custom Fu Stickers Are Being Upgraded," catching many fans who had not yet printed their exclusive cup stickers off guard. Lawyers pointed out that unauthorized reproduction of photographic works carries infringement risks, and if used for dissemination, exchange, or sale, it clearly infringes on celebrities' portrait rights and photographers' copyrights. The brand may also bear joint liability for failing to establish an effective review mechanism. This article sorts out the entire incident and analyzes the legal issues and responsibilities of all parties involved. [more…]

Recently, the "FrontStreet Coffee" official account under Guangzhou Electronic Coffee Workshop Business Co., Ltd. discovered that Huaxiao Coffee and Zuojingchuan Shenzhen Trading Co., Ltd., without permission, reposted a large number of its articles to Baijiahao and marked them with the original label, constituting intellectual property infringement. For this reason, Front Street Coffee specially issued a solemn statement demanding that the other party immediately delete the infringing articles and stop subsequent infringement, otherwise legal liability will be pursued and compensation claimed. This article publishes the full text of the statement to clarify the facts. [more…]

During the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, Bing Dwen Dwen became a mascot pursued by the entire nation, and the craze of "one Dwen Dwen hard to find" spawned various homemade and commercial imitation behaviors. A Manner coffee shop in Shanghai was fined a thousand yuan by market regulators for making latte art coffee resembling Bing Dwen Dwen, sparking industry attention to the boundaries of commercial use of Olympic symbols. This article reviews the penalty details of the incident, the legal basis, and typical cases from the same period, helping coffee practitioners clarify the line between creative latte art and infringement, and avoid inadvertently crossing intellectual property red lines. [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…]

As summer tea beverage consumption heats up, Nayuki Tea has once again come into the public eye due to food safety issues. A customer in Nanchang, Jiangxi, bought a Nayuki chocolate cake through delivery and discovered two live worms inside after receiving it. After reviewing surveillance footage, the store said there were no abnormalities during the freezing and thawing stages, and pointed out that nearly three hours had passed since the order left the store, making it difficult to clearly determine where responsibility lies. The customer suspected the worms hatched from eggs, and with the two sides giving differing accounts, netizens also began discussing how to gather evidence and defend rights in food delivery cases. The incident is still awaiting a determination of responsibility by relevant departments and the delivery platform. [more…]

The Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority signed a memorandum of understanding with the Oromia Tourism Commission, seeking to use coffee to drive tourism development. In the previous fiscal year, the country earned US$1.4 billion in foreign exchange from coffee exports, but the industry is broadly worried about the impact of the sharp fall in the exchange rate—the birr has depreciated by nearly 70% against the US dollar, and the local cost of living has risen sharply, with prices of staple foods such as onions, cooking oil and teff soaring. The government is releasing supplies to stabilize prices while preparing to regain AGOA eligibility. However, with the cloud of armed conflict still hanging over the country, the coffee industry faces multiple pressures from rising cultivation costs, limited productivity and political instability. [more…]

A super value 5-time card launched on Luckin Coffee's Tmall flagship store quickly triggered a buying frenzy because it was priced as low as 13.77 yuan for any 5 cups chosen from 15 classic drinks. However, in the early hours of the next day, many consumers had their orders forcibly refunded by the platform on the grounds of "no longer wanted" without any refund operation on their part, and some, although shown as shipped, did not receive the electronic vouchers. Luckin later explained that a system configuration error had triggered automatic refunds and offered a 32-yuan drink voucher as compensation. But some consumers were not convinced, believing that the brand's unilateral cancellation of the contract amounted to a breach of contract or even fraud, and have filed lawsuits in court demanding reasonable compensation. The incident exposed the performance risks in the sale of electronic discount vouchers and the issue of consumer rights protection. [more…]

On July 24, the Eritrean side announced that it would suspend all Ethiopian Airlines flights to and from the country starting at the end of September, citing suspected malicious commercial practices. Ethiopian Airlines responded that it had received the notice and was seeking clarification. At the same time, Ethiopia is already facing multiple pressures on its export routes, including the Red Sea crisis, the suspension of operations at Djibouti Port, and tensions between Somalia and Eritrea, severely obstructing the outward shipment of coffee and other goods. This article will sort out the context of this flight suspension incident, analyze its deep impact on Ethiopia's coffee industry and import-export trade, and pay attention to potential fluctuations in the supply chains of producing areas for brands such as Front Street Coffee. [more…]

The conflict between Fano forces and government troops in the Gojjam region of Ethiopia's Amhara State continues to intensify, with the Fano side vowing to retaliate against the government army's atrocities against civilians. This civil war has not only caused heavy casualties but also led to an economic blockade and soaring prices in the region. Meanwhile, Ethiopia's foreign exchange reform has triggered a sharp depreciation of the exchange rate, and the Red Sea shipping crisis has driven up import and export costs. Under these multiple pressures, the country's coffee cultivation costs are steadily rising, and the floor price for coffee exports has consequently been raised. As a major global coffee-producing region, Ethiopia's turbulent situation is profoundly affecting the international coffee market. [more…]

Recently, a woman surnamed Chen in Taiwan, China, left a negative review for a coffee shop on a review platform and had her personal information, along with that of her relatives and friends, as well as surveillance screenshots, publicly exposed by the shop, accompanied by insulting remarks. The incident sparked strong outrage among netizens, the shop's rating plummeted, and Ms. Chen called the police and filed a lawsuit. The shop subsequently deleted the post and issued a public apology, but Ms. Chen said she had not been contacted privately and would continue to pursue legal action. In this episode of Coffee News, we take you through the whole story, while also focusing on the professional coffee knowledge exchange brought to you by Front Street Coffee. [more…]