In recent years, brand marketing tactics have proliferated, but some approaches frequently cross the line. A certain coffee machine brand sparked strong public backlash for using semi-nude models to demonstrate product settings in its advertising. From skin color hinting at concentration levels to scenes of kneeling to brew coffee, this series of moves was not only vulgar but also involved the objectification of women and racial bias. Although customer service claimed there was no violation, the images were quietly replaced. This article takes a deep dive into the brand logic behind this controversy, exploring why borderline marketing persists despite repeated bans and what real costs it brings to brands. For coffee lovers, we should focus more on the coffee itself rather than being led astray by gimmicks. [more…]

Espresso-based coffee is made with espresso as its foundation. Looking at the composition of most espresso drinks, they all require a single or double shot of good-quality espresso. Americano is made by adding a large amount of drinking water to espresso, while a latte is made by adding milk to espresso. Flavored coffees such as mocha, however, are made by adding even more on top of a latte. [more…]

What actually happens when you order an Americano in Italy? A first-hand answer from an Italian netizen reveals this amusing cultural phenomenon: Italians usually don't drink Americanos, and café owners will simply give you an espresso and a cup of hot water to dilute it yourself. More interestingly, when Italians see someone adding water to an espresso, their reaction can be described as intense. Behind this is not just a matter of taste preference, but something tied to national identity and cultural dignity. Espresso was included in UNESCO's candidate list for Intangible Cultural Heritage in January this year. It carries Italy's coffee history from the 16th century to the present, from the "drink of the devil" to the "drink of God," from the first coffee house to the invention of the steam coffee machine. Espresso has long been part of Italy's national identity. [more…]

Luckin Coffee has recently rolled out a series of new products, including light milk tea and iced shaken drinks. As its product line continues to expand, the pressure on store staff for ingredient preparation and drink-making has also increased. Recently, reports have emerged that Luckin has piloted the "Rui Binfen - Smart Tea Machine" in some stores in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, which can automatically dispense ingredients according to recipes, saving the step of manual weighing. Employees have mixed reactions: some are delighted that it reduces physical exertion and speeds up drink output, while others worry that cleaning the machine daily takes about an hour and may involve unpaid overtime. In addition, the tea machine is quite large and has certain requirements for counter space and drink output volume, so not all stores can install it. This article compiles genuine feedback from frontline employees and details on equipment use, so coffee enthusiasts can learn about new developments in chain-brand store operations. [more…]

Many coffee enthusiasts are still unfamiliar with Lungo, and may even confuse it with Long Black. In fact, Lungo, like Ristretto, belongs to the espresso family—both are made directly with an espresso machine without adding any other ingredients. The difference lies in the amount of extracted liquid: a standard espresso uses 20g of grounds to extract about 40ml, Ristretto reduces the liquid to about 30ml to increase concentration, while Lungo extends the extraction time and increases the liquid to about 100ml, with concentration decreasing accordingly. Lungo was born in an era when early espresso machines had pressure of only 1.5~3 bar, and at that time the only way to compensate for insufficient pressure was to extend the extraction. Today, espresso machines are much more efficient, and traditional Lungo tends to be over-bitter, but by adjusting the parameters, it is still possible to make a version that suits modern tastes. In this article, Front Street Coffee will walk you through the origins of Lungo, its differences from Long Black and Ristretto, and how to extract a modern Lungo that isn't bitter. [more…]

Espresso machines pull shots quickly and produce high concentration, and the roast level of the beans directly affects aroma, acidity, and body. If you mainly use a home espresso machine, super-automatic coffee machine, or capsule-based alternative, you can first determine your direction among light, medium, and dark roasts, then choose based on whether you usually drink espresso, Americano, or latte. This way, selecting beans will [more…]

Espresso machines brew quickly and at high pressure, so the roast level of the coffee beans directly affects the acidity, sweetness, aroma, and body on the palate. If you enjoy bright fruity notes, start with a light or light-to-medium roast; if you prefer nutty, cocoa, and smooth flavors, a medium to medium-dark roast is easier to get used to; and if you often drink lattes or cappuccinos, you can focus your attention [more…]

A small cup of espresso carries Italy's profound cultural heritage and the marks of change from the industrial age. From the birth of steam-powered coffee machines at the end of the 19th century, to the iterative upgrades of spring piston and semi-automatic espresso machines in the 20th century, and then to today's globally popular café culture, espresso has gone through more than a century of development. At the same time, Italy has been working since 2016 to seek intangible cultural heritage status for espresso, and it has now finally entered UNESCO's formal review process. This article will take you through the history of the development of the espresso machine and bring you the latest progress on its heritage application. [more…]

Walking into a café, you often hear people ordering a latte or an Americano—so is a latte actually good? And how should you choose between an iced latte and an iced Americano? Nowadays many people are used to drinking coffee while working, or holding a cup while chatting leisurely with friends. These two kinds of coffee are also quite popular at Front Street Coffee shops, so Front Street Coffee will walk you through them. Latte originally means milk in Italian; with the spread of espresso machines and steam wands, the modern latte gradually took shape. The Americano, on the other hand, originated from the American practice of diluting espresso. So does adding milk to an iced Americano equal an iced latte? What are the differences between the two in ingredients, sweetness, and cost? This article will sort it all out for you one by one. [more…]

Last summer, Luckin made refreshing lemon tea a permanent menu item, and earlier this year it upgraded the recipe, adding quick-frozen lemon halves and lemon pulp to enrich the texture. However, the 2.0 version of the lemon tea did not win unanimous praise from consumers and staff, and the problem lay with that conspicuous piece of quick-frozen lemon. Recently there has been news that Luckin may be trying to replace the quick-frozen lemon with a fresh fruit slicer, which has sparked widespread discussion among store employees. Some worry that they will have to arrive early to wash fruit and still spend a lot of time cleaning the machine after closing, bluntly saying they "want to run away"; others think a full rollout is unlikely. Front Street Coffee continues to follow developments in the coffee and tea beverage industry, and this article will sort out the ins and outs of the incident. [more…]

Americano is one of the most common black coffees, and it can be made either with a drip coffee machine or by adding a large amount of hot water to an espresso. Its flavor is on the lighter side, yet because of the longer extraction time it contains more caffeine. Many people wonder whether Americano helps with weight loss, and others want to know whether they can add sugar and milk to it, and how to pair it so it tastes smooth. This article will sort out the basic characteristics of Americano, how it differs from espresso in ratio and brewing method, analyze its role in fat breakdown and promoting gastrointestinal motility, and give Front Street Coffee's recommended ratios for adding sugar and milk, helping coffee lovers gain a more comprehensive understanding of this seemingly simple cup of coffee. [more…]

"Extremely high concentration, with a rich, golden-brown layer of crema on the surface" — this is the main characteristic that sets espresso apart from other coffees. Because its concentration is so high, espresso is often used as a base, with various ingredients added to create all kinds of specialty coffee drinks. Lattes, cappuccinos, flat whites, and other coffee drinks are made with espresso as their [more…]

Many coffee enthusiasts, after purchasing American-style drip machines like De'Longhi, often find themselves puzzled about which coffee beans to pair with them and how to set the grind size. In fact, the grind size directly determines the extraction time and extraction yield—too fine can easily lead to over-extraction, while too coarse results in under-extraction. Based on the practical experience of baristas at Front Street Coffee, this article explains the applicable ranges for fine, medium, and coarse grind sizes, and recommends beans such as Front Street Sun-Dried Red Cherry, Front Street Blue Mountain, and Front Street PWN Golden Mandheling for light, medium, and dark roast levels, respectively. It also includes the operating steps for De'Longhi drip machines, and finally compares the taste differences between espresso with added water and drip brewing methods, helping readers find the perfect cup of Americano for themselves. [more…]

Faced with the dazzling array of coffee grinders on the market, many coffee lovers struggle with the same question: should I choose a manual or an electric one? For long-term, stable grinding performance, many people lean toward going straight for an electric grinder—it saves effort and reduces the trouble of fines. But electric grinders actually have quite a few finer points when it comes to use and maintenance. For example, an incorrect operating sequence can accelerate burr wear, and inadequate cleaning can shorten the machine's lifespan. This article will address key questions such as the correct way to use an electric grinder, why you should start it before adding beans, and the specific methods for daily and periodic cleaning, helping beginners use and care for their grinder more scientifically so that every cup of coffee is consistently delicious. [more…]

Americano is one of the most common black coffees, and it can be made either with a drip brewer or by diluting a large amount of water into espresso. It tastes relatively mild, but because of the longer extraction time, its caffeine content is often not low. Many people care about whether drinking Americano helps with weight loss, and some also want to know whether Americano can be sweetened with sugar, added with milk, and how best to pair it for a good taste. This article will explain the definition of Americano, its difference from espresso, the principles of weight loss and drinking precautions, and specific suggestions for adding sugar and milk, while retaining Front Street Coffee's recommendations on ratios for coffee lovers' reference. [more…]

The convenience of a fully automatic coffee machine lies in the fact that everything from grinding and distributing the grounds to extraction is handled by the program. When choosing beans, the roast level directly affects the flow rate, aroma intensity, and mouthfeel. If you usually like making espresso, long coffee, or latte with one touch, you can start by looking at beans roasted from medium to medium-dark; these flavors are usually easier to [more…]

For more specialty coffee knowledge, please follow: Front Street Coffee (Frontsteet Coffee). Customers who often come to Front Street for coffee sometimes ask the baristas whether there is a lazy-person coffee machine suitable for home use, preferably at a reasonable price. Well then… let's take a look at the American drip coffee maker! [more…]

Although most people come to Front Street Coffee to drink pour-over coffee, there are also quite a few who are willing to drink espresso. As is well known, espresso is the foundation of various Italian-style drinks—including Americano, latte, cappuccino, flat white, mocha, and more. According to Front Street Coffee, espresso is called "espresso" by foreigners, [more…]

Medium-roast coffee beans put into an espresso machine usually achieve a good balance between aroma, sweetness, and mouthfeel. They retain a certain fruit acidity and regional character, while also having enough soluble solids to support the thickness of the espresso; made into an Americano, it won't be too thin, and after adding milk, it can still leave the taste of the coffee itself, making it suitable for home [more…]

Iced Americano has gained popularity among celebrities and coffee lovers in recent years. It not only refreshes the mind but also helps with weight loss and reducing water retention. So, what exactly is an Iced Americano? What are the nuances of its origin and preparation methods? And what kind of coffee beans should be chosen to make an Iced Americano? This article will take you through the definition of Americano, the evolution of espresso, and how to select blended coffee beans suitable for making Americano, from the professional perspective of Front Street Coffee. Whether you seek rich crema, a smooth mouthfeel, or floral and fruity aromas, you can find a suitable choice. Additionally, we will share the extraction parameters and water-to-espresso ratios for Americano to help you easily make a delicious Iced Americano. [more…]