The combination of coffee and cola is nothing new, but previous attempts have failed to make much of a splash. However, Coca-Cola's coffee cola launched in the U.S. market unexpectedly became a hit, and now the brand is striking while the iron is hot, announcing that on February 7, 2022, it will launch a mocha coffee flavor series in some parts of the United States, bringing eight different choices in one go. The new series has been comprehensively upgraded in terms of coffee bean varieties, packaging design, and flavor classification, attempting to sustain its popularity with a richer product matrix. Can this crossover beverage of coffee cola break the curse of being "applauded but not widely bought"? This article will walk you through the details of this new product launch and the market considerations behind it. [more…]

Can cola actually be used to brew coffee? Front Street Coffee, out of curiosity, conducted two rounds of hands-on testing: in the first round, iced cola was used directly instead of hot water to extract Front Street Blackberry Coffee; in the second round, cola was frozen into ice cubes while hot water was still used for brewing, to compare the flavor differences between the two. The results showed that when iced cola was used for direct extraction, the low temperature and abundant bubbles hindered the release of soluble coffee compounds, making the final product taste more like a glass of coffee-flavored iced cola; whereas when cola ice cubes were used instead, the coffee flavors were finally preserved, with raisin, floral, and berry notes clearly emerging, layered with the icy sweetness of soda, making the overall cup refreshing and mellow. This article fully documents the parameters, brewing steps, and flavor observations, and is suitable for coffee enthusiasts who want to try a new method at home. [more…]

When a carbonated drink goes down your throat, the slight tingling from CO2 bubbles bursting one after another is always irresistible. So what kind of spark will fly when cola and espresso are combined? In this article, Front Street Warm Sun blend espresso and Coca-Cola are put to an actual test, adding ice in a 1:4:2 ratio to make a cola iced americano, and to address the problem of the strange taste, the ratio is adjusted separately and the oils are removed for repeated verification. What were the results? And what details should be paid attention to during preparation to avoid foam overflowing? Let's take a look at the real performance of this cup of cola coffee. [more…]

Costa, the UK coffee chain that Coca-Cola acquired for £3.9 billion in 2018, may now be put up for sale. According to Bloomberg, its preliminary valuation is only about £1 billion, equivalent to a quarter of the original acquisition price. Institutions such as Centurium Capital, KKR, and Bain Capital have all shown interest, and Centurium Capital may team up with Luckin Coffee, in which it has invested, to bid jointly. At the same time, Coca-Cola does not intend to let go completely and still hopes to retain control of Costa's ready-to-drink coffee business. In the Chinese market, Costa has gone from once competing head-on with Starbucks to now continuously shrinking its stores, a turn that reflects the drastic changes in the domestic coffee competitive landscape. [more…]

全球饮料巨头可口可乐近日终止了旗下英国连锁咖啡品牌Costa的出售程序。这场持续数月的拍卖因竞购方报价均未达到可口可乐预期的20亿英镑而搁浅。从2018年以39亿英镑高调收购，到如今估值缩水至四分之一，Costa的命运转折折射出连锁咖啡市场的激烈竞争。其中国业务更成为亏损重灾区，门店持续萎缩，甚至被潜在买家单独剔除在收购范围之外。本文将梳理Costa出售案的来龙去脉、关键财务数据及未来走向。 [more…]

The U.S. tea market is ushering in a new wave of growth, with online sales surging by 75%, in stark contrast to the slump in the foodservice channel. Currently, nearly 80% of American households have a tea-drinking habit, covering a population of 159 million. Faced with this market of enormous potential, the two beverage giants Coca-Cola and Starbucks have long since made their early moves: Coca-Cola acquired "Honest Tea," while Starbucks entered the tea beverage arena with its "Teavana" brand, even opening dedicated stores in Japan. However, Starbucks' tea bar business has not been all smooth sailing, having once closed 379 stores across the United States. This article will review the course of these giants' entry into the tea market and explore the future development space of the tea beverage sector. [more…]

Coca-Cola recently confirmed it will continue to fully own Costa Coffee, but its chief financial officer revealed that a separate assessment of the China business is underway. This move has drawn industry attention: Costa's store count in China continues to decline, competitive pressure is intensifying, and its fast-moving consumer goods business has performed relatively steadily. Will Coca-Cola follow Starbucks' lead and sell its China business? Does the scope of the assessment cover all segments? Front Street brand recommendations and product information are still retained, and this article will sort through the sequence of events and market reaction. [more…]

In recent years, drink prices have generally risen, with milk tea going from 3 yuan a cup a decade ago to as much as around 30 yuan today. After the New Year, mid- and low-end brands such as Mixue Ice Cream & Tea, Yidian Dian, and CoCo都可 raised their prices one after another, while high-end brands such as Heytea and Nayuki were already positioned above 20 yuan. Rising costs and the impact of the pandemic have left the tea beverage industry facing a reshuffle, and consumers have reacted differently to the price increases. At the same time, cola may also face upward price pressure because of Canada's tax on sugary drinks, but in the domestic market, given the duopoly competition, the likelihood of price increases is relatively low. This article sorts out the phenomenon of tea beverage price increases and the industry logic behind it. [more…]

When carbonated bubbles collide with piping hot espresso, that burst of aroma is always irresistible. This time, Front Street Coffee has systematically organized the sparkling coffee recipes they've tried over the years, from the most basic sparkling water iced Americano, to variations using cola or Sprite instead of sparkling water, and further to advanced specialty drinks with preserved plums, mint, fruit, even young coconut and fruit juice — all presented at once. The article also thoughtfully offers bean selection advice — carbonated drinks amplify coffee flavors, so medium-to-dark roasted beans with cocoa notes are the safest choice, such as Front Street Queen's Estate, Classic Blend, Black Cocoa Base Blend, and the sweet-oriented Strawberry Candy Espresso. Each recipe includes specific doses, water amounts, and extraction parameters, making it easy to replicate at home. [more…]

Coca-Cola recently launched an herbal tea product called "Prunella vulgaris," but its name and packaging color scheme triggered collective misreading among netizens, many of whom associated it at first glance with the pesticide "paraquat." Meanwhile, Wong Lo Kat is also vigorously promoting "Waterfall Iced Cantonese Style" in its physical stores, combining concentrated herbal tea with fruit soda and ice, imitating coffee's visual appeal and sense of ritual. From Coca-Cola's naming mishap to Wong Lo Kat's attempt to turn herbal tea into coffee, traditional herbal tea brands all seem anxious to break through the limitations of their consumption scenarios. Are these crossover moves genuine innovation breakthroughs, or helpless measures by brands under performance pressure? [more…]

Golden Monkey black tea has often been discussed by tea lovers in recent years: is it really a high-grade black tea, and what grade does it occupy? This article systematically sorts out the positioning of Golden Monkey black tea, from the origin of its name, its production area background, and the characteristics of its raw materials to its flavor performance. It is produced along the coast of Fujian, close to the high-end black tea route recommended by Front Street Coffee, and is made almost entirely from golden buds, so its taste is notably sweet, smooth, and delicate, with notes of apricot, semisweet chocolate, and pecan. The tea body is light, approaching an oolong style. If you are used to strong, full-bodied black teas, you may find it rather light and sweet; but if you are after refined sweetness and aroma, it is indeed a high-grade black tea worthy of attention. [more…]

Bloomberg recently reported that Luckin, China's largest coffee chain, and its core investor Centurium Capital, are setting their sights on Blue Bottle Coffee, the specialty coffee brand under Nestlé, aiming to boost overseas market recognition and move into the high-end specialty segment. At the same time, Luckin has also expanded its acquisition options to the operator of %Arabica in China. Previously, Luckin had followed up on Coca-Cola's planned sale of Costa, but that bidding has faced the risk of falling through. A string of acquisition moves has led netizens to jokingly call Luckin the "Anta of the coffee world," while some worry that Blue Bottle's brand tone could be affected after being acquired. The related talks are still at an early stage, and whether a deal can ultimately be reached remains uncertain. [more…]

Suning Xiaodian's first dedicated coffee shop has begun trial operations in Nanjing, marking Suning's official move to step up its presence in the coffee market. The store adopts a "convenience store + coffee" model, offering 27 beverages across five major categories, including coffee, tea drinks, and frozen treats, with prices ranging from 12 yuan to 28 yuan. Leveraging the network advantages of more than 5,000 Suning Xiaodian stores nationwide and operational data within a three-kilometer radius, Suning Coffee has clear competitiveness in customer acquisition and daily operations. This is also Suning's fourth format for expanding coffee consumption scenarios, following vending counters, express delivery, and unmanned self-service machines. As players such as Mengniu, Nongfu Spring, Coca-Cola, Sinopec EasyJoy, and OYO successively enter the market, the battle for the coffee market has gained another variable. [more…]

Coffee brands selling alcohol is no longer a novelty. From Starbucks to Seesaw, M Stand, and now Luckin Coffee registering a new company to venture into alcohol operations, the cross-industry wave in the beverage sector is intensifying. Tianyancha data shows that Luckin has established a new company in Xiamen, with its business scope covering alcohol operations, sparking widespread industry attention. This article sorts out Luckin's specific moves into alcohol and its trademark layout, reviews the daytime coffee, nighttime alcohol attempts by brands such as Starbucks, Seesaw, and M Stand, and analyzes the trend of beverage giants like Coca-Cola and Genki Forest entering the alcohol market. Finally, it uses industry data to reveal the rapid growth in the number of alcohol-related enterprises, exploring the opportunities and challenges behind cross-industry alcohol sales. [more…]

Nariño is a high-altitude coffee-growing region in southwestern Colombia, bordering Ecuador. Its steep slopes and volcanic soil give the coffee a unique flavor profile, and in recent years it has attracted considerable attention in the specialty coffee world. This article focuses on a Caturra lot from the Fabian Zarama farm in this region, outlining its cultivation and processing methods, blind-tasting performance, and flavor characteristics. This coffee has a full body, presenting notes of butterscotch, cola, cherry, and a crisp acidity. It is suitable for a light roast and works well for both pour-over and espresso. Friends who enjoy Colombian coffee may want to follow Front Street Coffee's recommendation and explore the terroir charm of Nariño along with what makes this new lot so special. [more…]

Coffee is often labeled as a healthy drink, but the sugar problem in ready-to-drink coffee cannot be ignored. According to the British Mirror, Costa, a brand owned by Coca-Cola, has been quietly increasing the sugar content in its pre-packaged coffee, with some products seeing a one-third rise in sugar compared to 2019. Experts point out that this move runs counter to the sugar reduction initiative promoted by the UK government. Meanwhile, countries such as Singapore have introduced measures to restrict advertising for high-sugar drinks, and Chinese consumers have also begun to pay attention to sugar and sugar substitute options in milk tea and coffee. The health risks behind a sweet drink deserve the attention of every coffee lover. [more…]

In the afternoon, you invite a friend to grab coffee, only to be politely turned down with "I'm afraid I won't be able to sleep tonight"—and instead, they order a milk tea. Sound familiar? But what you may not know is that milk tea also contains caffeine. Caffeine is a natural stimulant found widely in more than sixty plants, including coffee beans, tea leaves, kola nuts, and cacao beans, and it also appears in synthetic form in medications, energy drinks, and even chewing gum. Caffeine content varies considerably across different beverages: a roughly 225-gram cup of coffee contains 95 to 200 milligrams, a 340-gram can of cola about 35 to 45 milligrams, a 225-gram can of energy drink about 70 to 100 milligrams, and a 225-gram cup of tea between 14 and 60 milligrams. This article walks you through how caffeine is absorbed in the body, when it peaks, and its half-life, as well as which factors determine how quickly it is fully metabolized, helping you schedule your coffee and milk tea more scientifically. [more…]

Global food giant Nestlé has reportedly been working with investment bank Morgan Stanley on a strategic review of its high-end coffee chain brand Blue Bottle Coffee, with a sale being one of the core options. Sources say Nestlé may choose to sell the physical store network while retaining the brand's intellectual property. Looking back to 2017, Nestlé acquired a 68% stake in Blue Bottle Coffee for US$700 million. Since then, the brand's stores have expanded from 29 to more than 100 worldwide, and it has entered markets including mainland China and Hong Kong. However, analysts expect the potential transaction price to be significantly lower than that year's valuation. Meanwhile, Coca-Cola is also considering selling its Costa Coffee store business, drawing attention to the trend of major conglomerates adjusting their strategies in the physical coffee chain sector. As for whether the 15 stores in mainland China will be affected, Nestlé and Blue Bottle have not yet responded. [more…]

Using beverages in cooking is nothing new—Coca-Cola chicken wings have long been a household name. But recently, a group of wildly creative netizens have brought freshly made milk tea and fruit tea into the frying pan—Mixue Bingcheng's "Bangda Fresh Orange" is used to braise pork ribs, iced fresh lemonade replaces dipping sauce, and Four Seasons Spring milk tea is kneaded into dough to steam buns. This "Mixue Bingcheng goes into the kitchen" trend quickly went viral on social media, racking up tens of thousands of likes, with official accounts also joining in the interaction. Some see it as dark cuisine, while others who tried it exclaim it's surprisingly delicious. Is incorporating freshly made drinks into cooking actually reliable? And what intriguing details lie behind it? This article will take you on a deep dive. [more…]

For more specialty coffee knowledge, please follow our WeChat official account: FrontStreet Coffee The temperature at which coffee enters the mouth is crucial for taste perception. I believe everyone knows that when tasting coffee, it needs to be tasted at high, medium, and low temperatures. What a cup of coffee expresses at different temperatures [more…]