For professional coffee knowledge exchange and more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat public account cafe_style) For more specialty coffee beans, please add the private WeChat of Front Street Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee), WeChat ID: qjcoffeex Mixue Bingcheng has once again been thrust into the spotlight. A consumer in Xiantao, Hubei, found a small black bug in an unopened lemonade, yet the response from the store was jaw-dropping. As the champion in store count in the new tea beverage industry, why do food safety issues keep recurring for Mixue Bingcheng even as it sprinted toward an IPO? This article will sort through the course of the incident, netizen reactions, and the brand's frequent food safety scandals this year, and explore the bottom line issues of service and quality control in the catering industry. [more…]

Recently, a Sam's Club store in Nanjing was exposed by a consumer: a full case of blood orange chia seed juice tea beverage they purchased contained two foreign objects, one large and one small, despite being unopened, and the smaller piece was suspected to be black mold. After the consumer's communication with the store yielded no result, Sam's national customer service only offered compensation in the form of a coupon of equivalent value. This is not the first time Sam's Club has been embroiled in a food safety controversy; previously, Shenzhen, Changzhou, and other places also reported incidents one after another, including insect eggs attached to milk and teeth found in fresh meat mooncakes. Complaints of this kind are common on social platforms. Data from the Black Cat Complaint platform shows that in September alone, Sam's Club received 70 complaints, many involving food safety. As a high-end membership store under Walmart, Sam's quality control problems are arousing concern among more and more consumers. [more…]

Recently, a Xinyang netizen exposed that a drink purchased at a Luckin Coffee store on campus had a fly settled at the bottom, sparking widespread attention. The consumer refused the store's initial offer of a free drink and a complimentary beverage, demanding compensation in accordance with the law. Luckin's after-sales service called multiple times, offering coupons, and was even accused of implying that the consumer had put the foreign object in themselves. In the end, the employee involved was fired, and the consumer received 500 yuan in compensation. This is not the first time Luckin has been embroiled in a food safety scandal; there have previously been incidents involving foreign objects such as work badges and ants. At a time when competition in the tea beverage market is white-hot, a brand's sincerity in handling problems has become key to consumer trust. This article reviews the course of the incident and the legal basis, and includes related recommendations from Front Street Coffee. [more…]

Recently, a netizen exposed that the well-known fruit tea chain brand 7FenTian uses quick-frozen mango chunks in its beverage preparation, and that this food has a shelf life of up to 24 months, sparking widespread concern. The brand is known for its signature product Yangzhi Ganlu, and both its ordering mini-program and offline stores advertise the use of fresh mangoes and freshly cut soft and glutinous mangoes, but the expose revealed that the stores actually use quick-frozen fruit chunks. 7FenTian customer service confirmed that the quick-frozen mango chunks are uniformly ordered and delivered by the company, and the shelf life is indeed 24 months, but regarding why quick-frozen fruit chunks are still used when fresh mangoes are available, customer service said it could not explain. At present, the expose post has been deleted, and the brand has not yet made a public response regarding issues such as the proportion of quick-frozen mango use and the failure to clearly inform consumers of the type of ingredients. As coffee enthusiasts, understanding the true situation of beverage ingredients is equally important. Front Street Coffee continues to follow industry developments and brings you objective reporting. [more…]

BYD, a leading domestic new energy vehicle company, recently submitted registration applications to the China National Intellectual Property Administration for two trademarks, "Wudi Xiaoyin" and "Laibei Di Xiaoyin," with the international classification pointing to the food and beverage and accommodation sector. The applications are currently awaiting substantive examination. This move is seen by the industry as a new step by BYD on the path of diversified operations. In fact, as early as 2023, BYD had already established themed restaurants and cafes in Singapore, integrating automobile displays with dining experiences. From overseas experimentation to domestic trademark reserves, this automaker seems intent on embedding coffee culture into its showroom service scenarios. This article will sort out the specific information of BYD's trademark applications, review its past attempts in the food and beverage and coffee sector, and analyze the strategic intent behind this cross-industry move. [more…]

Recently, a 1 Dian Dian store at Jinshijie in Dongmen, Shenzhen was exposed after a cockroach leg was found in a milk tea, sparking widespread attention. The consumer and the store failed to reach an agreement on compensation, and a complaint has now been filed and accepted on the Shenzhen government service platform. The incident highlights weak links in food safety management in the tea beverage industry and once again reminds industry practitioners and consumers to pay joint attention to hygiene issues. As an industry observer, Front Street Coffee continues to monitor the impact of such incidents on brand trust. [more…]

Recently, a customer at Luckin Coffee wanted to add extra ice after placing an order, but was told by the staff that ice could not be provided separately. Luckin's customer service explained that ice is considered a semi-finished product, and company policy stipulates it can only be used to make drinks, not sold or given away on its own. This response quickly sparked discussion online, with some netizens finding the rule absurd, while others explained that it is meant to avoid food safety risks. In fact, chain brands like Starbucks and McDonald's have similar requirements. This article will review the incident, netizens' opinions, and Luckin's official response, and explore the logic behind ice management at chain beverage shops. [more…]

In recent years, the grab-and-go consumption model has become increasingly popular, and many food and beverage brands have opened "drive-thru" lanes for this purpose. However, a cycling enthusiast was refused service at a Costa store in Scotland, on the grounds of "not being in a motor vehicle." This is not the first time Costa has sparked controversy over a similar incident. An almost identical situation occurred in 2020, when Costa explained that bicycles are not taxed or insured in the same way as motor vehicles, and was immediately rebutted by the British Cycling Federation. Behind the incident lies the delicate balance between convenience and fairness in drive-thru service. Front Street Coffee takes you through this hotly debated incident. [more…]

Recently, a consumer discovered that a package of Costa's organic ripe Pu'er compressed tea was labeled with a shelf life of 100 years, with a production date of October 1, 2025, and an expiration date of October 1, 2125. This bizarre labeling quickly sparked questions: was it a printing error, or can tea cakes really be stored for a century? Customer service responded that "the older the tea, the more fragrant it is," but experts and lawyers both pointed out that the national standard for Pu'er tea only states "suitable for long-term storage," with no fixed number of years. A 100-year shelf life can neither be scientifically verified nor is it free from hidden food safety risks such as mold. At the same time, some e-commerce platforms still sell Costa Pu'er tea with a shelf life labeled as 9,999 days, which works out to more than 27 years. As coffee enthusiasts, Front Street Coffee also reminds you to pay attention to the compliance and scientific validity of beverage shelf-life labeling. [more…]

Recently, a set of comparison photos circulating on social media has drawn attention: a Luckin Coffee employee lost 20 jin (10 kg) after just over three months on the job, and their posture became noticeably more upright. Once the post went up, food-service workers from all over chimed in with their own "transformation stories"—some cured their hunchbacks, some built up arm muscles, and others lost ten jin within half a year. These real-life cases have tempted many people struggling with their weight, making them wish they could immediately grab a part-time job at a coffee shop—earning money while slimming down. Yet those who have actually been through this "total makeover" offer completely different advice. Behind the buzz of "Luckin as a weight-loss base," how exactly do you balance the physical exertion of manual labor against the toll it takes on the body? This article walks you through the real experiences and warnings of these food-service workers. [more…]

Recently, a customer at a Luckin Coffee store saw a notice posted on the counter that read, "A staff member has a fever, so orders are being prepared more slowly. Please don't rush us." The customer snapped a photo, which quickly sparked widespread discussion online. Some praised the employees' dedication, while others worried that preparing drinks while sick posed food safety risks. However, Luckin employees have expressed their helplessness: it's not that they don't want to rest, but that stores are understaffed and there is no one to cover their shifts, making sick leave almost a luxury. This phenomenon is not unique to Luckin; workers in the tea and coffee industries have all resonated with it. This article will recount the incident and explore the institutional and practical contradictions behind working while sick. [more…]

Recently, a consumer reported on the Paper complaint platform that a greenish foreign object was found at the bottom of a cup of a beverage purchased at a Luckin Coffee store in Haikou, which the store confirmed to be a component of the direct drinking water outlet. The consumer demanded 1,000 yuan in compensation in accordance with the Food Safety Law, while the store offered five free cups of coffee, and the two sides failed to reach an agreement. The incident sparked discussions among netizens about Luckin's sincerity in handling the matter and food safety. Luckin's official customer service responded that it attaches great importance to the matter and will assign dedicated staff to handle it, but did not give a clear compensation plan. Front Street Coffee reminds that food safety is no small matter, and brands need to strictly fulfill their legal responsibilities and strengthen risk monitoring and prevention. [more…]

Recently, a video of a milk tea shop employee heavily spraying insecticide inside the store has drawn widespread attention. In the footage, the employee is seen directly spraying insecticide on the counter, water dispenser, ingredient area, and other surfaces, without taking any protective measures for food-contact surfaces, leaving many netizens and industry peers alike gasping in disbelief. After the incident came to light, the person who posted it reported the matter to the 12345 platform, and the Shanghai Hongkou District Market Supervision Administration has launched an investigation. The store involved has been ordered to close, and the brand has suspended the employee suspected of the action. This incident has once again brought the sanitation and disinfection practices of food service establishments and food safety issues into the public spotlight. [more…]

Closing cleaning in the food and beverage industry has always been a major burden for late-shift employees, and coffee and tea shops are no exception. Recently, some Chagee stores have begun outsourcing closing-time cleaning to third-party professional teams, allowing many employees to get off work on time and even saving on parts replacement costs thanks to thorough equipment cleaning. However, this measure does not benefit all stores: franchise stores need to pay an additional service fee to apply for outsourced staff, and outsourcing only covers daily cleaning, while regular maintenance is still handled by store employees. What worries workers even more is that some franchise store managers have said that if outsourced closing is introduced, they may consider reducing staffing to control costs. Convenience and risk coexist—can outsourced closing truly let employees relax once and for all? [more…]

Recently, a customer picking up an order at a Chagee store noticed that staff had stacked labeled paper cups one inside another, with their own cup at the very bottom. This raised concerns about possible food contamination from the cup walls coming into direct contact with the inside of another cup. The post quickly sparked widespread discussion: many bubble tea shop employees pointed out that unused paper cups are already stacked when they leave the factory, and that stacking cups during peak hours is a common practice to save counter space and speed up service. But most consumers were not convinced, noting that brands such as Starbucks, Luckin Coffee, and Heytea have explicit rules against this practice. Behind this debate lies the real dilemma facing tea beverage stores as they try to balance the pressure of order surges with hygiene standards. [more…]

CATL has applied to register the "Ning Coffee" trademark, with classifications covering convenience foods and food and beverage accommodation services; it is currently at the substantive examination waiting stage. Previously, its offline showroom had already launched six drinks, including "Range Latte" and "Supercharge Americano," along with "Shenxing" medium-dark roasted coffee beans, sparking outside speculation that it was entering coffee retail. The company responded that the coffee is only a supporting service, not a main business. This cross-industry move is seen as an attempt to build a presence in the consumer market and create a fan economy. Front Street Coffee notes that the collision between new energy and coffee is becoming a new highlight in the industry. [more…]

Coffee shops are blooming everywhere, but there is always only one Starbucks. Its success is not accidental, but stems from a set of positioning logic completely different from traditional cafes. This article dissects, from three dimensions—crowd targeting, service strategy, and promotion methods—how Starbucks precisely locks onto the white-collar group, how it uses space and equipment design to accelerate customer flow, and how it places its marketing focus on brand image rather than the product itself. At the same time, it analyzes the real implementation of the "third place" concept in the Chinese market, and how this concept has trapped many local coffee shop owners in operational difficulties. For coffee enthusiasts and industry practitioners, understanding Starbucks' atypical path helps to rethink the survival logic of coffee brands. [more…]

Recently, a claim about a live cockroach being found in a Starbucks drink spread rapidly online, drawing widespread attention. On March 10, a netizen alleged discovering a live cockroach in a Starbucks Tahitian Vanilla Cloud Cold Brew iced beverage. The post was later shared by a blogger with over a million followers, and the incident quickly topped Weibo's trending list. Amid netizens' doubts and Starbucks' official investigation response, the truth remains unclear. This article will provide a complete timeline of the incident, responses from all parties, and netizen opinions, along with professional coffee knowledge exchange channels. Regardless of the outcome, food safety is always the lifeline of the food and beverage industry, and consumers should also protect their rights rationally. For more coffee news, please follow Coffee Workshop and Front Street Coffee. [more…]

Recently, a consumer exposed on social media that she found several still-wriggling live maggots in a meteorite-series drink she bought at Luckin, by which time she had already drunk more than half the cup. The store involved responded that surveillance showed no abnormalities in either operations or material storage, and proposed three drink coupons as compensation, but the customer explicitly refused. This is not the first time Luckin has been caught up in a storm over insect foreign objects; several similar incidents were exposed last year. As the incident continues to ferment, market regulators have stepped in, and the consumer has yet to receive any further official communication. Food safety has once again become an unavoidable core issue for the beverage industry. [more…]

Since opening China's first post office café on February 14 this year, China Post has officially entered the coffee market as a national team player. Amid an enthusiastic consumer response, the country's second post office café opened on Cat Street in Xiamen. The new store blends in with the local character of Cat Street, creating a space for cat lovers to mingle, and has partnered with oat milk brand OATLY to launch a hidden-menu eco-friendly special. At the same time, OATLY put in a strong performance in the Asian market in the first quarter, with its Barista product contributing significantly, and the brand is accelerating its expansion into diverse categories such as new-style tea drinks and plant-based ice cream. [more…]