Starbucks has recently been ramping up its co-branding activities, teasing a limited-edition extendable straw shaped like the Golden Cudgel that plays the Monkey King's voice lines, while also launching a new delivery-exclusive drink, the "Flow Frozen Latte," on its Starbuck Delivery service. This creative coffee, said to be inspired by ginger milk curd, claims that the liquid naturally congeals and separates into layers during delivery, arriving as a latte with distinctly defined layers. However, consumer reviews since its launch have been mixed: some have posted photos showing obvious congealing and layering, describing the texture as similar to double-skin milk or coffee pudding; others question whether the product matches its description, saying what they received was no different from an ordinary latte. Is the "flow frozen" effect real or just a gimmick? And is the new recipe simply an old product with a new name? This article will compile netizens' hands-on feedback to take a look at the true face of this talked-about beverage. [more…]

ChaPanda collaborated with Disney's Frozen to launch limited-edition fruit teas and merchandise, among which the snowflake phone charm was highly sought after for its attractive design. However, less than 12 hours after the launch, multiple consumers reported that the phone charm snapped with a gentle tug, sending beads scattering everywhere. Subsequently, issues such as paint peeling and cracking on the hand mirrors, and scratches and chips on the goblets, were also exposed one after another. Fans who had rushed to buy in for the IP were greatly disappointed, questioning the brand's control over the practicality of the giveaways. This article compiles consumer feedback and various perspectives to help you understand why this collaboration merchandise became a "beautiful piece of junk." [more…]

After Tea Baidao's lychee iced milk was discontinued with the changing seasons, the brand quickly launched two new iced milk drinks, among which the iced mint iced milk co-branded with Frozen drew a lot of attention thanks to its mint element and co-branded merchandise. However, this drink, made with fresh mint leaves, green grapes, lemon, matcha liquid, and milk, did not deliver the expected cooling sensation upon tasting; instead, the grassy flavor of freshly squeezed mint juice sparked polarized reviews. Some described drinking it as turning into a cow chewing on grass, while others found the plant's fresh fragrance uniquely appealing. Whether this cross-boundary mashup is a stroke of creativity or a flop is worth investigating. [more…]

In the depths of winter, the Northeastern specialty frozen pear has once again become a focal point—this time, it has sparked a new trend by colliding with coffee. KFC, Nestlé, and Luckin Coffee have all coincidentally launched frozen pear coffee series, among which Luckin's Big Frozen Pear Americano, a collaboration with the TV series *Country Love*, has drawn considerable attention. However, this new product has been collectively criticized by netizens for being too sweet and having a weak coffee presence, with many saying it tastes just like Master Kong's Rock Sugar Snow Pear juice, triggering a heated online discussion about the taste of frozen pear coffee. [more…]

Luckin Coffee recently carried out a centralized removal of multiple drinks, involving products launched within the past six months such as Peach Peach Coffee and Jelly Coconut Latte. The brand required stores nationwide to pour all unopened, still-within-shelf-life ingredients down the drain after closing, sparking widespread discussion among employees and netizens. Some veteran employees have grown accustomed to this, while more people questioned that this handling method causes serious waste and called on the brand to adopt more reasonable ways to consume inventory. The incident reflects the contradiction between rapid product iteration and ingredient management in chain coffee brands. [more…]

Nayuki launched a collaboration with Japanese virtual singer Hatsune Miku, releasing a theme song, limited-edition drinks, and merchandise, attracting a large number of fans to visit stores and check in. However, some store employees cosplayed as Hatsune Miku in exaggerated ways, such as wearing masked headpieces, and were jokingly called by netizens "the century's meeting of the realist and abstract schools," sparking heated discussion. The brand subsequently issued an urgent notice strictly prohibiting employees from cosplaying as Hatsune Miku again, believing that such behavior damages the brand image and may invite complaints. But many fans said they were not offended and instead found it amusing. This collaboration controversy reflects the delicate balance between employees' individualized expression and brand management when tea beverage brands cooperate with ACG IPs. [more…]

In recent years, Heytea has continuously pushed the boundaries of tea drinks, from cross-brand collaborations to incorporating each city's signature foods into beverages and baked goods, launching a series of unexpectedly creative limited-edition products. Shenzhen's coconut chicken hot pot, Guangzhou's rice roll cake, Changsha's mini clay pot bubble rice wine, Chengdu's Sichuan spicy fairy dew… each one precisely captures the taste memories of local people. These products are not only wildly imaginative but also build emotional resonance by awakening shared city memories. This article will comprehensively review the limited-edition items Heytea has launched in various cities and explore the communication logic and secrets behind its "neglecting its proper business." [more…]

While Heytea, Nayuki, Starbucks, and Luckin are battling it out on the front lines over co-branded collaborations, new product launches, and price wars, few have noticed that a group of suppliers behind them is quietly rising. From Jiahe Foods to Sanyuan Biology, from Tianye Shares to Hengxin Life and Dexin Foods, an increasing number of raw material and packaging companies behind new-style beverages are beginning to sprint toward the capital market. Some of these companies provide non-dairy creamers and sugar substitutes, some supply fruit juice concentrates and flavored syrups, and others specialize in producing paper cups and plastic cups. While terminal brands fight in a red ocean, upstream suppliers have seized the momentum to grow bigger, raked in huge profits, and collectively embarked on the path to listing. [more…]

While brands like Heytea, Nayuki, Starbucks, and Luckin are fiercely battling it out in the end market—rolling out collaborations, launching new products, and cutting prices in turn—it is actually the ingredient and packaging suppliers behind them that are quietly making a fortune. From Jiahe Foods to Sanyuan Biology, from Tianye Co. to Hengxin Life, and on to Dexin Foods, a group of supply chain enterprises for the new-style beverage industry are collectively sprinting toward the capital market. They serve well-known brands such as Uni-President, Xiangpiaopiao, CoCo都可, Mixue Bingcheng, Genki Forest, Nayuki, and Luckin, and have achieved soaring performance through products such as sugar substitutes, juices, paper cups, and syrups. This article will sort through the listing landscape of these low-key suppliers and reveal the real path to riches for upstream enterprises under the wave of new consumption. [more…]

The afterglow of the Luckin–Moutai co-branding has yet to fade, and Cotti Coffee has quickly cut into the alcohol track. In December 2023, the Moutai Public Welfare Foundation and Cotti jointly established two funds at the Moutai Hotel in Guizhou, and authorized Cotti to exclusively sell Moutai Bu Lao Jiu and Maotan Jiu, donating 10 yuan for every bottle sold. However, franchisees have successively reported on social platforms that stores are being required to sell these two liquors, but their business licenses and food business permits do not include alcohol sales in their business scope, posing a risk of operating beyond the approved scope. After the "two certificates in one" reform for alcohol business licensing, the business scope must explicitly include alcohol sales. Whether Cotti stores can legally sell alcohol has become a hot topic of industry attention. [more…]

As Harbin became a popular tourist city in early 2024, locals' thoughtful attempts to cater to southern visitors gave rise to a unique drink—frozen pear coffee. This special concoction, combining traditional Northeastern frozen pears with espresso, offers a slushy texture paired with rich coffee, delighting southern tourists and surprising many Northeastern locals as well. In fact, this drink has existed in Northeastern cafes for several years, but it suddenly went viral this winter. This article will guide you through the origins of frozen pear coffee, how it's made, and the real reactions from all sides, so you can feel a cup of creative warmth in the icy city's winter. [more…]

Dirty has always been a popular product in coffee shops thanks to its high aesthetic appeal and the unique experience of hot and cold colliding. When making a Dirty, using a chilled glass can extend the layering effect between the espresso and the milk, but should you use a refrigerated glass or a frozen glass? Through comparative experiments, Front Street Coffee found that although a frozen glass can widen the initial temperature difference, it also accelerates the dissipation of the layers, and the milk's mouthfeel and aroma are slightly compromised. The rise in popularity of -86°C Dirty has brought frozen glasses into the spotlight once again. This article explains in detail the differences between refrigerated and frozen chilled glasses, the points to note when making a Dirty with a frozen glass, and why purified milk is the best partner for a frozen glass, helping you fully understand the intricacies behind this dirty coffee. [more…]

Does putting coffee beans in the freezer really extend their peak flavor window? Some friends have found that beans that have been frozen brew up with weaker aroma and a thin body, and so they suspect freezing is useless. In fact, freezing really can slow down coffee bean degassing and extend freshness, but only if storage and brewing are both done right. This article covers everything from airtight portioning and preventing condensation, to the two routes of brewing frozen beans directly versus brewing after thawing, and uses comparison data from Front Street Yirgacheffe · Gutingding to help you fully understand the complete operational logic of frozen coffee beans in one go. [more…]

Last winter, the Northeastern specialty frozen pear unexpectedly went viral, and Luckin seized the moment to launch its "Big Frozen Pear Americano," which won over a large batch of loyal fans with its refreshing taste. As this year's cold winter arrives, many "frozen pear heads" have been calling for its return in the official comment section, and Luckin, ever responsive to feedback, promptly rolled out the winter-limited "Big Winter Pear Americano." However, delighted fans who placed orders soon noticed the taste didn't match the white moonlight in their memories. A closer look at the description revealed the new version uses seasonal fresh pear juices such as Akizuki pear and Dangshan pear, completely different from last year's pear-flavored concentrated fruit pulp formula. Longtime fans declared it hard to accept and clamored for the official to bring back the original; new users felt the fresh pear juice greatly weakened the coffee's presence, making it taste more like rock sugar snow pear. Is this winter limited edition a pleasant surprise or a disappointment? Let's take a look. [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…]

Is the frozen coffee bean storage method circulating online actually able to extend the peak-flavor period and lock in the flavor? This time Front Street is going to seriously discuss this topic. Freezing can indeed slow down the oxidation rate of coffee beans, extending the optimal tasting period from 30 days to 2~3 months, but experiments show that frozen beans are actually in a "pseudo-fresh" state, and there is still a gap in flavor compared with the peak-flavor period. The real advantage of freezing lies in making the ground particles more uniform. However, there are too many variables in daily operation, such as needing to grind within one minute of thawing, adjusting brewing parameters, and improper sealing causing odor transfer. This article will break down the principles of frozen storage, the points to note, and give more practical bean storage suggestions one by one. [more…]

Recently, a Heytea customer in the UK discovered that the mango ingredient used in stores was not fresh fruit, but frozen fruit puree labeled as "frozen mango puree." This discovery sparked discussions among netizens in many overseas locations, with Heytea stores in markets such as the United States, France, and South Korea also accused of using frozen jams and purees instead of fresh fruits and vegetables. The brand responded that the use of quick-freezing preservation technology is intended to ensure stable supply for stores in a wider range of regions. Is it a cost consideration, or a limitation of overseas fruit quality? This article takes you through the ins and outs of the incident. [more…]

Freezing is a very popular method of "preserving" coffee beans in recent years. Simply seal the coffee beans and toss them into the freezer, and the flavor loss of the coffee will slow down, thus extending its shelf life. Many friends have adopted this method to stock up on coffee beans purchased during Front Street Coffee's discount events. [more…]

How to properly store coffee beans after bringing them home is a topic many enthusiasts often discuss. Some people habitually put their beans in the fridge, while others worry that moisture will instead harm the quality. After noticing this question in the community chat, Front Street specifically sorted out the principles behind frozen storage and the conditions for its use. Freezing can indeed slow oxidation and lock in flavor, but improper handling can also lead to moisture and flavor transfer issues. This article will explain the purpose of freezing coffee beans, its effect on grinding, the hardware conditions that need to be met, and more practical ways to store coffee beans day to day, helping you keep your beans in good condition at home. [more…]

Freshness is the foundation of good-tasting coffee, but faced with Front Street Coffee's "30% off for 2 items, 50% off for 3 items" promotion, it's hard not to buy a few extra bags. As a result, questions keep pouring in about whether coffee beans can be frozen, how long they can be frozen, and whether they need to be thawed after taking them out. Starting from Front Street Coffee's actual testing, this article first clarifies the difference between freezing and refrigeration, then explains the impact of freezing on flavor, and finally offers specific operational advice such as freezing after resting, sealed portioning, and whether to thaw. If you also want to keep your stockpiled beans as tasty as possible, this article is worth reading to the end. [more…]