During the Christmas season, major brands roll out limited-edition drinks, and McDonald's gingerbread oat latte has successfully broken through with its cute gingerbread man drawn in cocoa powder on the cup's surface, attracting many consumers to place orders and check in right away. However, not long after the new product launched, a group of netizens calling themselves the "first batch of victims" emerged on social platforms, posting photos of what they actually received—some gingerbread men turned into Voldemort after just one sip, some bore no resemblance to the official poster, and some cups were so clean that not even a trace of the gingerbread man could be found. This huge contrast between the "buyer's show" and the "seller's show" sparked heated discussion, and the comment section became a veritable roast session. It is worth noting that this Christmas limited-edition drink featuring the gingerbread man is currently only available at McDonald's stores in Hong Kong and Macau, and mainland consumers can only watch from behind their screens for now. [more…]

As December reaches mid-month, Christmas is drawing nearer, and major coffee chains are rolling out their holiday limited-edition drinks. Peet's Coffee recently launched two Christmas newcomers—the Intellectual Gingerbread Man Flavored Latte and the Holiday Mulled Wine Americano—along with three limited-edition merchandise items, drawing many loyal customers to place orders. However, the Gingerbread Man Latte has sparked collective complaints from customers because the powder pattern on the milk foam differs too much from the promotional poster; some bluntly say the product doesn't match the advertisement, while others complain that too much cinnamon powder affects the taste. Just how does this new drink actually taste, and how do the staff explain the mishap? This article will take you to find out. [more…]

On a cold, windy weekend morning—the kind of day meant for sleeping in until you wake up naturally—hundreds of people were already queuing for hundreds of meters outside Manner stores in several cities across China before dawn. Seven Gingerbread Man–themed stores in Shanghai, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Nanjing, Hangzhou, and elsewhere attracted a large crowd of young people to get up early and endure the cold by offering a 9ml Jo Malone perfume and a Christmas badge with the purchase of a new coffee. The queue at the Shanghai Xuhui Binjiang store was the most spectacular: some people got up at 6 a.m. and arrived at 7 a.m., and by the time the store opened at 9 a.m., the line had already reached number 300. What exactly is the magic of this collaboration that makes young people willing to wait two or three hours in the freezing 0°C wind? Let’s take a closer look. [more…]

The Manner Xuhui Riverside store was once a trendy spot for photos thanks to its riverside views and exquisite decor, but recently customers have noticed that the sofa cushions in its second-floor outdoor area are severely moldy, the chair cushions are stained, the doors are damaged in several places, and the signage is rusted. From the gingerbread man-themed store it co-branded with Jo Malone last November to its now dilapidated facilities, a span of only three months, the store's environment has prompted consumers to question Manner's operational and management capabilities. Netizens believe the outdoor facilities lack routine maintenance, affecting the consumer experience and brand image, and are calling on the store to maintain basic cleanliness and keep facilities in proper working order. [more…]

For friends who are lactose intolerant, an oat milk latte is an excellent alternative for enjoying a milk coffee. But many people who make lattes at home with oat milk often find the taste somewhat bitter and not as smooth as the milk version. In fact, oat milk and dairy milk differ noticeably in composition and characteristics, so simply applying the traditional latte method often yields poor results. Drawing on Front Street's practical experience, this article provides a detailed analysis of the differences between oat milk and dairy milk lattes, and focuses on three key areas—choosing oat milk, adjusting the ratio of coffee to plant milk, and milk frothing techniques—to help you make a full-aroma, smooth-textured oat milk latte at home. [more…]

In recent years, many customers who come to the shop ask whether we have oat milk lattes, or ask for advice on how to steam fine milk foam with oat milk. Although the milk coffee produced by Front Street Coffee has always used whole milk, in order to respond to everyone's curiosity, today we'll talk about the unique characteristics of oat milk lattes, as well as the techniques to note when steaming milk foam and doing latte art with oat milk. This article will start with the composition of oat milk, compare it with fresh milk in terms of flavor and texture, and explain in detail the key points for operating oat milk during steaming and latte art, to help coffee lovers better master the methods for making plant-based milk coffee. [more…]

In recent years, oat milk coffee has gradually entered the public eye, becoming a new choice for many coffee lovers. Oat milk comes from oats, a traditional Nordic ingredient, and is characterized by high plant protein, high dietary fiber, and low fat. It is also lactose-free, making it quite friendly to people who are lactose intolerant, vegetarian, or allergic to milk protein. So, compared with traditional milk coffee, which one actually tastes better? This article will start from the origins of oat milk and the groups it suits, combine the practical testing experience of Front Street Coffee, discuss the differences between different brands of oat milk paired with espresso beans, and offer bean selection advice for making a rich and silky oat milk latte. [more…]

Using plant-based milk to make lattes has become a favorite among many coffee lovers in recent years. Oat milk contains no lactose and takes on a unique flavor when combined with coffee, but many people who try to recreate it at home run into problems like bitterness, a greasy mouthfeel, or failed latte art. In fact, with just a few adjustments to bean selection, the plant milk ratio, and the way you steam the milk foam, you can make a plant-based latte that is both delicious and beautiful. Drawing on Front Street's practical experience, this article analyzes the causes of the three major pain points—bitterness, greasiness, and latte art—one by one, and offers specific bean recommendations and operational tips to help you easily reproduce a coffee-shop-quality oat milk latte at home. [more…]

On the eve of Halloween, Luckin Coffee launched a limited-edition new product in collaboration with Pingu—the Pumpkin Oat Latte—which attracted many consumers to place orders and try it right away. However, the drink's appearance and taste sparked widespread discussion on social media. Some found the pumpkin aroma rich, while others complained that it was more like a sweet, thick pumpkin porridge, even joking that pairing it with a roujiamo would make a complete breakfast. This article will sort through the formula features of this new product, consumer feedback, and the controversy surrounding holiday limited-edition products, to help you understand why this cup of pumpkin latte makes people both love and hate it. [more…]

Luckin Coffee launched a limited-edition Pumpkin Oat Latte during Halloween, and thanks to the festive atmosphere it quickly sparked a social media check-in craze. However, when a large number of consumers imitated the online photos for their own recreations, things frequently went wrong, with the pumpkin daifuku creating all sorts of clumsy scenes atop the whipped cream. This discussion, triggered by the gap between customer photos and official photos, not only reveals the extra charges behind drink styling, but also reflects consumers' misunderstandings of store operating standards. Front Street Coffee has noticed that similar phenomena are not uncommon in holiday marketing in the coffee industry. This article will analyze the issue from three levels: product design, customer DIY, and store execution. [more…]

M Stand once went viral online with an oat cookie latte that you can eat together with the cup. Now the brand has innovated further on this basis, launching a limited-edition Combo paired with a medium-roast Ethiopian blend bean, achieving two drinks from one bean. The black-and-white edible cups respectively hold a hot americano and a hot latte. The cup bodies are made from oat fiber grain, with the white cup being original flavor and the black cup cocoa flavor. However, this new product, which must be enjoyed on-site and cannot be delivered, has sparked polarized reviews on social platforms—beyond the coffee's taste drawing attention, the texture of the oat cup itself has become a hot topic of discussion. Many netizens complain that it is dry and hard like paper, difficult to swallow, and some even had their mouths cut. [more…]

Recently, taking advantage of the release of Paddington in Peru, Cotti Coffee launched a Paddington-themed collaboration set and simultaneously introduced a new sea salt caramel latte series. However, after the campaign kicked off, consumers in many places reported serious shortages of store-related materials, with cup sleeves, collaboration bags, and custom cups frequently out of stock, and even awkward scenes of SpongeBob cups being used as substitutes. At the same time, reviews of the two new drinks were mixed: the Sea Salt Caramel Silky Latte was criticized for being too sweet, while the Sea Salt Caramel Oat Latte was described as too bland. This article will restore the true picture of this collaboration campaign from multiple perspectives, including product taste, the experience of obtaining collaboration merchandise, and Cotti Coffee's internal material supply issues. [more…]

For consumers who are lactose intolerant yet can't live without caffeine, oat lattes have become a preferred alternative to traditional lattes. As the oat milk market expands rapidly, brands such as OATLY and OATSIDE have gradually entered the public eye. Recently, however, some netizens noticed that when searching for OATSIDE on social platforms, the page would be flooded with a large number of posts praising OATLY while bashing OATSIDE, with posting times concentrated, accounts mostly newly registered, and copy formats strikingly similar, sparking fans' suspicions that a competitor had hired paid internet trolls. Is this controversy a case of malicious smearing, or is there another story behind it? And what do malicious attacks mean for brands and consumers? [more…]

Walking into Starbucks but hesitating over the menu? This article rounds up the five most popular drinks among customers right now, including the Oat Latte, Iced Americano, Cold Brew, plus the caffeine-free Matcha Frappuccino and Iced Shaken Berry Hibiscus Tea, explaining each one's features and who it's best suited for. It also includes the 2023 price list for Starbucks' four major series—Handcrafted Espresso, Frappuccino, Teavana, and Cold Brew—covering full pricing from Tall to Grande and Venti, so you can quickly decide based on your budget and taste. Whether you're lactose intolerant, cutting sugar to lose weight, or simply want to try something different, you'll find your next cup here. [more…]

Luckin Coffee's co-branding campaign with the Lunar New Year film "Creation of the Gods II" has officially launched, with the simultaneous release of a pistachio latte and movie-themed merchandise. However, the first batch of consumers who tried the new product gave polarized reviews of its taste, with many reporting a noticeable greasiness and the inability to substitute oat milk with regular milk. Even more surprising to merchandise collectors was that the co-branded limited-edition cup sleeves were urgently recalled by headquarters due to a printing error, and themed cup sleeves would no longer be offered during the campaign. Meanwhile, misprinted cup sleeves have appeared for sale at high prices on second-hand platforms, sparking considerable skepticism. This article will sort through the sequence of events and the reactions from all sides. [more…]

Plant-based milk coffee has become increasingly popular in recent years. Alternatives to milk such as oat milk and almond milk are now commonplace in coffee shops, yet soy milk, a national staple drink, is rarely used to make milk coffee. Soy milk is also a plant-based milk, so why do coffee shops hardly ever offer soy lattes? Is it a flavor mismatch, or is there another reason? This article will use practical testing to make lattes with soy milk instead of milk, analyzing the ratio, mouthfeel, operational details, and other aspects, and sharing Front Street Coffee's testing process and conclusions, to help coffee lovers understand the feasibility and specific method of soy milk coffee. [more…]

At the Shanghai Road Life Festival, Starbucks launched three limited-time regional-flavor drinks. Among them, the "Qin-Jin Fire Crystal Persimmon Frappuccino" went viral after its name was misread as "Mars Persimmon," and it also sparked doubts among netizens about whether persimmons and milk can be consumed together. This article sorts through the new product launch information and netizen feedback, and invites experts to explain the dietary taboos of pairing persimmons with milk, revealing that the milk ingredient used by Starbucks is actually oat milk, while also retaining Front Street brand recommendations to help you enjoy the autumn flavors with peace of mind. [more…]

OATLY recently conducted a precautionary recall of 12 batches of Oat Drink Deluxe 330ml oat milk in the Chinese market. The recall was triggered by its U.S. manufacturing partner Lyons Magnus initiating a large-scale recall of 53 beverages due to failure to meet commercial sterility standards, involving multiple OATLY product lines. Although testing found no microbial contamination in the Chinese products and they were not on the U.S. recall list, OATLY still proactively recalled them out of safety concerns, sparking widespread discussion among consumers about food safety. This article will review the sequence of events, the official response, and the nutritional controversy surrounding oat milk, while retaining relevant recommendations from Front Street Coffee. [more…]

Oat milk has risen rapidly in the coffee industry in recent years, becoming almost a standard offering in cafés—a trend inextricably linked to OATLY's brand marketing and Starbucks' promotion. However, amid the suspension of café operations in Shanghai and other places, oat milk sales have seen a marked decline, and OATLY's latest financial report also reflects that the Chinese market is facing severe challenges. This article traces oat milk's journey from obscurity to ubiquity in coffee circles, analyzes the fragility exposed by its over-reliance on the B2B channel, and explores the obstacles oat milk must overcome given such realities as its vague positioning in the consumer market and the difficulty of changing consumer habits. At the same time, through a comparison of nutritional components, it objectively examines whether oat milk is truly as healthy as advertised, offering coffee lovers a rational reference. [more…]

As the coffee wave sweeps across every industry, even ancient temples spanning a millennium can no longer resist the urge to cross over. Longhua Temple, the oldest in Shanghai, has recently opened a beverage window next to its vegetarian restaurant, launching "vegetarian coffee" that uses oat milk instead of dairy milk — catering to vegetarians and those who are lactose intolerant. This is not the first time a temple has ventured into coffee; from Dafo Temple in Guangzhou to Yongfu Temple in Hangzhou, the collision between Buddhist monasteries and coffee has long existed. Longhua Temple's move, with its affordable prices, has sparked heated discussion online: can coffee be classified as vegetarian or non-vegetarian? Is temples selling coffee a new path for cultural dissemination, or just a gimmick? This article takes you behind the scenes. [more…]