ICE-certified exchange stocks have fallen to a 26-year low of less than 220,000 bags, with large volumes of Brazilian arabica being shipped to delivery warehouses; meanwhile, a Reuters survey projects that arabica prices will fall 8.8% by the end of 2026, while robusta will rise 4.6%. How will stock rebuilding and El Niño weather shape the coffee market outlook? [more…]

Intercontinental Exchange's certified arabica green coffee inventory has plummeted to a 24-year low, totaling just 368,000 bags. More alarmingly, nearly one-third of these beans have been sitting in delivery warehouses for over a year, becoming stale coffee. This situation stems from spot prices exceeding futures prices, prompting roasters to buy directly from exchange stocks, while congestion at Brazilian ports makes replenishment with new beans a distant prospect. The combination of low inventory and the stale bean problem, compounded by global economic and financial uncertainty, has led the market to widely expect green coffee prices to remain highly volatile in the medium term. [more…]

Brazil, the world's largest coffee producer, has suffered consecutive droughts and frosts, with its 2022/23 harvest falling far short of expectations. Certified coffee inventories on the ICE exchange have continued to decline, keeping coffee futures prices elevated. To ease the inventory crunch, ICE plans to re-grade and re-certify a batch of Brazilian Arabica old-crop beans that have been in storage for nearly two years and put them into trading. Although this move is not a violation of the rules, it has sparked concerns among traders about coffee quality and the mixing of old and new beans. This article will review the background of Brazil's reduced output, the logic behind futures price fluctuations, and the possible chain reactions that re-certifying old-crop beans may bring to the market. [more…]

Starbucks interim CEO Howard Schultz recently addressed employees via video, stating bluntly that many short-term decisions made by the previous management brought far-reaching negative impacts to the company and that promises to employees were not fulfilled. He revealed that feedback gathered in recent meetings mainly focused on issues such as insufficient training, unreasonable shift scheduling, and compensation and benefits that urgently need adjustment. At the same time, many stores also face difficulties such as a shortage of repair funds or delayed service after key equipment including ice machines and espresso machines broke down. Schultz promised to prioritize three core issues: personnel training, pay and benefits, and internal management, and assured that future commitments to employees will definitely be fulfilled. Since his return, Starbucks has suspended stock buybacks and fired its former chief legal counsel, but investors worry that profits will be squeezed, and the stock price continues to come under pressure. [more…]

Over the past year, the tea beverage market has undergone a dramatic reshuffle. According to Zhanmen Canyan data, the total number of stores in the milk tea beverage industry reached 412,600, with 142,300 new openings, but the net growth was -17,700, meaning that more than 160,000 stores exited the market in the fierce competition. Although leading brands such as Mixue Ice Cream & Tea, Guming, Shanghai Auntie, and ChaPanda still saw growth, their pace of store expansion has clearly slowed. Nayuki's stock price plummeted 93%, wiping out nearly HK$27 billion in market value. Product homogenization is severe, consumers are experiencing aesthetic fatigue with similar drinks, and the industry is accelerating into a harsh winter during the off-season of autumn and winter. [more…]

The Starbucks 2023 menu covers four major series: handcrafted espresso, Frappuccino, Teavana, and cold brew, with grande prices ranging from 25 to 48 yuan. This article compiles the complete price list for each series and explains the essence of the secret menu—it is not an official offering, but rather customized adjustments to flavors and ingredients based on regular drinks. The article also summarizes popular orders such as cold brew with cream, oat milk black tea espresso latte, and vanilla cream iced Americano, while reminding readers that seasonal limited-edition ingredients may be out of stock and that good looks do not equal good taste. At the end, Front Street Coffee brand recommendations and communication channels are included for coffee enthusiasts' reference. [more…]

The latest monthly report from the International Coffee Organization (ICO) shows that the composite indicator price of coffee edged down in October, but while Robusta spot prices fell, most Arabica varieties posted gains. At the same time, global green coffee exports fell sharply year on year, with exports from all major producing regions declining. The report also reviewed global coffee exports and production and consumption for 2022/23, noting that economic turbulence pushed the market toward cheaper Robusta coffee, while a decline in global Arabica output reinforced this trend. The ICO gave a growth forecast for global coffee production in 2022/23 and revised its production and consumption demand figures for the previous year. [more…]

In the depths of winter, Mixue Bingcheng has once again become a hot topic thanks to its "Northeast Big Floral" elements. The brand launched a series of fridge magnets featuring floral padded jackets and crispy fries merchandise, drawing consumers in with rich Northeastern flair. However, unlike last year's nationwide campaign, this year only certain regions can participate, sparking discontent among southern consumers. At the same time, out-of-stock merchandise has also hurt the experience for some customers. This article sorts through the details of Mixue Bingcheng's marketing campaign, the cultural background of the Northeast Big Floral, and the current state and hidden concerns of merchandise promotions in the new tea beverage industry. [more…]

Luckin Coffee once landed on the US stock market with lightning speed, but was brought to the brink of collapse after a Muddy Waters short-sell report exposed its financial fraud. However, through management reshuffling, a settlement with the SEC, and then signing Eileen Gu and leveraging the Winter Olympics traffic, Luckin staged a textbook turnaround. On the day Eileen Gu won the championship, Luckin's custom drinks quickly sold out, and the brand's voice skyrocketed. Although the championship discount was mocked by netizens as "stingy," the traffic dividend and positive image had already brought Luckin out of the gloom. This article will review Luckin's turbulent journey, analyze how it leveraged a sports star to rebuild its brand, and explore its real situation after the 1.2 billion fine. [more…]

For more specialty coffee knowledge, please follow: Front Street Coffee (Frontsteet Coffee). Ice drip coffee has always been a very popular coffee at Front Street Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee). Especially in summer, the baristas at Front Street make ice [more…]

Walk into any coffee shop, and espresso-based drinks are almost always the mainstay of the menu. Front Street Coffee locations offer classics like Americano, Latte, Cappuccino, and Flat White, and many shops also blend in various extras to create inventive drinks. This article systematically sorts out the most common types of espresso drinks found in coffee shops: first get to know the trio of espresso "brothers"—Espresso, Ristretto, and Lungo—along with Doppio; then learn about black coffees such as Americano and Long Black; next, take stock of milk coffee members like Latte, Cappuccino, Macchiato, Flat White, and Piccolo; and finally introduce espresso specialties such as Mocha, Marocchino, Affogato, Con Panna, Corretto, and shaken iced coffee. Beginners can use this to quickly build a complete framework of understanding for espresso drinks. [more…]

In the final days of 2025, Luckin employees were busy with year-end inventory checks when they unexpectedly received a notice to calibrate store equipment stock, requiring them to verify whether small base-ingredient scoops and ice cream scoops were complete. This move immediately sparked speculation: is the brand about to launch a new product that requires scooping ice cream balls on site? Veteran employees were also reminded of the cumbersome add-in tea drinks from the Little Deer Tea era. With timeliness and hourly cup volume assessments becoming increasingly stringent, complex new products will undoubtedly add pressure on stores. Workers generally resist it, but some optimistic people think it may just be a routine inventory check. [more…]

Starbucks partnered with Ele.me to launch the "Special Delivery" "Fortune Bowl" holiday set. During the promotion, customers who order designated two-cup drinks or add 39.9 yuan can snap up the co-branded golden rice bowl. Although this food-grade stainless steel merchandise comes with an anti-scald bowl sleeve and heat-insulating bowl mat, the bottom is labeled "suitable temperature <45°C," creating a contrast with its original purpose of holding hot food and prompting netizens to joke that "for alms, you can only beg for iced Americanos." Since each store has only one in stock, the rush to buy created a tense atmosphere. Some people got one easily, while others encountered problems such as failed add-to-cart attempts, canceled orders, or even sudden price changes. Starbucks explained this as a system bug. [more…]

Cold brew is popular not only because it tastes good, but also because it's convenient—make a batch, keep it in the fridge for days, and enjoy a cup anytime, anywhere. But different scenarios actually have different requirements for the beans: for the office, you need something that keeps well and is consistent; for camping, you want concentrated flavor that won't taste weak over ice; and for home, you can go all out. [more…]

Why can't you drink ice drip coffee immediately after it's made? What exactly is the difference between it and cold brew? This article provides a detailed explanation of ice drip coffee's shelf life, the principles of flavor maturation, and its brewing parameters and ratios. Freshly dripped ice drip coffee has a flat flavor and needs to be sealed and refrigerated for more than 8 hours to mature before it can present a mellow, silky mouthfeel and its signature wine-like aroma. It can be kept refrigerated for 3 to 5 days, but after more than three days the fermented taste becomes noticeably stronger, so Front Street sets the optimal drinking period at 3 days. The article also includes the ratio parameters for making ice drip, helping you fully master this coffee that requires patient waiting. [more…]

Mixue Bingcheng's launch of the 1-yuan ice cup was intended to cater to summer consumer demand, but unexpectedly sparked multiple conflicts between consumers and store employees. Consumers reported difficulties in purchasing, encountering service discrimination, actual price increases, and even being forced to buy bundled products; stores and distributors complained about the high cost of ice, thin profits, and even losses. This controversy not only trended on social media but also forced the brand to issue an urgent apology. This article reviews the entire incident, analyzes the cost structure and operational difficulties behind the ice cup, and focuses on how the brand will subsequently balance consumer expectations with store profitability. [more…]

Luckin Coffee recently posted a romantic tutorial on social media, teaching everyone how to make a "Frozen Rose" using a Luckin can or an ordinary ice cup, sealing a rose and ice cubes inside the cup to create an eye-catching decoration for the office desk. This玩法 quickly triggered netizens to imitate and like it, but it also worried baristas in stores—because this玩法 is not an official product, and if customers come to the store asking for it to be made, it may cause misunderstandings and negative reviews. The popularity of flower cups can be traced back to netizens' creativity, and was later boosted by brands such as Mixue Bingcheng and Haidilao to become a traffic code. Front Street Coffee noted that although similar marketing can bring heat, it needs to balance the execution pressure on frontline employees. [more…]

Recently, a classic topping at Mixue Bingcheng—egg pudding—unexpectedly turned into a milky white milk pudding without any notice, surprising and even upsetting many longtime customers. Some complained about a strong milky odor and bland taste, while others speculated that the brand had changed the recipe to cut costs. However, store employees revealed that the new recipe actually uses more refined ingredients, requires the addition of fresh milk, slightly increases costs, and contains fewer additives. Behind this pudding color-change controversy, is it a healthy upgrade or a compromise on consumer taste? This article will walk you through the course of events, what employees say, and the overall direction of Mixue Bingcheng's topping recipe adjustments. [more…]

During every long holiday, food and beverage workers face a tough battle, and coffee shops bear the brunt of it. During this year's May Day holiday, order volumes at Luckin Coffee stores across various regions soared sharply. Stores in scenic spots, commercial districts, and transportation hubs stocked up in advance and crammed their freezers full, yet still struggled to keep up with the relentless pace of receipt printers spitting out orders. Yangmei Rui Narbing (Bayberry Luckin Ice) unexpectedly became a hit due to rising temperatures, and the slush machines ran almost nonstop all day. Employees single-handedly minding the stores scrambled amid constant催促 for orders, with situations like ingredients running out and drinks spilling happening frequently. Interestingly, when the ice machines ran dry and the ice storage bins were emptied, employees actually got a brief breather—the system would automatically restrict orders for iced drinks, and the store's pace would slow down accordingly. This article documents the real state of Luckin Coffee workers during peak holiday periods, and also recommends checking out related products from Front Street Coffee. [more…]

Recently, multiple netizens in Inner Mongolia posted that the %Arabica city first store located in Hohhot MIXC will officially cease operations starting December 16. This store only opened in early July this year simultaneously with the shopping mall, making it the brand's first store in Hohhot, and it was marked as a pop-up store on the official mini-program. It was originally planned to operate for about three months, and after the lease expired, it was renewed to continue operating until a closure notice recently appeared at the entrance. Regular customers felt caught off guard after receiving closure notification text messages and rushed to the store to check in and stock up on coffee beans. Nearby residents believe that %Arabica focuses on specialty coffee, and its pricing of over 40 yuan is not cost-effective; combined with the mall's fading popularity and reduced foot traffic, the pop-up store's business performance was average, so it is not surprising that it delayed until now before withdrawing. Since the beginning of this year, %Arabica stores in Nanning, Guangzhou, Wuxi, and other places have also closed one after another, continuing operations in the form of Kiosk coffee trucks. Some netizens speculate that after the closure of the Hohhot first store, the brand may return in a new form. [more…]