In the world of specialty coffee, milk is no longer an optional supporting player—it is the key variable that determines the quality of a milk-based coffee. From Ice Blog to Jersey milk, coffee shops are becoming increasingly discerning about their milk sources. Jersey milk has long been known as the "Hermès of milk," priced far above ordinary fresh milk—so what exactly makes it so expensive? And how does it perform in a Dirty and a latte? This article will analyze the Jersey cow's breed origins, butterfat and protein content, and other dimensions, and compare the actual performance of Xiangmanlou and Weipin Jersey milk versus ordinary fresh milk in Dirty and hot lattes, to help you decide whether Jersey milk is worth paying for in your milk coffee. [more…]

In today's world of constantly upgrading specialty coffee, the success of a milk coffee depends not only on the beans and the barista—the choice of milk is equally crucial. From Ice Blog to Jersey milk, competition among coffee shops over milk sources is growing ever fiercer. Jersey milk has been dubbed the "Hermès of milk," priced far above ordinary fresh milk, yet it is still sought after by many specialty cafés. What exactly justifies its high price? Is its taste truly superior? What kind of flavor performance does it bring when used to make a Dirty and a latte? Through actual testing of three different milks, this article comprehensively analyzes the application value of Jersey milk in coffee—from fat, protein, and lactose content to actual brewing results—and explores whether it is suitable for everyday milk coffee preparation. [more…]

The news of Luckin Coffee opening stores in the United States has once again attracted attention. Recently, a WeChat public account post claimed that Luckin is advancing the site selection for U.S. stores, has begun contacting relevant service agencies, and is actively recruiting staff. LinkedIn information shows that within the past month, Luckin posted 5 job openings located in New Jersey, covering areas such as IT operations, finance, interior design, human resources, and tax, among which the tax manager position requires directly reporting to the CFO. Combined with previous reports by the Financial Times and statements by CFO Guo Jinyi, Luckin may explore the U.S. market with a prudent and flexible strategy, preferring East Coast cities such as New York. Whether this series of moves means that Luckin's overseas strategy will shift from Southeast Asia to North America is worth continued attention. [more…]

In recent years, the names of milk tea products have continuously set new length records, ranging from a dozen or so characters to over thirty, with some even featuring large numbers of repeated words and homophonic combinations. Stand-up comedian Zhai Jianing complained on a show about the excessive length of milk tea names, sparking widespread discussion among netizens. Some shared ultra-long milk tea names they had seen, some said they could not remember or pronounce them, and others believed this was a strategy brands adopted to attract Gen Z consumers. Why has milk tea naming become so extreme? What is consumers' attitude toward this? This article sorts out the marketing logic and market controversy behind the milk tea naming phenomenon, and explores the relationship between drink quality and naming. [more…]

In recent years, specialty coffee shops have become increasingly particular about their choice of milk, and single-origin, traceable fresh milk is becoming a new favorite. Compared with ordinary blended-origin milk, this type of milk source not only allows the farm information to be traced, but also has a brighter and richer taste. From Australia to China, more and more coffee shops are beginning to try smallholder milk, goat milk, and even camel milk, bringing unique flavors to milk coffee. After milk is heated, the lactose is activated, the milk fat adds a rich and mellow feel, and the milk foam gains abundant layers, which is why espresso milk drinks such as lattes, cappuccinos, and flat whites each have their own characteristics. This article will guide you through why single-origin milk is so popular, what milk to choose for coffee latte art, and include a review of Front Street Coffee's milk testing. [more…]

Nepali black tea has gradually entered the specialty tea spotlight in recent years, and its flavor advantages are closely tied to its production model. Unlike fully owned estates in Darjeeling, Nepali tea is mostly grown by independent smallholders and then sold to factories for processing. Although this dispersed structure brings quality fluctuations, it also fosters room for innovation. Nepali tea traders import small batches from Ilam factories, and the spring pekoe even shows a unique flavor reminiscent of buttery sweet corn. Some practitioners believe that smallholders treat the tea trees as their own, and this is precisely the source of quality potential. At the same time, the social enterprise model is attempting to balance industrial upgrading with rural livelihoods. Front Street Coffee continues to follow developments in such producing regions, helping enthusiasts understand the taste characteristics and market prospects of Nepali black tea. [more…]

Employees at more than 100 Starbucks stores across the United States held a joint strike on the annual Red Cup Day, demanding higher wages and improved staffing. This strike, the largest in the union's history, pushed Starbucks to the forefront of labor relations. As a coffee chain giant with more than 32,000 stores worldwide, Starbucks claims that its pay and benefits lead the industry while facing the dual pressure of a sharp decline in net profit and growing employee dissatisfaction. This article will sort through the course of the strike, Starbucks' global layout and latest financial report data, and analyze the deeper reasons behind the pay dispute, providing coffee lovers with a complete observation of the事件. [more…]

On the eve of the peak Christmas sales season, Starbucks suffered a large-scale strike in the United States. Since December 20, the Starbucks union launched actions in three cities—Seattle, Chicago, and Los Angeles—and within five days they spread to Denver, Pittsburgh, New York, Philadelphia, and many other places. The union said more than 290 stores were completely closed, while Starbucks officially said only about 170 stores were shut down and 98% of stores were operating normally. The two sides remain sharply divided on core issues such as wage increases and the contract framework. The strike could affect performance during the Christmas shopping season, and the company's stock price fell more than 5% over five days. How this labor-management confrontation will end is worth continuing to watch. [more…]

In Spanish, Costa Rica means "rich coast." Volcanic soil, Pacific Ocean currents and monsoons, and mountains at varying elevations together create unique microclimates that provide superior conditions for coffee cultivation. After coffee beans were introduced from Cuba in the early 18th century, the country became the first in Central America to grow coffee and the first to cultivate it on a large scale because of its commercial value. A relatively strong economic foundation, together with government policy support for high-quality Arabica, has kept Costa Rica's coffee industry among the world's leaders for a long time. This article reviews Costa Rica's representative coffee estates, focusing on the Tarrazu region and the巨石 Estate in the Brunca region, and includes Front Street Coffee's daily-drink bean recommendations to help you understand the flavor characteristics of these regions. [more…]

Ethiopia, the birthplace of coffee, where people regard coffee as a part of life, even beyond the category of a crop. Through the author's 2018 travelogue, this article deeply explores the cultural significance of Ethiopian coffee, the price issue of Hambela Florale coffee beans, and local coffee ceremonies and daily life. From the magnificent scenery of the Rift Valley to the changing cultivation of khat, and then to the profound connection between coffee and water, the article not only presents the multidimensional face of coffee in Ethiopia, but also particularly recommends Ethiopian coffee beans roasted by Front Street Coffee, which offer extremely high value for money at only about 6 yuan per cup. Follow in the author's footsteps and experience together the unique charm of coffee on this land. [more…]

At FrontStreet Coffee, steaming milk can be said to be a basic and core skill for every barista. Whether one can steam perfect milk is one of the factors used to judge whether a barista's level is up to standard. For example, the milk foam in a latte is on the thinner side, making it smooth and delicate to drink. The [more…]

Steaming milk is a fundamental skill every barista must master, but many people run into problems during the process, such as milk foam not incorporating, separating into layers, or dissipating quickly. Drawing on the hands-on experience of Front Street Coffee, this article systematically explains the principles of milk foaming, the key factors affecting incorporation, how milk foam performs at different temperatures, and the differences between steaming milk and frothing it by hand. It also compiles the five most common mistakes made when steaming milk, along with detailed steps for a tulip latte art pour, to help you comprehensively improve your milk foam quality and latte art skills. [more…]

Guide to Getting the Best Milk Foam, Why Does Milk Foam? Front Street Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee) - it can be said that steaming milk is a fundamental and core skill for every barista; whether one can steam perfect milk is a factor in judging whether the barista's skill level is up to standard. [more…]

Flat white is a milk coffee that emphasizes the true flavor of coffee. Compared with a latte, it has a higher espresso content, less milk, and thinner milk foam. In this article, Front Street Coffee will systematically explain the controversy over the origin of flat white, the choice of espresso base, the recommended ratio of milk to coffee, and how to judge the temperature, thickness, and texture when steaming milk. It will also explain the differences between whole milk, low-fat milk, and skim milk when steaming, helping coffee lovers, after understanding the principles, consistently make a fragrant, velvety espresso milk coffee at home. [more…]

Steaming milk is a fundamental skill that every barista must master, and the quality of the milk foam directly affects the taste of a latte and the result of latte art. Drawing on the practical experience of Front Street Coffee, this article explains in detail the physical principles of milk frothing, answers common problems such as foam that won't incorporate, separation, and surface bubbles, and explains how steam pressure and foam fineness determine incorporation. The article also compares the stability of milk foam at different temperatures, provides two frothing methods—manual and steam—summarizes five common mistakes, and finally includes a step-by-step tutorial on tulip latte art. Whether you are a beginner or a coffee enthusiast looking to refine your skills, you will find practical guidance here. [more…]

The pairing of coffee and milk is a classic choice for many enthusiasts in their daily drinking. Milk can soften the bitterness while preserving the coffee's aroma, making the entire cup more drinkable. However, different coffee types have different requirements for milk: espresso needs a stronger base to support the milk flavor, while pour-over coffee, being lighter in nature, requires more caution when adding milk. This article discusses the principles of pairing coffee with milk, the coffee-to-milk ratio for latte, whether pour-over coffee is suitable for adding milk, and the difference between fresh milk and pure milk, and shares Front Street Coffee's practical experience in latte ratio adjustment, helping readers find a milk coffee solution that suits them. [more…]

Everyone knows that making espresso milk coffee requires espresso and milk, and there are many types of milk coffee, such as latte, mocha, cappuccino, etc., which use different ratios of espresso and milk. So in this article, Front Street Coffee wants to give everyone [more…]

The key to an ideal latte lies not only in the quality of the espresso, but also in the fineness of the steamed milk and temperature control. Front Street Coffee will start from the basic principles of milk frothing to answer common questions such as why the milk foam does not blend and why it floats on the surface during latte art, and will also take an in-depth look at how steam pressure and foam fineness affect blending. At the same time, through experimental comparisons at different temperatures, we reveal why the 50 to 70°C range is the golden zone for long-lasting, stable milk foam, helping you master the core techniques for steaming perfect milk foam. [more…]

After coffee shops launched water buffalo milk Dirty, this milk source sparked widespread discussion in the coffee community. Water buffalo milk is familiar to friends in Guangzhou, Foshan, and Guangxi, but how does it actually perform in coffee? This article, through hands-on comparisons of glass-bottled fresh milk and water buffalo milk, makes hot lattes, Dirty, and iced mochas respectively, recording one by one from milk foam fineness, coffee integration, layering effect, to flavor layers. At the same time, it will also sort out the effects of pasteurization and ultra-high-temperature sterilization on milk taste, helping coffee lovers and cafe owners find milk suitable for pairing with coffee. [more…]

Latte, cappuccino, flat white, and Dirty all rely on milk, but what would the final taste be if you swapped in soy milk, milk powder, banana milk, Wangzai milk, or AD calcium milk? This time, Front Street Coffee made lattes one by one using five types of non-fresh milk ingredients, all with Front Street Espresso Blend · Strawberry Candy Espresso, using a 1:5 coffee-to-milk ratio for a hot-and-cold comparison, focusing on aroma integration, sweetness, smoothness of mouthfeel, milk foam performance, and whether it is suitable for latte art. The article not only preserves parameters that can be directly replicated, but also gives judgments on the pros and cons of each ingredient, making it a reference for enthusiasts who want to make specialty coffee at home or in a shop. [more…]