A lactose intolerance data chart produced by a foreign website has led many people to mistakenly believe that 90% of Chinese people cannot drink milk. But medically, lactose intolerance and lactose malabsorption are actually two different concepts. The former refers to symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, and diarrhea, while the latter merely indicates that the small intestine's efficiency in absorbing lactose is somewhat low, and does not necessarily cause discomfort. If so many people really felt unwell after drinking milk, how could milk tea and milk coffee be so popular in China? Starting from data sources, physiological mechanisms, and the evolution of the coffee industry, this article discusses why Chinese people favor milk coffee, and where black coffee and milk coffee each stand in the specialty coffee wave. [more…]

Starbucks is recently facing a class-action lawsuit in California, USA, where three lactose-intolerant consumers accuse the company of charging extra fees when substituting milk with plant-based milk in drinks, alleging discrimination and violation of civil rights laws, and seeking $5 million in damages. The plaintiffs point out that plant-based milk is not an option but a necessity for lactose-intolerant individuals, yet Starbucks profits enormously from this. Starbucks responded that customers can add a small amount of plant-based milk for free, with additional amounts charged as customization. Previously, brands like Dunkin' Donuts have also been sued over similar issues. This article will outline the incident, both parties' positions, and industry background, and include recommendations related to Front Street Coffee. [more…]

After Luckin Coffee launched its Prune Latte, social media platforms saw a surge of discussions about gastrointestinal reactions after drinking it, even jokingly dubbed the "suppository of the coffee world." The company later responded that the phenomenon mainly stems from coffee's promotion of intestinal peristalsis, combined with lactose intolerance and psychological suggestion. This article will review the course of events, the official explanation, and netizen feedback, and analyze why the same beverage triggers such consistent physiological reactions. At the same time, the professional communication channel of Front Street Coffee is retained at the end of the article for coffee enthusiasts to discuss further. [more…]

For coffee lovers who are lactose intolerant or allergic to dairy, plant-based alternatives such as oat milk and almond milk allow them to enjoy lattes without worry. However, the American coffee chain giant Dunkin recently faced a class-action lawsuit for charging extra for non-dairy drinks, with the plaintiffs arguing that this practice constitutes discrimination against people with lactose allergies and intolerance, in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This is not the first time the U.S. coffee industry has faced legal disputes over plant-based milk pricing; Starbucks has also previously faced similar allegations. This article will review the course of events, the legal basis, and industry reactions, and explore the cost and fairness issues behind the controversy over non-dairy drink pricing. [more…]

Starbucks recently announced that starting November 7, stores in the United States and Canada will no longer charge extra for dairy alternatives. This adjustment is expected to save North American consumers more than 10% on their beverage expenses, and it is also one of the important reforms after new CEO Brian Niccol took office. Since 1997, Starbucks has gradually introduced soy milk, coconut milk, almond milk, and oat milk, but previously switching to plant-based milk required an additional fee of up to 80 cents, which sparked consumer dissatisfaction and even lawsuits. Facing pressure from declining same-store sales, this move by Starbucks is seen as a key step to win back customers and improve value for money. Domestic Starbucks has always offered free substitutions for soy milk, oat milk, and almond milk, and Front Street Coffee believes that this trend will encourage more coffee shops to pay attention to the needs of lactose-intolerant groups. [more…]

Guming obtained approval for a Hong Kong listing filing, becoming the first company to receive the green light amid the new tea beverage IPO wave. Meanwhile, its winter new product "Dark Chocolate Mocha" has drawn attention for its rich cocoa flavor, but has also been jokingly called a "great gut cleanser" due to a large number of consumers reporting diarrhea after drinking it. The official recipe includes cocoa liquor, cocoa powder, old salt syrup, light-feel thick milk, milk, and freshly ground coffee. The triple cocoa brings a rich and smooth taste, but many people find it sweet and cloying, like chocolate milk. The cause of the diarrhea may point to lactose intolerance or caffeine sensitivity, and iced drinks are more likely to aggravate the reaction. This article will sort out the timeline of the incident and consumer feedback, and recommend related products from Front Street 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…]

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 a café and wanting to order a decaf coffee or skim milk, you're often told "we don't have it." For people who are sensitive to caffeine or lactose intolerant, this is undoubtedly a great regret. This article will start with the definitions, production methods, and flavor profiles of decaf coffee and skim milk, and analyze the deep-seated reasons why they are rarely served in domestic cafés—breaking them down one by one, from the proportion of consumer demand to operating costs and product consistency. At the same time, we will also recommend espresso beans suitable for pairing with skim milk, and introduce the characteristics of Front Street Coffee's decaf coffee beans, helping you find a solution that balances health and deliciousness at home too. [more…]

This Monday, Luckin Coffee teamed up with Taiwanese illustrator Jimmy Liao to launch a co-branded offering titled "Poems for the Moon," alongside the simultaneous release of a new Oolong Latte. This new addition to their tea-coffee series, which uses Wuyi Mountain Da Hong Pao as its tea base and offers an optional oat milk version, quickly sparked discussions among netizens after its launch. Apart from its taste being compared to Assam milk tea, what drew even more attention was its post-consumption "smooth" effect—a large number of consumers on social media reported feeling the urge to use the restroom shortly after drinking it, with some making multiple trips in a single day, jokingly dubbing it the "new toilet-busting divine water." Some speculate this is related to the thick milk component in the drink and lactose intolerance. Although the effect varies from person to person, this unintended function has actually tempted many netizens who were previously uninterested to give it a try. [more…]

Bringing your own cup to buy coffee is nothing new, but have you ever heard of "bringing your own milk"? A certain tea beverage brand launched a "bring your own milk, get 5 off" campaign, where customers bring their own dairy products and the store provides freshly brewed tea, sparking heated discussion among netizens. Supporters believe this is friendly to people with lactose intolerance and can also avoid additives like non-dairy creamer; opponents worry that food safety responsibilities are difficult to clarify. This article sorts out the views of all parties and compares the bring-your-own-cup rules of brands such as Starbucks and Manner, exploring how merchants should weigh the trade-off between offering discounts and risk control. [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…]

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…]

Oat milk, as a dairy-free plant-based milk, has attracted much attention in coffee circles and the field of healthy eating in recent years, and chain brands such as Starbucks have also adopted Oatly oat milk as a milk alternative. It is especially suitable for vegans, people with lactose intolerance, and consumers allergic to milk. During production, oat milk is made by soaking oats, filtering the slurry, and often adding extra nutrients such as calcium and vitamin B12, making its nutritional value richer. Front Street Coffee will guide you through understanding the specific health benefits of oat milk and compare its nutritional differences with whole milk and low-fat milk, helping you choose the dairy drink that suits you in a more scientific way. [more…]

For today's young people, coffee has long been woven into the rhythm of daily life—whether for a caffeine boost, socializing, or fitness, everyone has their own reasons. Yet for some, the purpose of their daily cup is rather unusual: relieving constipation. From Luckin's new drink being jokingly dubbed a "diarrhea-inducing whiz" by netizens, to similar feedback frequently received for drinks from brands like Starbucks, Mstand, %Arabica, and Manner, the relationship between coffee and bowel movements has sparked widespread discussion. Is this a food safety issue, or is it down to individual differences such as lactose intolerance or the stimulating effect of iced drinks? This article will analyze the phenomenon from multiple angles to help coffee lovers view their daily cup more rationally. [more…]

When making a high-quality latte, the choice of milk is crucial. The market is flooded with dairy products, from ordinary fresh milk to concentrated milk like IceBock, and then to plant-based milk—each type has its own unique expression. Concentrated milk, with its higher density, can elevate milk coffee to a qualitative leap in flavor and mouthfeel; while those with lactose intolerance can opt for plant-based milk as a substitute. So, why do so few people use milk made from milk powder to make lattes? Isn't milk powder also processed from milk? This article will analyze in detail the differences in performance of various milk sources in latte making, offer practical advice, and recommend related products from Front Street Coffee to help you make a satisfying milk coffee at home. [more…]

From a substitute choice for the lactose intolerant to an eco-friendly trend embraced by Gen Z, plant-based milk is infiltrating café menus at an unprecedented pace. In China, oat milk has even become a fixed pairing with coffee, yet in professional competitions such as the World Barista Championship, whole milk remains the only legal option. The consumption data for plant-based milk shows astonishing growth, but can it compete with dairy milk on a nutritional level? Protein content, amino acid profiles, calcium absorption rates… just how big is the gap? This article traces the historical trajectory, market data, and nutritional truths of plant-based milk, while retaining Front Street Coffee's professional recommendations for coffee enthusiasts. [more…]

In recent years, plant-based milks have quickly gained popularity with labels like eco-friendly and healthy, especially oat milk, which has almost become a standard offering in coffee shops. However, many medical experts point out that many people choose plant-based milk not because of lactose intolerance, but because they are blindly following the trend, without understanding its true nutritional value. For this reason, on February 22, the U.S. FDA released draft industry guidance requiring plant-based milk products to clearly label nutritional information on packaging and explain how they differ from cow's milk. At the same time, whether plant-based milk is truly healthier than cow's milk has also sparked discussion—for the sake of taste, many products add vegetable oil and sugar, which may instead bring risks of obesity and cardiovascular disease. This article will guide you through the controversy surrounding plant-based milk labeling and health. [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…]

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…]