KFC's coffee brand KCOFFEE recently announced that it will launch a limited-edition "Finger Lickin' Good Fried Chicken Flavored Latte" from the 15th to the 17th, with a flash sale price of 6.6 yuan. This bizarre drink, which blends the classic salty, savory fried chicken with a latte, caused an uproar on social media as soon as the poster was revealed. Many KFC fans said they "can't understand Chinese" and "can't accept it," while others marveled at the wild creativity of KFC China's R&D. As a signature product with more than 80 years of history, Original Recipe Fried Chicken has seen declining sales in recent years, and the brand has repeatedly tried to draw traffic to it through innovative methods, from soup curry Original Recipe Chicken to Original Recipe Chicken burgers, and now fried chicken-flavored coffee—truly a painstaking effort. However, whether gimmick marketing can actually drive sales, or will backfire, is worth watching. [more…]

Recently, many Luckin tea-coffee enthusiasts noticed a noticeable change in the flavor of their usual Jasmine Latte, suspecting that the brand had adjusted the recipe. In March of this year, Luckin had just announced an upgrade to its light milk tea, switching from tea powder to freshly brewed tea, and the Jasmine Latte was improved accordingly, with a fresh tea aroma that blended well with the coffee, making it a daily must-order for many consumers. However, starting June 2, regulars reported that the drink tasted weaker, with the coffee flavor almost gone—some even described it as drinking milky tea water. Some customers noticed from the cup labels that the espresso notation had changed from "Espresso Concentrate" to "Short Extract Espresso," and staff also revealed that the ratios of tea, milk, and coffee had all been altered. This adjustment sparked widespread dissatisfaction, with an increase in negative reviews and complaints at stores, and loyal fans calling on the official brand to restore the original recipe. [more…]

As the weather turns cooler, Toffee Hazelnut Latte has once again become a hot topic among coffee enthusiasts. Brands such as Starbucks and Peet's have successively announced the return of their classic versions, and Luckin is also reported to be launching a Toffee Hazelnut Latte next week, along with a new "Toffee Hazelnut Milk Tea." However, this new product has sparked collective concern among Luckin employees. According to a leaked recipe, the milk tea uses Assam black tea as its base, with the addition of Toffee Hazelnut Velvet Flavored Milk, brown sugar syrup, Silkido, and Milk Skin Velvet Flavored Milk. Employees pointed out that when Silkido and Milk Skin Velvet are mixed, they form the "tofu pudding"-like milk jelly that was criticized in the previous Milk Skin Latte, and since these two ingredients have long been overstocked, it is being questioned as a mix-and-match move to clear inventory. Meanwhile, this year's returning Toffee Hazelnut Latte is also rumored to have a changed recipe, which may leave consumers who were expecting last year's taste somewhat disappointed. [more…]

To make a delicious latte at home or in a café, choosing the right espresso beans is far more particular than you might imagine. Starting from Front Street Coffee's blending philosophy, this article explains why espresso beans are mostly blends, what principles a blend recipe should follow, and introduces the flavor profiles and suitable scenarios of four beans: Front Street Specialty Blend, Strawberry Candy Espresso, Commercial Espresso Blend, and Dark Cocoa Base Blend. It also takes a deeper look at the relationship between roast level, acidity, and milk foam durability, explaining how coffee beans affect the taste and consistency of a latte. Finally, it includes specific approaches to making iced and hot lattes, covering key steps such as espresso extraction, milk steaming, and pouring/latte art, helping you understand the ins and outs of milk coffee more systematically. [more…]

The Piccolo Latte is not commonly seen on coffee menus, and many people know very little about it, sometimes even misunderstanding it because of its small size. This mini milk coffee originating from Italy usually has a capacity of only 85 to 100 milliliters, in sharp contrast to the regular 250 to 300 milliliter latte. This article will explain in detail what a Piccolo Latte is, how it differs from a regular latte, its standard preparation recipe and drinking method, and introduce the Warm Sun blend coffee beans used by Front Street Coffee in its espresso offerings along with their flavor performance, helping coffee lovers gain a comprehensive understanding of this small yet refined milk coffee. [more…]

For more specialty coffee knowledge, please follow the WeChat official account: Front Street Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee). Latte coffee is one of our most common coffee drinks. At Front Street Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee), latte coffee is also the most popular espresso [more…]

Latte is one of the espresso drinks that coffee lovers consume most frequently in their daily routine. The pairing of milk and espresso looks simple, but in reality, everything from bean selection to milk frothing has its finer points. This article centers on latte coffee, first tracing its historical origins, then focusing on what kind of coffee beans to choose when making a latte—medium-dark roasted blends, single-origin SOE beans, or medium-light roasted fruity beans—and what flavor directions each one presents. It then gives Front Street's latte recipe ratio and espresso extraction parameters, and explains step by step the optimal volume for milk frothing, the position of the steam wand, and the key operating points of the two stages: aeration and texturing. Finally, it explains how integration and latte art affect the mouthfeel, while recommending specific products such as Front Street Classic Blend, Dark Cocoa Base Blend, and Queen's Estate SOE. [more…]

Among the many espresso coffee choices, if someone asks which espresso coffee has the highest milk content, Front Street Coffee will definitely answer that it is a latte, and latte is further divided into iced latte and hot latte; their methods are slightly different, but the recipe is the same [more…]

In coffee enthusiast circles, Flat White has always been a topic worth exploring in depth. It originated in Australia and New Zealand and is regarded as Oceania's localized evolution of the latte. Unlike the lattes and cappuccinos on Front Street Coffee's regular menu, the Flat White often exists as a hidden option. Starting from the English name of Flat White, this article will break down in detail its specific differences from a latte in cup size, espresso ratio, milk foam thickness, and flavor direction, and will also include Front Street Coffee's complete Flat White recipe and steps. Whether you want to understand exactly how a Flat White differs from a latte, or you want to recreate at home a cup of Flat White with thin milk foam and a prominent coffee flavor, you can find clear answers here. [more…]

Walking into a coffee shop and facing a menu of Americano, Latte, and Cappuccino, many people recognize the words but can't quite explain how they actually differ. All three are based on espresso, but the proportions of water, milk, and milk foam added vary, resulting in distinctly different flavors and mouthfeels. This article will systematically sort out the differences between Americano, Latte, and Cappuccino from three angles: historical origins, recipe evolution, and structural comparison. Combined with Front Street Coffee's actual in-store serving plans, it will provide specific extraction parameters and preparation methods, helping coffee enthusiasts stay well-informed whether ordering or making these drinks themselves. [more…]

Faced with Americano, Latte, and Cappuccino on a coffee menu, many people recognize the words but can't clearly explain the differences between them. This article will systematically sort out the differences among these three common coffee drinks from three dimensions: historical origins, recipe structure, and taste characteristics. Americano is espresso plus water, Latte is espresso plus milk and a thin layer of milk foam, while Cappuccino brings a rich, dense mouthfeel with thick milk foam. The article will also combine actual output from Front Street Coffee stores to provide specific espresso extraction plans and production parameters for each drink, helping you not only understand the menu but also grasp the logic behind every cup of coffee. [more…]

Why can an unsweetened latte still taste sweet? What secrets are hidden in Front Street's espresso blend beans? Starting from the formulation logic of espresso blends, this article will break down the flavor characteristics of Front Street Classic Blend and Strawberry Candy Espresso one by one, and explain in detail the trade-offs between pre-roast blending and post-roast blending, how to determine blending ratios, as well as the milk frothing temperature, frothing technique, and coffee-to-milk ratio for lattes. Whether you are a complete beginner or someone who wants to recreate a latte with a wine-scented finish at home, you can find actionable answers in this process. [more…]

Luckin Coffee has launched a butter series in collaboration with Thailand's Butterbear, and among the offerings, the Butter Americano—made with added butter-rich milk—looks and tastes so much like a latte that it has left consumers confused. Some suspect the barista made the drink wrong, others feel it lacks any butter flavor, while staff helplessly explain that this is simply the recipe. This article sorts out the truth behind how this new product is made, user feedback, and the background of butter coffee from chain brands, to help coffee lovers see clearly through this "Americano turned latte" misunderstanding. [more…]

In the cold winter season, Starbucks launched a drink called "Toffee Roasted Sweet Potato Flavored Tea Latte," which sparked a rush among many roasted sweet potato lovers to check in. However, many consumers found after drinking it that this tea latte contained neither sweet potato chunks, nor sweet potato powder or sweet potato flavored syrup; the so-called "roasted sweet potato flavor" was only a similar sweet aroma blended from oat milk, black tea, and toffee syrup. Some even pointed out that the drink was not a new product, but a repackaged version of a secret menu item from last year. With Starbucks collaborating with Xiaohongshu, perhaps "Little Sweet Potato" is the real "sweet potato" element in this drink. This article will sort out the truth about the drink's recipe and consumer reactions for you. [more…]

Latte coffee may seem simple, but in fact, everything from the choice of coffee beans to the handling of milk involves much attention to detail. Starting with the historical origins of the latte, this article breaks down in detail how different coffee beans affect latte flavor, recommends Front Street espresso blends suitable for beginners and advanced enthusiasts alike, and includes complete espresso extraction parameters along with milk frothing standards. Whether you want to recreate a silky latte at home or understand the root causes of differences in coffee shop offerings, this content will give you practical reference. [more…]

As a representative of Italian milk coffee, the thickness and degree of frothing of cappuccino's milk foam have always been a core concern for coffee enthusiasts. Starting from the classic 1:1:1 recipe, this article traces the evolution of cappuccino across different historical periods, analyzes the reasons behind the change in milk foam thickness from 2.5cm to 1-2cm, and explores the influence of latte art culture on the form of takeaway cappuccino. At the same time, drawing on the practical experience of Front Street Coffee, it explains how a small cup size, filling to 11 parts, a rich coffee flavor, and dense milk foam together constitute the essential characteristics of cappuccino, helping readers understand the positioning and identification methods of this classic beverage in the modern coffee environment. [more…]

For professional coffee knowledge exchange and more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat official account: cafe_style). For more specialty coffee beans, please add our personal WeChat Front Street Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee), WeChat ID: qjcoffeex. Quite a few friends have asked [more…]

Latte is the espresso drink with the highest proportion of milk, and many people fall in love with it because of the delicate latte art on the surface and the rich, smooth taste at first sip. But do you really know what a latte is? In Italian, it originally just means "milk," so ordering one could lead to a small misunderstanding. With the spread of espresso machines and steam wands, the modern latte gradually took shape, and in the 1980s Seattle baristas were the first to "paint" the surface with milk foam — this was the prototype of latte art. This article will sort out the definition and history of the latte, give Front Street Coffee's recommended ratio of espresso to milk, and focus on analyzing how different coffee beans shape the flavor direction of iced lattes, while also recommending a variety of Front Street Coffee blends and single-origin beans to help you make a latte that suits your own taste. [more…]

Making a latte can be said to be a skill for every barista: first extract the espresso, then prepare the milk, and let the two achieve a perfectly balanced taste. But many friends say that when they make lattes at home, they always fail to achieve the effect of a coffee shop, so they ask Front Street Coffee for tips on making latte coffee. Iced latte coffee see [more…]

The name Flat White may be unfamiliar to many, but everyone is surely familiar with Starbucks' Fu Rui Bai (Flat White). In fact, names like Xiaobai Coffee, Fu Rui Bai, Chun Yi Bai, Ao Rui Bai, and Aussie White all refer to the same drink—Flat White. It originated in Oceania, so it is also called Aussie White coffee. Both are combinations of milk and espresso, but what exactly is the difference between a Flat White, a latte, and a cappuccino? Why has Flat White coffee swept the world and become a permanent fixture on the menus of almost every coffee shop? In this article, Front Street Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee) will guide you through the origin and evolution of Flat White coffee, clarify its differences from latte and cappuccino in milk foam thickness and flavor presentation, and share a Flat White recipe made with Front Street Sunflower Warm Sun blend beans, so you can experience that rich and mellow Aussie White flavor at home. [more…]