At noon on August 17, a violent conflict broke out between staff and customers at a Heytea franchise store in a Wanda Plaza in Luoyang, Henan. The two sides exchanged insults and threw items from the counter, leaving the scene in chaos. The incident quickly trended on Weibo, drawing widespread attention. After the incident, the store closed early for rectification, and the two parties involved reached a settlement. The next day, Heytea's official ordering mini-program showed the store as being in "temporary closure" mode, and the brand's customer service declined to comment on the reason for the closure. This article sorts through the course of the incident, witness accounts, and responses from all sides to present the full picture of the conflict. [more…]

Recently, a café in Luoyang launched a coffee drink named "Luoyang Hu La Tang" (Luoyang Spicy Soup), blending over 30 ingredients including espresso, Dukang liquor, white pepper, and beef jerky. Priced at 68 yuan per cup, it has sparked heated discussion online. Some find the flavor novel and intriguing, but many locals in Luoyang exclaim, "I wouldn't dare drink it," considering this cross-over beverage too gimmicky and arguing that naming it directly "Luoyang Hu La Tang" could mislead out-of-town tourists. Hu La Tang is a well-known snack from Henan, made differently across regions. Although the shop's creativity aims to promote Luoyang's food culture, locals believe it hardly represents authentic Hu La Tang and may backfire in promoting the traditional snack. [more…]

Coffee shops are usually opened in city centers or places with heavy foot traffic, but a man in Xin'an County, Luoyang, Henan, opened his shop in a wild mountain cave. In August of this year, 36-year-old Mr. Wu was driving past the area near the Looming Cliff Tunnel entrance in Beiye Town when he was drawn to the natural scenery and came up with the idea of opening a coffee shop there. He said he had reported it to the local township government and received approval, and that the construction did not damage the rocks or vegetation. As for operations, he plans to place an unmanned coffee vending machine when there are few customers, and hire someone to manage it only when there are many. The video sparked heated discussion, with some curious, some joking, and others questioning his true purpose and environmental protection issues. [more…]

As the Spring Festival approaches, the chain coffee brand %Arabica announced the opening of its first store in Henan, but unexpectedly, this new store did not land in a shopping mall in the provincial capital Zhengzhou, but instead established itself in a Qing Dynasty ancient residential courtyard near Weipo Village near Luoyang. The strong contrast between the ancient architecture and the modern minimalist decor quickly attracted a large number of coffee enthusiasts to drive over and visit, with foot traffic packed to capacity during the Spring Festival. However, the ensuing issues of excessively long wait times, chaotic order inside the store, and lattes not being made with latte art also sparked controversy. Some netizens pointed out that the store is actually a pop-up shop and is expected to close in May this year, suggesting that people visit during off-peak times. [more…]

Recently, a netizen tipped off that a nearly ten-year-old CHAYANYUESE store at Yinchangling Wanda Plaza in Changsha had quietly closed, sparking widespread discussion. Subsequently, more netizens shared photos pointing out that stores in multiple locations—including Changsha South Railway Station, Huachuang International Plaza, Changde Wanda, and Wuhan Buddha Ridge subway station—had also been successively withdrawn in the recent period, and the actual number of closures may be even higher. Regarding the reasons for the closures, some believe it is the brand adjusting its store layout, while others attribute it to declining mall foot traffic. However, more consumers point the finger at CHAYANYUESE's insistence on its "stand-in-line verification" mechanism—drinks are only made after customers verify their orders in person—which runs counter to today's consumer habits of pursuing efficiency and convenience. In addition, longtime fans generally report a decline in quality control, with the value for money of the drinks being far worse than before. Once a must-visit spot for photos, its charm has now faded, stores sit empty, and the brand's move to close underperforming locations and cut losses in time may also be a reluctant choice. [more…]

Seesaw Coffee, once regarded as one of the representatives of domestic specialty coffee, has seen a sharp shrinkage in its number of stores within just half a year. From the end of last year to June this year, a total of 50 stores across the country quietly disappeared, with store closures reported one after another in places such as Hangzhou and Suzhou, drawing attention from consumers and the industry. At the same time, Seesaw has not stopped expanding, but instead has turned its sights to smaller cities with relatively less intense competition, such as Guiyang and Luoyang, attempting to find a new way out through a franchise model. Against the backdrop of an increasingly fierce price war in the coffee market, the adjustments and struggles of this specialty coffee brand reflect the survival pressure facing the entire industry. [more…]

During the National Day holiday, coffee festivals popped up simultaneously in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Luoyang and many other places, drawing huge crowds, with guides and check-in photos flooding social media. Yet behind the buzz, regulars' complaints are piling up: specialty drinks dominate the lineup, the coffee tastes weak yet costs as much as thirty or forty yuan a cup, coupons come with endless restrictions, on-site management is chaotic, stalls offer a jumble of categories, and there are even cases of pre-made pour-over and improper handling. The coffee festival, once founded to promote coffee culture and bring like-minded people together, has in many people's eyes become a temporary market heavy with commercial flavor. This article, drawing on feedback from participants, sorts through the major pain points of today's coffee festivals and explores what coffee events enthusiasts hope to see. [more…]

Recently, Guilin's first Starbucks store—the Dream Island store—suddenly closed without any warning, sparking widespread attention and nostalgia among local residents. This store, which opened in October 2014, was once a check-in landmark for coffee lovers in Guilin and carried the youthful memories of many people. However, with the shift of the city's commercial center and changes in foot traffic distribution, this ten-year-old store ultimately came to an end. At the same time, Starbucks' new store in Diecai Wanda is about to open, reflecting the brand's adjustment in market layout. This article will review the rise and fall of this first store, explore the profound impact of urban development on commercial forms, and preserve Front Street brand's continued attention to coffee culture. [more…]

Recently, an incident in the ancient town of Ciqikou in Chongqing sparked widespread discussion: on-duty police officers were asked to leave by staff while eating at outdoor tables and chairs outside a Starbucks store, on the grounds of "affecting the brand image," and were subsequently complained about. The incident quickly fermented online, with netizens questioning whether Starbucks' actions were appropriate. At the same time, an internet influencer cited the so-called "Internal Affairs Regulations of the People's Police of Public Security Organs" to question the officers' behavior, but it was found that the cited content was actually pieced together from another regulation. Starbucks customer service responded that they are verifying the matter and will discipline the employees involved if it is true. This is not the first time Starbucks has been mired in controversy for driving away police; similar incidents have occurred previously at stores in the United States and at Songshan Wanda in China. This article takes you through the full picture of the incident and the voices of all parties. [more…]

Competition in the coffee industry is growing increasingly fierce, and themed cafés are emerging one after another, yet brands with a truly distinctive cultural core remain rare. Recently, the country's first archaeology-themed café officially opened in Yuzhong District, Chongqing. Jointly created by the Chongqing Cultural Relics and Archaeology Research Institute and a Chongqing cultural and creative industry council member unit, it blends professional archaeological expertise with the coffee-drinking experience. The shop not only offers archaeology-themed drinks, but also features distinctive settings such as a stratigraphy bar counter, a wall of archaeological tools, and merchandise inspired by replicated cultural relics, with plans to hold themed salons on a regular basis. This cross-disciplinary experiment brings the niche discipline of archaeology into the public eye in a way young people enjoy, and also opens up new imaginative possibilities for the "coffee + cultural creativity" model. [more…]

Recently, a Nayuki store in Linping District, Hangzhou, was exposed after a consumer allegedly found a thumbnail-sized blue-black stone in a drink, and when the consumer sought compensation, the store manager instead accused them of extortion and fraud. After the customer called the police and reviewed the mall’s surveillance footage, the video fully recorded the entire process of picking up the order, drinking it, and spitting out the stone, but the store did not provide surveillance of the production process. Nayuki’s official customer service refused media interviews, and the phone service at the store involved was suspended. The incident has drawn attention to food safety and the protection of consumer rights by catering brands. [more…]

Recently, an employee at a Heytea store in Shijiazhuang searched for a customer's phone number and added her on WeChat to harass her, sparking widespread attention. After the incident came to light, Heytea quickly fired the employee and apologized and compensated the affected customer. This individual case not only exposes the lack of customer privacy protection training at tea beverage brands, but also once again brings the topic of consumer personal information security to the forefront. With the Regulations on the Implementation of the Law on the Protection of Consumer Rights and Interests officially taking effect in July 2024, the boundaries for business operators collecting and using personal information have become clearer, and the cost of violations has risen significantly. This article will review the course of the incident, the brand's response, and the relevant legal provisions. [more…]

Suzhou, a gentle ancient city in the Jiangnan region, hides quite a few specialty coffee shops worth a dedicated visit. This article compiles a summary of shop visits from a veteran coffee enthusiast, covering more than seventy four- to five-star coffee shops across Gusu District, the Industrial Park, the High-Tech District, Wuzhong District, and beyond—from artsy little cafes to cat-themed coffee houses, from Korean-style chains to standalone buildings with Republican-era charm, each with its own distinctive setting, offerings, and story. Whether you're a coffee purist chasing pour-over quality or an artsy soul who favors ambiance, this list can help you find that perfect cup in Suzhou. [more…]

Seesaw, once hailed as the "Whampoa Military Academy" of China's specialty coffee scene, has drawn attention again after its founder, Wu Xiaomei, was subjected to consumption restriction measures by a court. On October 29, the Fengxian District People's Court of Shanghai issued a high-consumption restriction order to Seesaw's parent company over a service contract dispute. Starting in late 2023, news of Seesaw store closures began to emerge one after another. Although the founder responded at the time that it was merely store adjustments, the wave of closures has not stopped. Meanwhile, legal disputes have continued, and the number of stores has shrunk sharply. Why has Seesaw, once as famous as Manner and Mstand, gradually lost its brand identity amid industry competition? Front Street Coffee takes you through the ups and downs of this specialty coffee brand. [more…]

A counterfeit Starbucks coffee case that occurred in Mianyang, Sichuan, has drawn widespread attention. The counterfeiters hid in a residential building and used delivery platforms to sell their homemade products under the guise of "purchasing on behalf of customers," accumulating 729 orders and involving more than 40,000 yuan. The on-site environment was alarming, yet the ingredients and packaging materials bore the Starbucks logo. Starbucks China has responded and is cooperating with the investigation, urging consumers to make purchases through official stores or Starbuck Delivers. The incident has also exposed loopholes in delivery platform vetting. This article reviews the course of the case, the official response, and consumer reminders, and includes Front Street Coffee's professional information channels. [more…]

Recently, the new-style tea beverage brand Grandpa's Tea, originating from Wuhan, has been reported to have closed or withdrawn stores in multiple locations, including Zibo in Shandong, Suzhou in Jiangsu, and Poyang in Jiangxi, sparking consumer concerns about its business condition. The brand's co-founder had set an expansion target of at least 4,500 stores in 2025, striving for 5,000, but as of October 18, only 2,274 stores were in operation, a clear gap from the goal. Meanwhile, well-known tea brands like Xiamen's Sevenbus and Shenzhen's 813 Bayishan have also fallen into store closure controversies. In response to external doubts, Grandpa's Tea stated that adjustments to individual stores are normal optimization actions by franchisees and that overall operations are sound. This article will sort out the ins and outs of the incident, presenting the brand's response and industry background. [more…]

The freshly made yogurt sector has been hit by yet another food safety scandal. An undercover reporter from The Beijing News worked inside several More Yogurt franchise stores in Beijing and found that oat and highland barley toppings more than forty days past their expiration date were still being used as usual, expiry labels existed in name only, and decisions to scrap fruit relied entirely on staff members' sense of smell. More worrying still, these violations were not isolated cases, but an unspoken rule tolerated by store managers in order to cut costs and boost their personal income. The brand issued an urgent apology a few hours later, announcing that the stores involved would be permanently terminated. This is already the second time this year that More Yogurt has been thrust into the spotlight; previously, the Shanghai Consumer Council questioned the labeling of its product ingredients. This article provides a complete rundown of the undercover details, the brand's response, and the latest status of its stores. [more…]

Recently, multiple media outlets have reported that Starbucks' China business may bring in strategic investors or sell part of its equity, with well-known private equity firms such as KKR, FountainVest, and PAG, as well as domestic companies like China Resources Group and Meituan, all rumored to be potential buyers. According to people familiar with the matter, Starbucks Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Rachel Ruggeri is expected to come to China within the next few weeks to participate in negotiations. In response to this news, a Starbucks global spokesperson declined to confirm, only citing the CEO's previous statement about exploring strategic partnerships. At the same time, Starbucks China has recently experienced frequent management changes, including the newly created position of Chief Growth Officer and the retirement of Chairman Wang Jingying, drawing particular attention to its future direction. This article sorts out the sequence of events, responses from various parties, and industry background for coffee enthusiasts' reference. [more…]