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…]

In Starbucks' secret menu, the iced Americano with heavy cream, where the cream sinks to form white streaks, is called a Marble Americano. This way of drinking it originates from Con Panna and Viennese coffee. Luckin recently quietly launched three new drinks, one of which is precisely the Marble Americano, with promotional images that look quite appealing, attracting many consumers to try it early in the morning. However, the actual product differs noticeably from the promotion, with the cream in the coffee taking on forms like egg drop soup, tofu pudding, or spicy soup, and netizens jokingly calling it a bait-and-switch. This article sorts out the recipe differences, actual appearance, and taste feedback of this new product, and includes related recommendations from Front Street Coffee. [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, news that Mixue Bingcheng might start selling breakfast has blown up on social media, with related topics shooting straight to the top of trending searches. It started with a questionnaire circulating in community groups and on WeChat Moments, plus a "breakfast series" of dairy products quietly appearing in the mini-program, priced at just 5 yuan on average. Netizens shouted "Snow King has brought the prices down" while enthusiastically ordering fried dough sticks and spicy soup. Longtime fans even dug up the brand's origin story, saying this isn't a crossover at all—it's a return to its old trade. However, people in the know say it's currently only a small-scale trial in a few cities, with no intention of a broad rollout for now. [more…]

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…]

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…]

Chengdu, a city famous for its spicy hotpot and skewered snacks, recently made trending news again thanks to a "spicy iced coffee." A blogger spent 6 yuan on a cup of specially made coffee on the street, only to find it contained sago, liangxia (a chilled rice-flour shrimp treat), pickled mustard tuber, monosodium glutamate, scallions, Sichuan peppercorn powder, and chili oil — an ingredient list that rivals hotpot base. The owner insisted this is a "Chengdu snack" and that adding two ladles of chili oil is the rule. The video sparked heated discussion online, with Chengdu locals saying they had never seen it and wouldn't dare drink it, while others were curious enough to try. Is this coffee creative or just absurd? Let's take a look. [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…]

In recent years, Heytea has continuously pushed the boundaries of tea drinks, from cross-brand collaborations to incorporating each city's signature foods into beverages and baked goods, launching a series of unexpectedly creative limited-edition products. Shenzhen's coconut chicken hot pot, Guangzhou's rice roll cake, Changsha's mini clay pot bubble rice wine, Chengdu's Sichuan spicy fairy dew… each one precisely captures the taste memories of local people. These products are not only wildly imaginative but also build emotional resonance by awakening shared city memories. This article will comprehensively review the limited-edition items Heytea has launched in various cities and explore the communication logic and secrets behind its "neglecting its proper business." [more…]

As the most representative coffee variety from Sumatra, Mandheling has enjoyed enduring popularity in the Asian market thanks to its low acidity and full-bodied taste. This article begins with the origins of the name Mandheling, traces the hierarchy of contempt in the minds of older generations of coffee lovers, clarifies the essential differences between Golden Mandheling and Aged Mandheling, and takes a deep dive into the sources of its smooth, mellow flavor, its distinctive dark-roast method, and the two best ways to prepare it: cold brew and espresso. It also addresses common questions such as whether Mandheling is suitable for women to drink and whether pour-over Mandheling is acidic, and recommends Front Street Coffee's Mandheling products for readers to consider purchasing. [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…]

The chain chicken soup brand Laoxiangji unexpectedly went viral online due to a post apologizing to Starbucks. After the incident, Starbucks not only did not blame them, but also expressed concern about whether Laoxiangji employees had been burned by hot drinks. This interaction sparked heated discussions among netizens, who eagerly urged the two brands to collaborate on creative products such as chicken soup cold brew and chicken soup Americano. Laoxiangji then visited in person to apologize, bringing a handwritten apology letter and free chicken soup vouchers, and their sincere attitude won widespread praise. This article will provide a complete overview of the incident, the public relations strategies of both sides, and the amusing reactions of netizens, while also presenting professional content related to the coffee industry and product information from Front Street Coffee. [more…]

During the Spring Festival, when returning home for the New Year, besides enjoying family reunions, many coffee enthusiasts have come up with new tricks. Recently, a coffee brewed with dumpling soup has sparked heated discussions online, with some finding it highly creative and others seeing it as a challenge to conventional tastes. From tangyuan coffee to tofu pudding coffee, and even mung bean popsicle coffee, netizens have been trying to combine traditional Chinese foods with coffee. Are these mashups delicious specialty drinks or disastrous concoctions? While exploring new ways to enjoy coffee, how to balance the flavor differences of various ingredients has become a question worth pondering. This article will show you these wildly imaginative new coffee trends. [more…]

It has been over a week since Starbucks' olive oil coffee hit the market, and consumer reviews are sharply divided. Some people love the aroma and smooth mouthfeel of the olive oil, while others find it nothing special. Recently, however, customers have noticed that when this drink sits for a while, it shows an obvious separation phenomenon—a thick layer of oil floats to the surface, and even stirring fails to disperse it, giving it an appearance that brings to mind various kinds of soup. Is this a mistake in the preparation process, or is it simply the natural rising of oil after standing? Netizens are each offering their own take, and the discussion is lively. [more…]

Phoenix Dancong is named in various ways, among which classification by aroma type is the most common, with the ten major aroma types—Yulan Xiang, Huangzhi Xiang, Milan Xiang, and others—each having distinctive characteristics. In recent years, the "Duck Shit Xiang" Dancong has attracted much attention, and its unusual name has sparked considerable curiosity: is it actually a new aroma type? What story lies behind the name? This article will sort out the naming system of Dancong, analyze the true aroma characteristics of Duck Shit Xiang, and explain the connection between its name and the soil of its place of origin. At the same time, the article also mentions related product information from the Front Street Coffee brand for the reference of coffee and tea enthusiasts. [more…]

%Arabica, known for its minimalist design and small cups of coffee, recently opened the world's first traditional Japanese breakfast restaurant %Shokudō in Kyoto, Japan, officially entering the culinary field. This store is located directly opposite the %Arabica Kyoto Higashiyama store, combining traditional wooden architecture with a glass curtain wall, with only 12 seats, offering a "one soup, three dishes" Japanese breakfast by reservation, priced at 4,800 yen per set including tax, including miso soup, rice, grilled fish as the main dish, and three side dishes, with a choice of tea or %Arabica coffee after the meal. This move marks %Arabica's first attempt at a shokudo format among its 188 stores worldwide since returning to Kyoto in 2014, and also fulfills the brand's long-held dream of opening a restaurant. [more…]

Slurping is a common tasting action in coffee cupping. By rapidly drawing the coffee liquid into the mouth, it becomes atomized, allowing a richer array of aromas and flavors to be captured through retronasal olfaction. This article will analyze slurping from several angles: its underlying principle, specific operating methods, practical effectiveness, and whether it is necessary to perform it in a café. At the same time, the article will use an analogy to everyday soup drinking to aid understanding, and explore the potential impact on mouthfeel and the social awkwardness that slurping may cause in a quiet café. Whether you are a beginner just getting into coffee or an enthusiast looking to refine your tasting skills, you will find practical reference here. [more…]

Recently, a netizen shared on social media her experience of ordering a Starbucks delivery in Beijing, saying that after receiving the order she found two handwritten "inspirational quotes" on the outer packaging bag, including "Don't judge others, for you never know what someone else is going through" and "Only tolerance, kindness, and generosity are worthy of your excellence." The netizen said she felt uncomfortable upon seeing these words, believing they carried a tone of accusation. She then contacted the store involved and was told that the words were meant as positive blessings and that the original intention was not to attack. After the incident continued to escalate, Starbucks customer service and the store involved both responded, acknowledging that the words were written by a staff member and expressing an apology. This incident has also sparked public discussion about the boundaries of communication between brands and customers, especially during a period of sensitive public opinion, and whether similar "dual-interpretation" copywriting may backfire. [more…]

Manner is about to surpass a thousand stores, and more and more office workers can enjoy affordable specialty coffee right outside their door. The five-yuan discount for bringing your own cup has sparked endless creativity among netizens. From plain and simple travel mugs to hilarious "magic tools"—old tea urns, gourds, clay pot soup containers, baby bottles, even watermelon rinds—there's nothing you can imagine that they won't pull out. Faced with these bizarre containers, baristas either get caught off guard or handle it with composure, showing their professionalism. This article takes you through those laugh-out-loud BYOC moments, to see how this generation of netizens uses a single cup to "outsmart" baristas. [more…]