Milk tea shops line every street and alley, yet the same brand can taste wildly different from one store to the next—because a large number of counterfeit outlets lurk behind the scenes. The genuine The Alley has only just over a hundred directly operated stores, while copycat versions number more than seven thousand, forcing the brand to spend hundreds of millions fighting counterfeits. Many entrepreneurs naively trust online franchise information and fall into copycat traps, losing anywhere from hundreds of thousands to over a million yuan. This article reviews trademark infringement cases reported by CCTV, exposing the common tricks of counterfeit franchising, as well as the story of how Heytea was forced to change its name because of rampant imitation, reminding consumers and entrepreneurs to keep their eyes open. [more…]

After Starbucks and Disney launched their collaborative campaign for Alice in Wonderland, the limited-edition themed paper cups quickly became a hit among consumers. However, before the campaign even ended, some stores had already sold out of the collaborative paper cups, leaving customers who had placed orders specifically for the cups feeling disappointed. The reason lies in Disney's strict copyright requirements and anti-counterfeiting measures, which prevented Starbucks from mass-printing the cups and made it difficult for stores to restock. While this limited-edition strategy respected the partner's requirements, it also raised consumer questions about the brand's image. Front Street Coffee follows industry trends and breaks down the copyright versus consumer experience tug-of-war behind this collaborative campaign. [more…]

Mandheling coffee, as a representative Arabica coffee from the Indonesian island of Sumatra, is famous for its unique woody and spicy flavors. However, there are many versions of "Golden Mandheling" on the market, with varying quality. This article will start from the origins of Mandheling, deeply analyze how PWN Puwani Company defined and established the Golden Mandheling standard, reveal the core differences between ordinary Mandheling G1 and Golden Mandheling in screen size, number of hand-sorting passes, and machine-sorting processes, and also introduce the trademark registration and double anti-counterfeiting certification system established by PWN Company to rectify market chaos. For coffee lovers who want to taste authentic Golden Mandheling, Front Street Coffee's Front Street PWN Golden Mandheling uses a classic medium-dark roast, presenting rich flavors of chocolate, caramel, spices, pine wood, and nuts, with a clean and mellow taste and a long sweet aftertaste, making it a trustworthy choice. [more…]

Luckin Coffee's anti-counterfeiting rights protection case in Thailand has gone through twists and turns, finally culminating in a victorious judgment. In early 2022, Chinese tourists discovered counterfeit "Luckin stores" in Thailand, after which Luckin continued to pursue rights protection actions, only to unexpectedly lose in the first-instance trial at the end of 2023, sparking widespread attention. Now, the latest ruling by the Thai court confirms that Luckin holds prior rights to the trademark in question, orders the defendants to cease using the related signage, and requires payment of a one-time compensation of 10 million Thai baht plus ongoing compensation of 100,000 Thai baht per day, with the cumulative amount already exceeding 46 million Thai baht (approximately 10 million RMB). The defendant, Thailand's Royal 50R Group, has a complex background and had previously squatted on 191 Chinese trademarks; this judgment marks an important milestone in Luckin's overseas rights protection journey. [more…]

Recently, photos of Luckin Coffee appearing on the streets of Thailand have sparked heated discussions online. Has this national coffee brand, which successfully turned its fortunes around, really gone global? The company quickly gave a clear response: the Thailand store is purely a counterfeit. This article sorts out the ins and outs of the incident, including how the counterfeit store was discovered, Luckin's progress in defending its rights, and netizens' amusing reactions. It also explores Luckin's current overseas expansion plans. For those of you who love coffee, understanding brand developments and market phenomena is equally important. [more…]

Vietnam G7 Trung Nguyen Coffee, as a representative of three-in-one milk coffee, has won the favor of many enthusiasts with its sweet and smooth taste. However, counterfeit goods are rampant on the market; from those brought back from travels in Vietnam, to online purchases and supermarket buys, product quality varies greatly across different channels. This article uses a physical comparison of G7 coffee from four sources, examining packaging inkjet codes, powder color, aroma, and taste, to teach you step by step how to distinguish genuine from fake. The article also mentions related product information from Front Street Coffee, providing a useful reference for coffee lovers. [more…]

Mandheling is neither a coffee variety name nor a region name, but a general term for coffee produced on the island of Sumatra. Within this vast family, Golden Mandheling stands out thanks to stricter screening standards—19 mesh or above, three rounds of hand sorting plus one round of machine sorting, resulting in an extremely low defect rate. This set of standards was pioneered by PWN, which later registered "Golden Mandheling" as an exclusive trademark and set up dual anti-counterfeiting measures with certification certificates and burlap sack markings. This article will sort out the origins of Mandheling, the logic behind the birth of Golden Mandheling, and methods for verifying authenticity, and through cupping comparisons of the flavor differences between everyday Mandheling and Golden Mandheling, help you identify true Golden Mandheling. [more…]

When it comes to legendary coffee, Jamaican Blue Mountain is invariably at the top of the list, but not every bean stamped with the words "Blue Mountain" is the real deal. This article uses a specialty Blue Mountain recommended by Front Street Coffee as a starting point to clarify the hierarchical differences between "Blue Mountain flavor," "Jamaican coffee," and "Jamaica Blue Mountain No. 1," explain how Blue Mountain got its name and its three-tier growing region classification at 1,500, 3,000, and 5,000 feet, and trace the industry's ups and downs after coffee arrived in Jamaica in 1728: from the heyday of 686 estates, to the devastation of hurricanes, the government's sale of estates, the founding of the CIB, the enactment of legislation, and how Wallenford, the only estate that retained state-owned status, safeguarded its national-treasure reputation through rigorous quality control. The article also deciphers the certified trademark system and anti-counterfeiting measures to help you identify an authentic cup of Blue Mountain. [more…]

In childhood memories, White Rabbit milk candy holds a special place, but now it is being maliciously exploited by some merchants and turned into the signboard of knockoff milk tea. Recently, Bright Dairy filed a lawsuit against two food companies and a seller for trademark infringement of "White Rabbit," and the court ruled in the first instance that the infringing parties must pay 250,000 yuan in compensation. This case not only exposed the true face of "internet-famous White Rabbit milk tea," but also once again aroused people's attention to counterfeit and shoddy products. This article will take you through the ins and outs of the incident and discuss how to distinguish genuine products from knockoffs and protect your own rights and interests. [more…]

Indonesian Mandheling, with its rich body and unique herbal notes, has become an entry-level choice for many coffee lovers. Beyond pour-over, it is equally suited to espresso machines and moka pots, where it delivers thick crema and solid flavor. This article will break down Front Street Coffee's Mandheling espresso extraction parameters and operating steps in detail, and also outline the characteristics of different varieties within the Mandheling family, such as Lintong, Golden, Tiger, and Aged. At the same time, we will trace the story behind the name Golden Mandheling and learn how PWN used strict screening and trademark registration to make this name synonymous with specialty Mandheling. [more…]

In coffee shops, we often hear the word "Arabica," but what exactly does it represent? The world's commercial coffee is mainly divided into three major categories: Arabica, Robusta, and Liberica, and Mandheling actually also belongs to the Arabica category. From the perspective of Front Street Coffee, this article systematically sorts out the origin of Arabica, the characteristics of major varieties such as Typica, Bourbon, Catimor, and heirloom varieties, and provides an in-depth analysis of Golden Mandheling's varietal classification, place of origin, and wet-hulling process, helping coffee enthusiasts clarify the relationship between Mandheling and Arabica, while also answering the question of whether Golden Mandheling can really be considered a good coffee. [more…]

Walk into any specialty coffee shop, and you'll almost always hear the word "Arabica." What exactly does it refer to? And what specific varieties fall under it? This article begins with the distinction between the world's three major commercial coffees—Arabica, Robusta, and Liberica—and then focuses on the origins, plant characteristics, and flavor profiles of the main members of the Arabica family, including Typica, Bourbon, Catimor, and Ethiopian heirloom varieties. At the same time, drawing on products sold by Front Street Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee) such as Blue Mountain, Brazil, Golden Mandheling, and Yirgacheffe, it explains the processing methods and cup profiles associated with different varieties, helping coffee lovers understand the true meaning behind variety labels when making purchases. [more…]

星巴克近日与微信联手推出全新「星巴克微信状态」功能，成为首个入驻微信状态的品牌。消费者通过扫描门店留言本二维码或使用啡快下单，即可生成专属微信状态，实现线上咖啡轻社交。事实上，星巴克近年来持续布局线上社交零售，从啡快、专星送到微信小程序，不断拓展咖啡社交新场景。与此同时，星巴克2021财年第三季度财报显示，中国市场同店销售增长19%，门店总数已达5135家。本文将全面解析星巴克微信状态的玩法及其背后的社交新零售战略。 [more…]

Recently, the owner of a popular café in Huzhou was innocently caught up in an online rumor about "an HIV carrier infecting a hundred people," triggering panic across the city. A swift police investigation led to the administrative detention of Shen, the person who fabricated the rumor. This incident serves as another warning: cyberspace is not a lawless realm, and spreading rumors will inevitably bring legal consequences. At the same time, looking back at several rumors surrounding coffee and cafés in recent years—from "Starbucks causes cancer" to the "Jinan café powder-throwing" incident—all remind coffee lovers to stay rational, not believe rumors, and not spread them. As advocates of coffee culture, Front Street Coffee also calls on everyone to jointly maintain a clean online environment, so that every cup of coffee returns to pure enjoyment. [more…]

Welcome to the Front Street Coffee website. Front Street Coffee — freshly roasted, great coffee. You can order freshly roasted authentic Jamaican Blue Mountain, Panama Hacienda La Esmeralda Geisha, Indonesian Golden Mandheling, and other coffee beans online through the Tmall Front Street Flagship Store! https://qianjieshi [more…]

On August 29, Luckin Coffee's co-branded campaign with the cartoon IP Little Liu Duck officially launched, but it sparked consumer dissatisfaction because participation was limited to online channels only. Many fans rushed to stores early in the morning only to find nothing, and later discovered that the campaign was actually run by Luckin Instant Coffee, which belongs to a different system from the offline stores. The co-branded merchandise was available only as gifts, not for sale, including limited-edition items such as thermos cups, stickers, and desk mats, and had already attracted widespread attention during the teaser phase. However, the mismatch between online and offline information left many consumers disappointed and also triggered discussions about brand co-branding strategies and the essence of coffee. [more…]

A Guangdong chain beverage brand has reluctantly ended its five-year paperclip loyalty program after discovering that people were using custom paperclips of the same design bought online to redeem drinks in stores. What was meant as a physical giveaway to reward loyal customers was exploited through a loophole in the rules, leaving the merchant exclaiming, "We really didn't see that coming." Why did this loyalty program come to an end? And how have consumers reacted? This article will walk you through the whole story and explore the pros and cons of physical-giveaway loyalty programs as well as ways to improve them. [more…]

Recently, a piece of news about the owner of an internet-famous café in Huzhou having AIDS and infecting over a hundred people spread rapidly on social media, causing panic among local residents. Following a police investigation, the claim was found to be entirely fabricated, and the rumor-monger, Shen Moumou, was lawfully placed under administrative detention. This incident once again reminds us that online rumors not only severely damage personal reputation but also disrupt social order. Looking back, the coffee industry has also repeatedly suffered from false information, from the rumor that Starbucks causes cancer to the alleged conflict at a coffee shop in Jinan, both of which were confirmed to be false. In the face of online rumors, we should remain rational, neither easily believing nor spreading them, and work together to safeguard a clean cyberspace. [more…]

Italian century-old coffee brand Lavazza recently made a wholly-owned acquisition offer to French online coffee retailer MaxiCoffee, aiming to strengthen its market position in France and in the e-commerce sector. As France's number one online sales platform for coffee beans and equipment, MaxiCoffee carries more than 350 brands, over 8,000 products and 60 offline sales points. This acquisition is a continuation of Lavazza's international expansion strategy, after the group had previously brought brands such as Carte Noire and Kicking Horse Coffee into its fold. After the acquisition is completed, MaxiCoffee will remain independently operated, with its capital jointly held by the founder, private equity groups and others. This article will sort out the details of the transaction, the backgrounds of both parties and Lavazza's global acquisition map, and also look at its development goals in the Chinese market. [more…]

Online shopping is becoming increasingly popular, but the problem of counterfeit goods has followed close behind. Recently, Thai police busted a cross-border counterfeit-selling case, seizing over ten thousand fake Starbucks coffee cups and insulated tumblers, with the amount involved reaching as high as 5 million Thai baht. The gang purchased the fake goods from China and then sold them to various places through well-known online shopping platforms. This article will walk you through the details of the case and the relevant legal consequences, and remind consumers to be on guard against counterfeit products. At the same time, Front Street Coffee also reminds you to follow coffee knowledge exchanges and get more professional information. [more…]