Over the past weekend, a large outdoor coffee market in Fuzhou attracted hundreds of brands, but temperatures of over 30 degrees Celsius, even approaching 40 degrees, turned what was meant to be a relaxing coffee gathering into something far less pleasant. Although the organizers adjusted the event hours to the evening and took some cooling measures, the temperature difference between the inner and outer areas was stark. Vendors in the outer area felt as if they were trapped in a steamer, while visitors complained repeatedly about unclear signage and insufficient lighting. When holding outdoor events in extreme weather, there is clearly still considerable room for improvement in heatstroke prevention plans and on-site management. [more…]

For coffee lovers, daily caffeine intake is almost a necessity. However, traditional instant coffee requires hot water to brew, which is inconvenient for outdoor workers and sports enthusiasts. The Swiss brand No Normal Coffee, based in Zurich, has launched a coffee paste shaped like a paint tube. By squeezing it, you get soluble espresso concentrate that can be brewed with hot water, spread directly on food, or even squeezed into the mouth to eat. This product debuted at the ISPO trade show in Munich and won an award. Priced at $18, it has attracted attention in the outdoor community for its practicality and portability, receiving more than 700 orders in its first week. [more…]

The coffee consumption boom continues to heat up, and even outdoor sports brands can no longer resist trying their hand at crossing over. French outdoor brand Decathlon recently opened its first coffee corner inside its Shanghai Wujiaochang store, formally stepping onto the coffee track. During the opening period, customers who bought drinks in-store could take part in a giveaway of limited-edition camping cups, drawing a large number of consumers to visit and check in. However, the huge turnout also exposed a lack of operational experience, with frequent problems such as the online mini-program crashing, stores being overwhelmed with orders, and one-hour queues. In addition to regular coffee, the Decathlon coffee corner has also launched sports-themed special drinks that match the brand's tone, with prices following an affordable approach. Whether this kind of crossover play can be sustained is worth watching. [more…]

Hario has departed from its minimalist Japanese style and teamed up with the cartoon IP Sad Frog PEPE to launch a camping-themed product series. The collaboration includes two sets, among which the Outdoor Enjoyment Set features a PEPE limited-edition color No. 01 resin dripper and a limited-edition outdoor filter paper pack. The dripper adds green elements to a transparent resin base, making it especially eye-catching under light and drawing attention from pour-over enthusiasts. The official presale campaign uses "Filter Out Sadness" as its topic, and the packaging is presented in comic form. Users have already posted their purchases, with mixed reviews—some say it looks great, while others question its lack of practicality. This collaboration once again confirms that the coffee sector is becoming a popular choice for brand crossovers. [more…]

A viral photo spot at Meili Snow Mountain in Yunnan, known as "a scallion plucked from dry land," has recently been exposed as being cordoned off by a local café, requiring tourists to make a purchase before they can enter to take photos, sparking discontent among outdoor enthusiasts who reported it. After investigation, the local market supervision bureau confirmed that the café has no business license and has ordered it to suspend operations for rectification. This free viewing platform near the Feilaisi observation deck became famous for offering views of the magnificent scene of golden sunshine on the snow mountain, but has now become embroiled in controversy due to commercial activity. The incident has also raised public concerns about damage to the natural environment and safety hazards. [more…]

In the past, people used to drink coffee during the day and avoid caffeine at night to prevent it from affecting their sleep. However, as the coffee-drinking crowd continues to grow, a night coffee culture of drinking later and later is quietly emerging among young people. On a commercial street in Guangdong, 14 coffee shops of different styles are clustered within less than a hundred meters. After 9 p.m., every seat is taken, and the bustle is no less lively than a food night market. Some stores stay open until the early morning or even operate 24 hours without closing, and revenue from 8 p.m. to the early morning can account for more than 70 percent of the whole day's sales. This "small shop + outdoor" business format satisfies both the essential daytime demand and the nighttime social scenario, and also offers boutique coffee shops a new way to seek growth amid fierce competition. [more…]

As camping becomes increasingly popular among the younger generation, many people bring coffee gear that can be heated directly on a portable gas stove to enhance the atmosphere of outdoor activities. As a result, the moka pot has become one of the must-have coffee tools for many camping enthusiasts. One reason the moka pot is so popular is that it can be [more…]

As camping gains popularity among the younger generation, many people bring coffee gear that can be heated directly on a portable gas stove to enhance the outdoor atmosphere, making the moka pot one of the must-have coffee devices for many camping enthusiasts. One reason the moka pot is so popular is that it can be placed directly on [more…]

Blue Bottle Coffee's third store in mainland China has officially opened in Zhangyuan, Shanghai, continuing its location choice in Jing'an District. The new store is based on the Shikumen architectural style, blending weathered brick walls, original wooden lattice doors and windows, and outdoor alley spaces. In addition to continuing the localized design, the Zhangyuan store also offers a fusion of Chinese and Western "scallion oil waffle," limited-edition blend coffee beans, woven merchandise, and debuts honey sea salt latte and caramel jujube cake. A vintage Oji cold drip coffee maker on the bar counter becomes a highlight. Since Blue Bottle Coffee entered the mainland China market in February this year, its store opening pace has been steady, and the brand expects future expansion in China to be faster than in other international markets it has entered. [more…]

Manual coffee grinders are a go-to piece of gear for many pour-over enthusiasts, serving both everyday home use and, when paired with a French press, AeroPress, or moka pot, forming a portable outdoor kit. Grinders from different brands and models vary noticeably in price and the quality of the ground coffee they produce. From the perspective of Front Street, this article systematically breaks down the core components of a manual grinder—the burr, the adjustment dial, the handle, the bean hopper, and the grounds bin—and explains how to adjust the grind setting according to your brewing method, how to turn the handle correctly, and the key points of cleaning and regular maintenance, helping you use your manual grinder more smoothly and making every cup's extraction more consistent. [more…]

This article begins with the fact that in 2022, the wholesale price of Arabica coffee beans on the New York Intercontinental Exchange fell below $1 per pound, reviews the current price situation in the green coffee bean trade market, and explores in depth the sanitary handling, storage conditions, and purchasing channels for green beans. The article also offers suggestions on practical issues such as green bean washing and temperature and humidity control, while reminding industry practitioners to raise their awareness of coffee bean food safety, helping coffee enthusiasts and industry professionals gain a more comprehensive understanding of the key stages of green beans from import to before roasting. [more…]

The moka pot, with its ability to be heated directly and its low barrier to operation, has become a popular pressure-extraction device for camping and home use. However, to achieve ideal flavor expression, the roast level of the coffee beans, the grind size, and the quality of the pot are all crucial. This article will start from the structural principles of the moka pot, explain why medium-dark to dark roasted beans are more suitable, and provide specific single-origin and blend recommendations from the Front Street brand. It also includes the complete operating steps from pouring water and filling coffee grounds to finishing heating, helping coffee enthusiasts stably extract a full and rounded espresso outdoors or at home. [more…]

The moka pot, with its advantage of being directly heated and having a low barrier to operation, has become a popular pressure-based coffee device for camping and home use. However, during extraction, the water temperature is close to boiling and pressure is involved, which places specific requirements on the roast level and grind size of the coffee beans. This article will start from the structural principles of the moka pot, explain why medium-dark to dark roasted beans are more suitable, and provide specific single-origin and blend recommendations from Front Street Coffee, along with complete usage steps and safety reminders, to help you consistently make a rich, full-bodied espresso even outdoors. [more…]

As the autumn and winter camping season arrives, the moka pot has once again become a popular choice among outdoor coffee enthusiasts. But faced with the two specifications available on the market—single-valve and double-valve—many consumers feel confused. From the perspective of Front Street, this article first explains the basic principle by which a moka pot uses steam pressure to complete extraction, then takes a deeper look at the structural differences between single-valve and double-valve models—the double-valve design restricts the outflow of coffee liquid by adding a pressure valve, thereby raising the internal pressure and delivering higher extraction efficiency and a richer coffee flavor. The article will also explore the relationship between coffee crema and roast level, and recommend Front Street's classic blend coffee to help readers make a wise purchasing decision based on their own needs. [more…]

As the autumn and winter camping season arrives, the moka pot has once again become a popular piece of gear among outdoor coffee enthusiasts. However, faced with the two options of single-valve and dual-valve models on the market, many consumers hesitate, unsure of the differences between them. From the perspective of Front Street Coffee, this article takes a deep dive into the extraction principles of the moka pot, compares the specific differences between single-valve and dual-valve models in terms of pressure, concentration, crema performance, and suitable scenarios, and answers the question of whether espresso blends can be used in a moka pot. At the same time, for home users, it offers practical advice on choosing the right moka pot size. Whether you're after a rich milk coffee or prefer a pure black coffee, this guide will help you make a wiser purchasing decision, so that every penny is well spent. [more…]

Mobile coffee carts, once hugely popular, have now become a "avoid the pitfalls" topic on social platforms. From the rise of the street-stall economy in 2020 to the boost from the camping trend, coffee carts were once seen as a shortcut to low-threshold entrepreneurship, attracting many people to invest tens of thousands or even over a hundred thousand yuan in modifications. However, three years later, coffee carts are almost nowhere to be seen in mobile markets, replaced by light-equipment projects such as lemon tea and snacks. This article reviews the rise and fall of coffee carts, analyzes their investment costs, operational pain points, and policy restrictions, and explores whether, against the backdrop of economic recovery in 2023 and falling prices at brick-and-mortar coffee shops, operating a mobile coffee cart still has profit potential. [more…]

Coffee has long become an indispensable part of modern urban life, and coffee shops tend to cluster around residential street corners or at the base of office buildings. Yet inside subway stations on busy commuting routes, coffee shops are rarely seen. Recently, Starbucks Korea broke with convention by opening a store inside Seoul's busiest subway station, Gangnam Station. This new-concept store centers on fast service and targets high-frequency, high-spending commuters. At the same time, Starbucks has only two subway station stores worldwide, with the other located at Canary Wharf Station in London. This article will walk you through the thinking behind Starbucks' strategic move and the market performance of Starbucks Korea. [more…]

Nowadays Coffee recently announced the simultaneous opening of 120 stores. In addition to strengthening its presence in Guangzhou, the new stores also expanded into lower-tier markets in 10 cities including Nanchang, Jinhua, Huangshan, and Zhanjiang. This budget coffee brand, founded in Shanghai in 2019, is accelerating its penetration into the national market by relying on an asset-light model in which online delivery accounts for more than 75% of sales, as well as approachable pricing of around 15 yuan. As of July this year, its total number of stores ranked third among domestic coffee chains, with more than 1,700 stores nationwide covering over 100 cities. Against the backdrop of a coffee consumption market expected to reach a trillion-yuan scale by 2025, Nowadays Coffee's pace of expansion has drawn industry attention. [more…]

Post Office Coffee, under China Post, is accelerating its expansion. Co-founder and CMO Dong Kexin revealed in a recent interview that the pace of store openings will speed up in the second half of this year, striving to reach the goal of 100 stores. Notably, Post Office Coffee's supply chain uses 100% Yunnan coffee beans. Leveraging the advantages of postal outlets, it is densifying its layout in key cities while also penetrating deeper into lower-tier markets. Since the opening of its first store in Xiamen in February 2022, Post Office Coffee has quickly become a trendy spot with its innovative "coffee + post office" model, boasting six stores in four cities within just half a year. In the fiercely competitive coffee market, can Post Office Coffee stand out with its site selection resources and product operation capabilities? [more…]

Since its invention in 2005, the AeroPress has quickly become a popular device among coffee enthusiasts thanks to its unique extraction method and portability. Invented by Alan Adler, it is simple to operate yet capable of delivering rich flavors. This article will guide you through the AeroPress's origins, its features, detailed usage steps, and a focused analysis of key considerations when making espresso. It also incorporates Front Street Coffee's recommended products and practical tips, offering valuable reference for both beginners and seasoned users. [more…]