There is another new case of a domestic food and beverage brand crossing into coffee. Hefu Lao Mian has officially announced its coffee brand "Pick ME no Coffee & Hot Food" and has intensively applied for related trademarks, from "Hefu Yibei Coffee" to "CAFE PICK ME Coffee Convenience Store," making frequent moves. The brand is positioned to provide young people and office workers with good-tasting, affordable coffee, paired with quality hot food, in an attempt to create a new coffee consumption scenario. At the same time, brands such as Xtep and Nayuki Tea have also recently entered the coffee track, making cross-industry competition increasingly fierce. This article sorts out the details of Hefu Lao Mian's coffee layout and includes boutique bean information channels such as Front Street Coffee for coffee lovers' reference. [more…]

This morning, delivery orders for Starbucks and Luckin Coffee experienced widespread disruptions, with many consumers waiting in vain for riders to pick up their orders after placing them on Ele.me and the brands' official channels. It is understood that the problem stemmed from an anomaly in the rider information service database of SF Intra-city, the delivery partner for both brands, which prevented orders from being dispatched and recipient information from being displayed. Store employees were forced to act as customer service representatives, calling customers one by one to apologize and suggesting they pick up their orders in person, while multiple store locations on the Ele.me platform temporarily showed as "closed." As of press time, none of the three parties involved had issued a formal response, and online stores had gradually resumed accepting orders. [more…]

Coffee is no longer just a drink that wakes up a tired body in the morning; it is gradually evolving into a common social language among young people. From the "coffee in the morning, alcohol at night" lifestyle, to a casual "Wanna grab a coffee?" in the office that kicks off some downtime, to the warmth of neighbors exchanging coffee supplies during the pandemic, the functions coffee carries have long gone beyond simply staying awake. Starbucks has been in China for over two decades, spurring cafes to spring up everywhere. Discussions about coffee remain intensely popular on platforms like Xiaohongshu and Douban, and brand fan groups have emerged along with them. Cafe locations have also expanded from commercial districts and office buildings to residential neighborhoods, making their community character increasingly distinct. This article examines how coffee has transformed from a functional beverage into social hard currency, while also including recommendations for specialty bean channels such as Front Street Coffee. [more…]

Coffee, as a daily pick-me-up beverage, owes its effects mainly to caffeine. But which coffee is actually better at keeping you alert? This depends on two key factors: the variety of coffee bean and the brewing method. Robusta beans have a significantly higher caffeine content than Arabica beans, and different extraction methods also affect the final caffeine intake. Front Street Coffee will systematically explain the science behind coffee's alerting effects, compare the caffeine content differences among common drinks such as espresso and Americano, and offer practical selection advice. Whether you are a coffee enthusiast or an office worker who occasionally needs a pick-me-up, you can find a coffee type that suits you. [more…]

The coffee bar may look calm and elegant, but in reality it hides countless unexpected mishaps. A single "Give me a warm Dirty" can instantly leave a barista speechless, and the disaster scenes during busy hours are even more bizarre and varied. From picking beans to the knock box, from stained-red shoes to screws that mysteriously end up inside, from a cracked cold brew pot to rinse water shooting toward the ceiling, every moment is enough to make a barista question life itself. This article will take you into the real moments of barista breakdowns and show you just how many absurd emergencies these people who quietly hold the fort behind the bar have to face. When something goes wrong, don’t panic—take a photo first. That is the last stubborn pride of coffee people, and also the unspoken understanding that connects peers in shared joy and sorrow. [more…]

A new round of subsidy battles on delivery platforms has once again ignited the tea beverage market, with Meituan handing out large numbers of tea drink vouchers, while Ele.me and Taobao Flash Sale fight back with hefty discounts. However, after claiming the vouchers, many consumers found that Goodme stores in Shenzhen, Xi'an, Chengdu, Nanning, and other places showed as "resting/closed" or out of stock on third-party platforms, making it impossible to redeem normally. Interestingly, the same stores were still open on the official mini-program, and products included in the promotion, such as lemonade, could still be ordered. The contradiction between stores actually being overwhelmed with orders and appearing "closed" online has led many to speculate that this is a measure taken by the brand to ease order pressure. Consumers have expressed dissatisfaction over the chaotic promotion, orders being automatically canceled, and no stock upon arrival at stores. Front Street Coffee continues to follow industry developments and brings in-depth observations. [more…]

Americano is an indispensable pick-me-up for many office workers, and some also use it as a means to aid fat loss. But even among Americanos, some taste sweet and smooth, while others are burnt and bitter—where exactly does the difference lie? This article starts with the origins of Americano, analyzes how coffee bean quality and espresso extraction affect flavor, and uses a blend featuring Yirgacheffe as an example to illustrate a café's approach to crafting the drink. It also provides calorie data for Americano and objectively assesses the actual role it can play in fat loss, helping coffee lovers view this everyday beverage more rationally. [more…]

Walk into any coffee shop, and the first item usually listed on the menu is the Americano. It is both the daily pick-me-up for many people and a favorite among health-conscious crowds. In this article, Front Street Coffee will guide you through the definition of the Americano, its historical origins, and the differences between it and the Long Black, along with a detailed explanation of the ratio of espresso to water. We will also share Front Street Coffee's experience of using aged ice when making iced Americanos, and how to determine the right coffee-to-water ratio, giving you a comprehensive understanding of this drink that seems simple but actually has plenty of nuance. [more…]

Halloween has just passed, and the Christmas season has arrived right on its heels. Christmas topics are trending on social media, and a Christmas tree latte art craze has swept through the coffee community. Because the design is simple to learn and visually striking, many netizens have been flocking to Manner stores to ask baristas for custom versions. However, not every barista is skilled at this design, so some have quietly picked up thermometers and practiced hard in their spare time. This article will walk you through the origins and development of this Christmas latte art trend, and the efforts baristas make to fulfill their customers' wishes. [more…]

In 2023, a highly impactful marketing approach emerged in the coffee industry—selling coffee inside herbal tea shops. In Guangdong, dampness and internal heat are everyday anxieties that elders constantly bring up, yet young people's demand for coffee has never diminished because of this. Thus, the combination of setting up a bar and selling coffee inside herbal tea shops came into being, soothing the elders' concerns while satisfying coffee lovers' need for a pick-me-up. This article will analyze why this cross-industry combination precisely addresses the core pain points of Guangdong coffee drinkers, explore the trend of blending coffee shop styles with traditional Chinese medicine shops and herbal tea shops, analyze the potential risks of "incorporating medicine into coffee," and answer the question of whether drinking coffee really causes internal heat and heavy dampness. [more…]

The collaboration between Goodme and Honkai: Star Rail was supposed to be a fan frenzy, but it turned into a reputational crisis due to severe merchandise shortages. On the first day of the event, the official mini-program queue exceeded 1.2 million people, stores in many locations sold out within 3 hours, and high-priced complete merchandise sets appeared on second-hand platforms. Although the brand claimed to have prepared "the largest inventory in history," compared with the previous Love and Deepspace collaboration, whose stock was only one-third of this amount, it clearly underestimated players' purchasing power. What dissatisfied fans even more was that many stores explicitly stated they would not restock, causing the collaboration to end early. This imbalance between traffic and reputation sounded a warning for co-branded marketing in the coffee and tea beverage industry. [more…]

Can coffee and alcohol be paired? The answer is yes, and the most iconic example is the Espresso Martini. This cocktail was created in 1980s London by bartender Dick Bradsell, blending espresso with vodka, coffee liqueur, and syrup to deliver both a pick-me-up and a gentle buzz. Since espresso makes up as much as one-third of the drink, its quality directly determines the balance and flavor of the final product. This article introduces the origins of the Espresso Martini, the challenges of making it, and shares a recipe and extraction plan developed through a collaboration between Front Street Coffee and the neighboring bar, giving you insight into this classic specialty drink that is both simple and refined. [more…]

Americanos appear frequently in Korean dramas, and have long since become more than just a pick-me-up—they are now a common choice in social settings. Made by adding water to espresso, with no milk or sugar and low in calories, they are hugely popular among young people. So how do you make an iced Americano? Can it really help with weight loss? Is an iced Americano the bitterest black coffee? This article will explore the origins of the Americano, how to make it, coffee bean selection, and Front Street Coffee's recommended products, giving you a comprehensive understanding of this seemingly simple yet richly nuanced black coffee. [more…]

Hong Kong-style Yuanyang is a classic beverage that blends coffee and silk-stocking milk tea, beloved throughout Cantonese-speaking regions and even among Chinese communities worldwide. Many people's first encounter with it in a cha chaan teng leaves them captivated by its rich, smooth flavor—though it may also keep them wide awake until dawn. Where exactly did this drink come from? Why is its caffeine content so astonishingly high? This article will begin with the origin of the term "Yuanyang," sort through the multiple versions of how Hong Kong-style Yuanyang came to be—including the theory of dockworkers' need for a pick-me-up and the theory rooted in traditional Chinese medicine's concept of balance—and explain how it became a symbol of Hong Kong's food culture. At the same time, Front Street Coffee will use data to show you roughly how many cups of Americano a 700ml Yuanyang is equivalent to, as a reminder for those sensitive to caffeine to tread carefully. [more…]

Recently, the food delivery competition between JD.com and Meituan has yet to subside, and Ele.me has now joined the fray with a large number of coupons and subsidies. While delivery users enjoy low-priced milk tea, staff at brands like Molly Tea are under unprecedented order pressure. Drinks that originally cost a dozen yuan per cup have seen their prices plummet to five or six yuan after platform subsidies, or even just a few cents, causing order volumes to instantly double or surge, with some stores handling as many as five or six hundred orders per day. Understaffing, material shortages, riders urging them on, and customer complaints have become the daily reality for these coffee and milk tea workers. This article will take you behind the scenes of this delivery subsidy frenzy to see the real working conditions and helplessness of frontline employees. [more…]

Coffee is not only a daily pick-me-up for many people; in recent years, scientific research has continued to reveal its potential health benefits. A latest study points out that moderate coffee consumption may have a positive effect on heart health and may even help extend lifespan. This finding brings good news to coffee lovers, but it also emphasizes the importance of "moderation." This article will guide you through the specific contents of this study, explore the relationship between coffee and heart health and lifespan, and share professional coffee knowledge exchange channels and specialty coffee bean recommendations, including brand information about Front Street Coffee. Whether you are a coffee lover or someone concerned about health, you can gain valuable reference from it. [more…]

Recently, a shocking sudden incident occurred inside a Good-Me milk tea shop in Guangdong. A completely naked man holding a knife suddenly burst into the store, where multiple customers were waiting to pick up their drinks at the time. Facing this critical situation, four employees remained calm in the face of danger and, through patient maneuvering and decisive action, ultimately joined forces with concerned members of the public and police officers to subdue the knife-wielding man, with no one injured throughout the entire process. After the incident video circulated online, it attracted widespread attention, and netizens praised the employees' bravery. On May 26, Good-Me officially issued a commendation notice, awarding the four employees the title of "Advanced Individual in Courageous Action" and giving them monetary rewards. Front Street Coffee continues to follow developments in the coffee and beverage industry, bringing you the latest report. [more…]

Coffee has long been part of the daily rhythm for many urbanites, but most people treat it merely as a pick-me-up. In fact, coffee's uses go far beyond drinking—the grounds left after brewing are equally promising for beauty and skincare and for household life. This article systematically introduces the specific ways to use coffee grounds for facial care, hand cleansing, and hair maintenance, including practical recipes such as exfoliating scrubs, firming masks, odor removal, scalp sprays, and hair masks, each with detailed materials and step-by-step instructions. If you happen to have coffee grounds on hand, why not follow along with this article and try these simple, natural tricks. [more…]

Is there anyone like me whose biggest fear when drinking coffee is "sourness"? You just want a rich, fragrant cup to perk yourself up, but one sip of that fruity acidity sends you running. Don't worry—there are actually plenty of good beans that aren't sour. As long as you pick the right direction, you can drink a mellow, smooth cup every day. To choose beans when you're afraid of sourness, just remember two key words. [more…]

In the fast-paced corporate world, coffee has long been an indispensable pick-me-up for office workers. In offices without a coffee machine, drip bag coffee, with its dual advantages of convenience and freshness, has quickly replaced instant coffee to become the darling of office workers. Faced with a dazzling array of drip bag products on the market, how can you precisely choose according to your personal taste? This article sorts through four flavor types—fruity and refreshing, tropical fruit, rich and nutty, and intensely fermented—one by one, outlining each one's flavor characteristics and representative single-origin products, along with popular recommendations from the Front Street Coffee brand, to help every coffee lover find the cup that best suits their desk. [more…]