The newly launched Pink Drink series from Starbucks sparked heated discussion as soon as its Chinese names were announced, with names such as "Pink Pink Raw Caffeine" and "Pink Berry Lemon Raw Caffeine" surprising many consumers. These drinks clearly contain no coffee, yet the word "raw caffeine" appears in their names. The reason behind this is that the ingredients include raw coffee bean extract, with each cup containing about 45-55 mg of caffeine. So what exactly makes raw coffee beans special? And how do they differ from black coffee in terms of weight loss effects? This article will take you through a closer look, while also learning about Front Street Coffee's professional insights on specialty coffee beans. [more…]

Front Street Coffee presents Colombia's La Esperanza Estate sun-dried Pink Bourbon, which has drawn attention for its rich winey aroma and tropical fruit notes. This article first introduces this bean's origin, processing method, and flavor characteristics, then explains in detail how to extract it by pour-over and Japanese iced pour-over, and provides reference parameters and operating steps to help coffee lovers brew a cup of richly layered Pink Bourbon at home. [more…]

Starbucks has recently officially launched the Pink Drink in the mainland China market, along with three new items: Pink Berry Lemonade Refresher, Dragon Drink, and Mango Dragonfruit Lemonade Refresher, priced between 34 and 40 yuan. To tie in with its summer beverage promotion, Starbucks baristas have put on limited-edition rose-red aprons, a bold and eye-catching choice that netizens have jokingly dubbed the "dopamine apron." At the same time, the brand has changed the mermaid logo on its takeaway cold cups to the silver-white version used in North America, making the look more in keeping with the pink tones of the Pink Drink. This article will explain the ranking significance behind the pink apron and answer the consumer question of whether the Pink Drink contains caffeine, while also retaining relevant recommendations from Front Street Coffee. [more…]

Cold brew coffee usually requires 8 to 12 hours of low-temperature slow extraction, but what if you want to drink it the same day? Raising the water temperature can speed up extraction, but if you use hot water directly, it becomes hot brew, and the floral and fruity aromas and low bitterness unique to cold brew will also disappear. Front Street compared three methods through experiments: conventional 23°C cold water extraction for 10 hours, 40°C warm water extraction for 4 hours, and 92°C hot water blooming followed by room-temperature water extraction for 4 hours. The beans used were Colombia · Hanami, with full berry acidity, floral notes, and pink pepper flavors. The results showed that the 40°C warm water rapid cold brew was closest to the performance of conventional cold brew, with both a fermented feel and clearly presented flavors, making it suitable for friends who want to drink cold brew quickly. [more…]

Choosing coffee beans suitable for cold brew is something you gradually learn to judge through tasting experience. When buying beans day to day, you need to consider how quickly you'll drink them, how much to buy at once, and whether you mainly make black coffee or milk-based coffee at home. The flavor notes on the packaging can offer clues, but they can't replace the actual drinking experience—whether the acidity is mellow, whether the sweetness lingers, and the mouthfeel [more…]

As summer 2023 approaches, Starbucks China has rolled out a dense lineup of new products, spanning iced shaken espressos, fruity sparkling cold brews, and the raw coffee series that contains no coffee yet does contain caffeine. This article provides a complete rundown of these new items' prices, sizes, and flavor characteristics, while also compiling the menus and pricing from medium to large for classic series such as handcrafted espresso, Frappuccino, Teavana, and cold brew, making it easy for coffee lovers to look things up quickly. For readers who prefer brewing at home, they can also refer to Front Street Coffee's bean recommendations to recreate similar flavors themselves. [more…]

On Monday, Luckin Coffee's collaboration with the meme sensation Loopy arrived as scheduled, simultaneously launching a pink new product, the Big Watermelon Coconut Cold Brew, along with themed merchandise. Fans were enthusiastic, but some consumers were told they needed to wait 18 minutes when picking up their orders in-store, because the cold brew liquid had to be brewed fresh on demand. What sparked even more discussion was that the first wave of tasters reported the drink had strong watermelon and coconut flavors, while the coffee taste was almost absent—some even described it as tasting like watermelon rind or juice from a nearly spoiled watermelon. How did this collaborative new product actually perform? Has the issue of cold brew coffee's lack of presence once again become a point of criticism? This article takes you through a closer look. [more…]

On a sweltering summer day, a glass of icy, smooth cold brew coffee is a perfect way to beat the heat. If you also love the pure taste that low-temperature extraction brings, why not follow this article and try a few different cold brew methods. The article first introduces the basic principles of cold brew coffee and the materials needed, then explains the complete process step by step, from steeping and filtering to tasting, and especially shares two variations: cold pour-over and coconut water cold brew. Throughout, single-origin beans from Front Street Coffee are used for demonstration, including sun-dried Sidamo, Butterfly, and a blend of Colombia Pink Bourbon and Costa Rica Mozart. Whether you are a beginner just getting into cold brew or a seasoned enthusiast looking to explore more flavors, you will find a recipe and technique that suits you. [more…]

Starbucks' Pink Drink caused quite a stir on its first day of release in China, with many consumers reporting that its taste differs noticeably from versions in other regions—some even complaining it tastes like medicine. Meanwhile, another new release in the same series, the Pink Berry Lemonade Refresher with "raw coffee," also came under scrutiny for its taste. What's even more confusing is that the words "raw coffee" in the product name led many people to assume the drink would have a coffee flavor, when in fact no coffee taste can be detected at all. This article compiles real feedback from netizens and takes a deep dive into what "raw coffee" actually refers to, and why you can't taste any coffee in this drink. [more…]

Cold brew and ice drip have very clear requirements for beans: strong flavor, ample sweetness, and high cleanliness. The passion fruit and blueberry flavors of Front Street Coffee Colombia Sidra slowly emerge in ice drip, with a juicy quality as rich as fruit tea; the sweet aroma of strawberry candy makes a cold brew in which the strawberry gummy character stands out even more at low temperatures. Choose the right beans, and the flavor concentration of cold brew and ice drip [more…]

The gentleness of cold brew lies in the low temperature: acidity is blunted, bitterness is weakened, and the bean's sweetness takes center stage. Cold-brewing Front Street Strawberry Candy, the sweet aroma of strawberry gummy candy soaks in the cold brew pitcher for over a dozen hours, yielding a pink fruit coffee with built-in sweetness; after cold brewing, the passion fruit notes of Sidra become much gentler in acidity, so even those who dislike acidity can enjoy it. [more…]

When it comes to fruity and floral coffees suited for pour-over, you have to start with how they actually taste in the cup. For everyday bean buying, you need to consider how fast you'll drink them, how much to buy at a time, and whether you mainly make black coffee or milk coffee at home. The roast level of coffee beans determines the basic taste, the origin and processing method bring aroma differences, and the equipment you use will change the strength, so when choosing beans you need to [more…]

Bourbon coffee is an ancient and excellent Arabica variety that shares equal fame with Typica. It first underwent a genetic mutation and got its name on Réunion Island (formerly known as Bourbon Island). Its fruit is rounder and shorter than Typica's, and it is also more resistant to leaf rust. In addition to the most common Red Bourbon, there are also Yellow Bourbon, Orange Bourbon, and the rare Pink Bourbon, with flavors varying richly depending on origin, terroir, and processing method. This article will begin with Bourbon's historical origins and tree characteristics, sort out the differences among Bourbons of different colors, and introduce three representative Front Street Bourbon coffees: Brazil Cerrado Red Bourbon, Brazil Queen's Farm Yellow Bourbon, and Rwanda Red Bourbon, helping coffee lovers build a complete understanding of the Bourbon family while also offering practical brewing suggestions. [more…]

In Hambela, within Ethiopia's Guji region, the Buku Abel processing station has produced a sun-dried bean that has captivated coffee lovers worldwide—Floral Queen. From its 2017 TOH championship win to today's Floral Queen 5.0, this bean, with its rich aromas of strawberry, cream, and berries, has become an excellent choice for summer iced coffee. This article reviews Floral Queen's rise to fame, analyzes the flavor evolution and roasting key points of Floral Queen 5.0, and shares four brewing methods commonly used by Front Street Coffee: hot pour-over, iced pour-over, cold drip, and cold brew. Whether you want to experience a gentle sunset-like softness or pursue a juicy, full-bodied cup, you'll find suitable brewing parameters and practical suggestions here. [more…]

In the world of specialty coffee, floral notes are a delightful flavor highlight. They break the stereotype that coffee is only bitter and not aromatic, delivering a fresh and elegant drinking experience. Common floral notes in coffee mainly include white-flower types such as jasmine, coffee blossom, and magnolia; pink sweet aromas like rose and tea rose; and slightly pungent, muted fragrances such as osmanthus and chamomile. These floral notes are not accidental—they are closely tied to a coffee's origin, variety, processing method, and roast level. Understanding these patterns allows you to more precisely select beans with floral notes. This article starts with floral note types, their causes, and the influence of roasting, and recommends several representative floral beans from Front Street Coffee to help you easily find the cup you love. [more…]

As you all know, in order to allow the flavor and aroma of coffee beans to be effectively released, they must undergo high-temperature roasting, and the roasting level suitable for a given coffee should be chosen based on the characteristics of the green beans. Sometimes even completely identical beans can produce entirely different coffee flavors due to differences in the depth of roasting. Worth noting [more…]

Brazil is the country with the largest coffee cultivation scale and production volume in the world, supplying nearly 45% of the world's green coffee beans. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the industrial landscape of this major South American coffee country, from the distribution of coffee-producing regions in Brazil, its legendary cultivation history, and the characteristics of its main varieties to its flavor and taste profile. The article also introduces the Brazilian Cerrado Red Bourbon and Queen's Estate Yellow Bourbon selected by Front Street Coffee, along with detailed pour-over parameters and brewing flavor descriptions, making it suitable for enthusiasts who want to gain a deeper understanding of Brazilian coffee. [more…]

As temperatures rise, iced coffee becomes a favorite for many, and cold brew, with its advantages of simple operation and suitability for home brewing, has become a popular choice for summer. However, does cold brew coffee have any special requirements for coffee beans? Which single-origin beans can produce good flavor? This article starts with the cold brew method of Front Street Coffee, explaining in detail the key steps such as coffee-to-water ratio, grind size, and steeping time, and recommends coffee beans suitable for cold brew by flavor type—from the refreshing juicy feel of washed light roasts, to the intensely fruity and wine-like anaerobic natural and honey-processed beans, and then to the balanced and rich nutty profile—to help you find the cold brew solution that best suits your taste. [more…]

Cold brew coffee has become increasingly popular among coffee enthusiasts in recent years thanks to its rich, full-bodied character, low bitterness, and smooth mouthfeel. But many people still have questions about how to store it, how long it keeps, and what to do when there's no refrigerator available. This article will systematically answer how long cold brew coffee lasts, how to extend its flavor lifespan, and introduce practical methods for making cold brew without a refrigerator. At the same time, drawing on the flavor profiles of several beans—Front Street Coffee Yirgacheffe Red Cherry, Costa Rica Mozart, Colombia Pink Bourbon, and Panama Butterfly—it offers bean selection advice and detailed brewing parameters suited to cold brew, helping you easily make a cup of cold brew iced coffee with high distinctiveness and excellent sweetness. [more…]

There are many kinds of iced coffee, including the iced Americano and iced latte that sell well in many coffee shops, as well as iced pour-over, cold brew, cold drip... Regarding cold drip coffee, aside from the fact that it is often compared for being "more expensive," its long production time and unique taste and mouthfeel also add a lot of mystery to this coffee. [more…]