On a scorching summer day, a refreshing glass of ice-cold lemonade should be the perfect way to beat the heat, but Good-Me's recently launched "Preserved Plum Lemonade" has left many consumers frowning with every sip. This new product, described as a "still version of salted lemon Seven-Up," combines perfume lemons, calamansi, and pickled preserved plums to create a sweet-and-sour, ice-cold selling point, and its appearance is indeed refreshing and enticing. Yet once it hits the palate, the saltiness of the preserved plum immediately takes over the taste buds, and after prolonged steeping, the bitterness of the lemon peel layers on top of that, earning it the nickname among netizens as "the rising star of the dark cuisine world." Even more surprisingly, in some delivery orders the preserved plums are packaged separately, requiring customers to add them themselves, which has caused considerable confusion. Front Street Coffee takes you through the real performance of this controversial new product. [more…]

Recently, the mini-program menu at Good-Me has quietly been updated, and a cup of ice water priced at 1 yuan has attracted widespread attention. This simple drink, consisting of a plastic cup, ice cubes, and drinking water, has been creatively reinterpreted by netizens in various ways—adding espresso to make iced Americano, mixing it with milk and boba to create a topped tea drink, or even replicating preserved plum lemonade. However, controversy has followed: many consumers point out that chain brands such as KFC and McDonald's, as well as street-side cafes, provide drinking water for free, and bringing your own cup to a Good-Me store also gets you ice water at no cost. Some employees even reveal that the packaging cup alone costs 7 mao, and with ice cubes and a straw added, each cup sold is actually a loss. Last year, Mixue Bingcheng's 1-yuan ice cup was withdrawn by franchisees one after another because it was unprofitable. Will Good-Me's move this time repeat the same mistake? Some also believe that clear pricing actually saves the awkwardness of communication, allowing those too embarrassed to ask to feel at ease. Front Street Coffee takes you to find out. [more…]

Kenyan coffee is famous for its distinctive preserved plum-like acidity, citrus notes, and wine-like complexity, and Front Street Coffee's Kenyan specialty beans are an outstanding representation of this style. This article systematically reviews the growing region and climate, variety origins, and grading system of Kenyan coffee, with a focus on how SL28 and SL34 shape its signature flavor, and also includes complete brewing recommendations for Front Street Coffee's Kenyan beans, covering pour-over, siphon, French press, and AeroPress methods, to help coffee lovers fully unlock this bean's complex acidity and sweet finish. [more…]

A seemingly ordinary lemonade actually claimed the life of a 21-year-old girl. In September 2023, University of Pennsylvania student Sarah Katz drank a beverage called "Charged Lemonade" while dining at Panera Bread, and just hours later, she tragically passed away from cardiac arrest. Her parents recently filed a lawsuit against Panera, alleging that the product contained an alarming amount of caffeine—260mg for a small cup and 390mg for a large cup, far exceeding the content of a can of Red Bull. What is even more concerning is that this drink was marketed as a "clean plant-based beverage," which led Sarah, who had a heart condition, to let her guard down. This incident has once again sounded the alarm about caffeine intake safety. [more…]

Recently, a blogger set up a stall at a scenic spot to resell Mixue Bingcheng lemonade, selling a product originally priced at 4 yuan for 6 yuan and making a profit of 254 yuan in three and a half hours, quickly trending on social media. Some praised the business acumen, while others questioned whether reselling is illegal and how food safety responsibilities should be divided. Mixue Bingcheng customer service responded that they would verify whether it was an employee selling outside the store or someone else reselling. Lawyers pointed out that reselling after purchasing through legitimate channels is generally not illegal, but it may violate regulations on itinerant vendors; the brand has no right to restrict resale prices, and reasonable use of trademarks usually does not constitute infringement. Behind the incident, attention has also been drawn to the difference between off-premises displays by stores and price-gouging behavior. Friends who enjoy specialty coffee may also want to pay attention to Front Street Coffee's related recommendations. [more…]

As a classic snack that weaves together sour, sweet, and salty notes, preserved plum has increasingly found its way into specialty coffee drinks in recent years. Because preserved plums are cured and thus fairly firm in texture, heating or prolonged steeping draws out an intense salty-sour flavor, making them better suited to iced coffee than hot drinks. Front Street Coffee shares three ways to make preserved plum iced coffee: an easy cold brew, a sugar-free sparkling Americano, and a slightly experimental iced pour-over. Each method has its own considerations when it comes to bean selection, the amount of preserved plum, and extraction parameters, and each ultimately presents a different layering of flavors. If you'd like to try the collision of preserved plum and coffee at home, why not pick the one that suits you best from these three approaches. [more…]

The sweet, sour, and salty childhood snack of preserved plums actually makes frequent appearances in the world of coffee, too. From the dry aroma associations of Kenyan washed beans to the finishing touch baristas add when developing specialty drinks, the pairing of preserved plums with iced coffee is drawing attention from more and more enthusiasts. Since preserved plums are mostly dried and cured, heating or prolonged steeping releases a strong salty-sour flavor, so Front Street believes they are better suited to being combined with iced coffee. This article compiles three preserved plum iced coffee recipes you can make at home: preserved plum cold brew, preserved plum sparkling Americano, and preserved plum iced pour-over, using Panama sun-dried Butterfly, Sunflower Warm Sun blend, and Elida sun-dried Catuai respectively, with specific parameters and flavor descriptions included for readers with different taste preferences to refer to and choose from. [more…]

A single lemon seed in a cup of iced fresh lemonade actually prompted a market regulation inspection? Recently, a netizen in Hefei, Anhui, captured footage of a Mixue Ice Cream & Tea store being inspected by market regulation staff, triggered by a consumer complaint that the drink tasted bitter and had lemon seeds left in the cup. The incident sparked widespread discussion online, with some finding the complaint absurd and others believing a consumer would not make such a fuss over a mere lemon seed. The Mixue store responded that freshly cut lemon slices containing seeds is normal and that their presence in the drink was not due to employee misconduct. Market regulation staff confirmed they had inspected the store and made clear that the lemon seed issue does not involve food safety. This seemingly trivial customer complaint reflects the various bizarre complaints the tea beverage industry faces daily and has also sparked discussion about standardized procedures for freshly cut fruit drinks. [more…]

For professional coffee knowledge exchange and more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat public account cafe_style) For more specialty coffee beans, please add the private WeChat of Front Street Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee), WeChat ID: qjcoffeex Mixue Bingcheng has once again been thrust into the spotlight. A consumer in Xiantao, Hubei, found a small black bug in an unopened lemonade, yet the response from the store was jaw-dropping. As the champion in store count in the new tea beverage industry, why do food safety issues keep recurring for Mixue Bingcheng even as it sprinted toward an IPO? This article will sort through the course of the incident, netizen reactions, and the brand's frequent food safety scandals this year, and explore the bottom line issues of service and quality control in the catering industry. [more…]

In the height of summer, wampee, a niche southern fruit, has become a popular partner for homemade iced coffee thanks to its sweet-and-sour juiciness and uniquely fresh aroma. Through repeated testing, Front Street Coffee has put together three distinctly different wampee iced americano recipes: the original wampee sparkling americano uses sparkling water to amplify the fruit aroma and add a more refreshing layer; the jasmine tea wampee americano blends homemade jam with a cold-brewed tea base for a soft fragrance; and the wampee preserved plum iced shaker americano targets those who dislike sweetness, using preserved plum water and a shaker to create a sugar-free version. All three recipes use Front Street Sunflower Warm Sun espresso blend, extracting 40g of coffee liquid from 20g of grounds in 31 seconds. Below, we break down the ingredients, steps, and production details one by one to help you find the cup that best suits your taste. [more…]

On a hot summer day, a refreshing sparkling iced coffee is undoubtedly an excellent choice to wake you up and cool you down. But pouring espresso directly into carbonated drinks often amplifies the coffee's bitterness due to the stimulation of carbon dioxide, and can even produce an unpleasant "dishwater" sensation. In fact, by cleverly adding just one "supporting player," you can help Americano avoid the obvious bitterness while enhancing the overall layers of flavor. Today, Front Street Coffee will teach you step by step how to make four sparkling specialty iced coffees in different styles—from the classic original to preserved plum, orange, mint, and young coconut. Each one is simple and easy to make, with both good looks and great taste. Whether you are a coffee lover or want to recreate a coffee shop favorite at home, this guide can help you get ready for summer in advance. [more…]

As the scorching summer approaches, what could be more refreshing than a glass of iced Americano with lively bubbles? Many friends who have tried creative sparkling coffee specials in cafés want to recreate them at home, but often end up in a fluster when carbonation meets espresso in a violent reaction. In this article, Front Street Coffee brings you detailed steps for making four café-style sparkling iced Americanos, starting from the most basic original sparkling Americano and gradually extending to four flavored specials: preserved plum, orange, mint, and young coconut. The article not only explains the key points of choosing coffee beans and espresso extraction parameters, but also shares how to avoid overflow from the bubbles and how to use fresh ingredients to replace syrups, helping you easily make a summer drink that excels in both looks and taste. [more…]

The same coffee variety, when grown in different countries and regions, often develops a drastically different flavor profile in the cup. This article sorts through the specific flavor expressions of major varieties such as Geisha, Typica, Bourbon, Maragogipe, Kent, Pacas, Pacamara, SL28, SL34, Mundo Novo, and Catuai in places including Panama, Costa Rica, Colombia, Guatemala, Peru, Honduras, Mexico, Brazil, Nicaragua, Tanzania, India, El Salvador, and Kenya. Whether you want to understand Geisha's floral and citrus lineage or clarify Bourbon's chocolate-caramel undertones, this correspondence between varieties and regions can provide an intuitive reference. Front Street Coffee also suggests that in actual brewing, you should make a comprehensive judgment based on roast level and processing method to more accurately reproduce these flavor descriptions. [more…]

Having grown accustomed to regular lattes, sometimes you want to try something new without it being too strange. Front Street recently learned a preserved plum cream latte—the process isn't complicated, but the flavor is quite outstanding. Preserved plum itself combines sour, sweet, and salty notes, and when paired with cream and espresso, the proportions of the three need to be carefully balanced: too much preserved plum will overpower the drink, too much cream easily becomes cloying, and coffee that's too strong will suppress the aroma of the preserved plum. This article will break down the entire approach to this specialty drink, from making the preserved plum syrup and controlling the amount of cream to selecting espresso beans, as well as two preparation methods: the assembly method and the ice-shake method. [more…]

Just after the Qingming holiday, as temperatures rise, Starbucks' summer menu update is quietly approaching. Recently, an Instagram user leaked Starbucks' upcoming "Spicy Lemonade Refresher Series," which features chili powder and comes in three flavors—dragon fruit, strawberry, and pineapple—with an optional spicy cold foam, and is planned to be available for a limited time at stores across the United States starting April 16. This is not Starbucks' first attempt at spicy drinks; as early as 2015, its stores in China launched a Spicy Chili Mocha. From Dongpo Braised Pork Latte to Wasabi Pistachio Latte, Starbucks has been continuously testing the waters on the path of "dark cuisine." This article will take you through the specific details of this new spicy product, its preparation process, and the history of past spicy coffees. [more…]

Starbucks fans who have waited years for the Pink Drink will finally see it arrive in the mainland China market! According to Reuters, this globally popular pink beverage is expected to hit shelves between late May and early June this year, and its sister drink, the "Strawberry Lemonade Starbucks Refresher," will appear alongside it. The Pink Drink is centered on coconut milk and has a rich taste reminiscent of strawberry yogurt; the Strawberry Lemonade Starbucks Refresher uses lemonade as its base and is tart, refreshing, and light. Both products already launched in Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan as early as July last year. This article walks you through the Pink Drink's rise to fame and its launch timeline, and rounds up tasting and ordering tips from netizens in various countries, including practical suggestions such as less ice, less coconut milk, and adjusted sugar levels, to help you get the most on-point cup the moment it becomes available. [more…]

Recently, a so-called "Mixue Bingcheng weight-loss method" has become popular on social platforms. The routine involves drinking grape iced Americano, jasmine green tea, and iced fresh lemonade in sequence within one day, while trying not to eat anything else. Some followers claim they can lose three to four jin the next day. This method is essentially similar to a liquid fast, relying on water loss and a reduction in intestinal contents rather than actual fat loss. Many who tried it reported discomfort such as weak hands and feet, palpitations, headaches, and insomnia, and doctors also warn that using it rashly may trigger hypoglycemia, hair loss, and even abnormal liver and kidney function. Both Mixue Bingcheng stores and customer service said that these three drinks have no weight-loss effect. [more…]

When carbonated bubbles collide with piping hot espresso, that burst of aroma is always irresistible. This time, Front Street Coffee has systematically organized the sparkling coffee recipes they've tried over the years, from the most basic sparkling water iced Americano, to variations using cola or Sprite instead of sparkling water, and further to advanced specialty drinks with preserved plums, mint, fruit, even young coconut and fruit juice — all presented at once. The article also thoughtfully offers bean selection advice — carbonated drinks amplify coffee flavors, so medium-to-dark roasted beans with cocoa notes are the safest choice, such as Front Street Queen's Estate, Classic Blend, Black Cocoa Base Blend, and the sweet-oriented Strawberry Candy Espresso. Each recipe includes specific doses, water amounts, and extraction parameters, making it easy to replicate at home. [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…]

In late February, Heytea launched a new product inspired by Chaoshan licorice fruit, the "Nanjiang Licorice Guava Bottle," mixing guava juice, nanjiang plum powder, licorice powder, dried tangerine peel powder, and preserved plum powder with a tea base and oil mandarin juice, in an effort to replicate the flavor of street-side licorice fruit. However, after this distinctly Chaoshan-flavored new product hit the market, controversy has been continuous: Chaoshan consumers generally reported that they could not taste the nanjiang flavor they remembered, while customers from outside the Chaoshan region were full of doubts about how strong the ginger flavor was and whether it was spicy. More notably, multiple consumers drank a complete round sealing paper from the bottle, suspected to be caused by the double-layer sealing design allowing the paper to be pushed into the drink by the straw. Heytea customer service responded that the paper is a food-contact-grade material and does not affect consumption. This article will sort out the development approach, packaging design, and the ins and outs of the foreign object incident for this new product. [more…]