On the eve of Halloween, Luckin Coffee launched a limited-edition new product in collaboration with Pingu—the Pumpkin Oat Latte—which attracted many consumers to place orders and try it right away. However, the drink's appearance and taste sparked widespread discussion on social media. Some found the pumpkin aroma rich, while others complained that it was more like a sweet, thick pumpkin porridge, even joking that pairing it with a roujiamo would make a complete breakfast. This article will sort through the formula features of this new product, consumer feedback, and the controversy surrounding holiday limited-edition products, to help you understand why this cup of pumpkin latte makes people both love and hate it. [more…]

Luckin Coffee launched a limited-edition Pumpkin Oat Latte during Halloween, and thanks to the festive atmosphere it quickly sparked a social media check-in craze. However, when a large number of consumers imitated the online photos for their own recreations, things frequently went wrong, with the pumpkin daifuku creating all sorts of clumsy scenes atop the whipped cream. This discussion, triggered by the gap between customer photos and official photos, not only reveals the extra charges behind drink styling, but also reflects consumers' misunderstandings of store operating standards. Front Street Coffee has noticed that similar phenomena are not uncommon in holiday marketing in the coffee industry. This article will analyze the issue from three levels: product design, customer DIY, and store execution. [more…]

With Halloween approaching, Starbucks has launched its first-ever "Pumpkin Cheesecake Flavored Latte" and Frappuccino as two limited-edition drinks in China, sparking heated discussion among fans. Devoted fans of the classic overseas Pumpkin Spice Latte had been full of anticipation, but many were bluntly disappointed after trying the new drinks—they lacked both pumpkin flavor and cheesecake taste, and were even said to have lost their "soul" due to the absence of cinnamon powder. Still, some argue that the brand may have made adjustments to cater to local tastes. This article will walk you through the real reactions to this new holiday release and how it differs from previous overseas limited-edition drinks. [more…]

This Halloween, Starbucks launched two limited-edition drinks at its mainland China stores. One was the Dark Pumpkin Frappuccino imported from Japan, and the other was the Red Magic Cocoa Black Tea Latte designed for cooler weather. This tea latte, which can only be made hot, was supposed to attract customers with its good looks, but many people found after receiving their delivery that the whipped cream topping had disappeared completely, while others got a version with the wrong syrup added, leaving the final product worlds apart from the promotional image. Netizens complained one after another that the drink looked like "witch's brew," and some even questioned whether the product design was unreasonable. As coffee enthusiasts, Front Street Coffee has also noticed this phenomenon, and this article will provide a complete rundown of how the incident unfolded and the responses from all sides. [more…]

As Halloween approaches, major beverage brands are rolling out festive limited-edition products. 1dian1 recently launched a Halloween drink called "Trick-or-Treat Pumpkin Milk Green," which the company describes as blending Beibei pumpkin puree with salted egg yolk paste made from Mayong duck eggs from Meizhou, Guangdong. However, after a photo of the drink being made on-site circulated online, the winding, coiled shape of the pumpkin puree sparked a strong visual impact and heated discussion among netizens. Some consumers who tried it early also reported that the salted egg yolk flavor was too overpowering, while the pumpkin taste was not prominent, making the mouthfeel resemble lotus seed paste and egg yolk mooncakes. Is this a creative breakthrough or a flavor flop? This article will give you a comprehensive look at the real reviews and the story behind this new Halloween product. [more…]

For friends who are lactose intolerant, an oat milk latte is an excellent alternative for enjoying a milk coffee. But many people who make lattes at home with oat milk often find the taste somewhat bitter and not as smooth as the milk version. In fact, oat milk and dairy milk differ noticeably in composition and characteristics, so simply applying the traditional latte method often yields poor results. Drawing on Front Street's practical experience, this article provides a detailed analysis of the differences between oat milk and dairy milk lattes, and focuses on three key areas—choosing oat milk, adjusting the ratio of coffee to plant milk, and milk frothing techniques—to help you make a full-aroma, smooth-textured oat milk latte at home. [more…]

In recent years, many customers who come to the shop ask whether we have oat milk lattes, or ask for advice on how to steam fine milk foam with oat milk. Although the milk coffee produced by Front Street Coffee has always used whole milk, in order to respond to everyone's curiosity, today we'll talk about the unique characteristics of oat milk lattes, as well as the techniques to note when steaming milk foam and doing latte art with oat milk. This article will start with the composition of oat milk, compare it with fresh milk in terms of flavor and texture, and explain in detail the key points for operating oat milk during steaming and latte art, to help coffee lovers better master the methods for making plant-based milk coffee. [more…]

As Halloween approaches, Starbucks has finally unveiled its limited-edition drink for the Chinese market this year—the "Dark Pumpkin Frappuccino" will land in stores nationwide on October 22. The entire drink is pitch black, jokingly dubbed by netizens as the literal embodiment of "dark cuisine." Where exactly does the black color of this drink come from? Does it taste as "dark" as it looks? Will your mouth turn black after drinking it? This article combines employee hands-on tests and consumer feedback from social platforms to answer these questions one by one. In addition, the article also mentions the "Concrete Frappuccino" previously launched in Hong Kong and Macau stores, as well as the overly sweet controversy surrounding the same product in the Japanese market last year, and includes relevant recommendations from the Front Street brand for coffee enthusiasts' reference. [more…]

In recent years, oat milk coffee has gradually entered the public eye, becoming a new choice for many coffee lovers. Oat milk comes from oats, a traditional Nordic ingredient, and is characterized by high plant protein, high dietary fiber, and low fat. It is also lactose-free, making it quite friendly to people who are lactose intolerant, vegetarian, or allergic to milk protein. So, compared with traditional milk coffee, which one actually tastes better? This article will start from the origins of oat milk and the groups it suits, combine the practical testing experience of Front Street Coffee, discuss the differences between different brands of oat milk paired with espresso beans, and offer bean selection advice for making a rich and silky oat milk latte. [more…]

Using plant-based milk to make lattes has become a favorite among many coffee lovers in recent years. Oat milk contains no lactose and takes on a unique flavor when combined with coffee, but many people who try to recreate it at home run into problems like bitterness, a greasy mouthfeel, or failed latte art. In fact, with just a few adjustments to bean selection, the plant milk ratio, and the way you steam the milk foam, you can make a plant-based latte that is both delicious and beautiful. Drawing on Front Street's practical experience, this article analyzes the causes of the three major pain points—bitterness, greasiness, and latte art—one by one, and offers specific bean recommendations and operational tips to help you easily reproduce a coffee-shop-quality oat milk latte at home. [more…]

As Halloween approaches at the end of October each year, major coffee brands rush to launch their limited-edition festive specials. This year, Starbucks, Peet's Coffee, Costa, and other brands have all rolled out new offerings. The visual designs are certainly eye-catching, but the flavors have left many consumers crying "dark." From dragon fruit cloud-topped lids to bamboo charcoal black sauce Frappuccinos, from sesame almond tofu to Pirate's Treasure Lattes—how do these Halloween special drinks actually perform? Netizens' reviews are mixed: some are sold on the aesthetics, while others are put off by the taste. This article will review the highlights and sore points of these festive new releases to see which one is truly worth a try. [more…]

During the Christmas season, major brands roll out limited-edition drinks, and McDonald's gingerbread oat latte has successfully broken through with its cute gingerbread man drawn in cocoa powder on the cup's surface, attracting many consumers to place orders and check in right away. However, not long after the new product launched, a group of netizens calling themselves the "first batch of victims" emerged on social platforms, posting photos of what they actually received—some gingerbread men turned into Voldemort after just one sip, some bore no resemblance to the official poster, and some cups were so clean that not even a trace of the gingerbread man could be found. This huge contrast between the "buyer's show" and the "seller's show" sparked heated discussion, and the comment section became a veritable roast session. It is worth noting that this Christmas limited-edition drink featuring the gingerbread man is currently only available at McDonald's stores in Hong Kong and Macau, and mainland consumers can only watch from behind their screens for now. [more…]

M Stand once went viral online with an oat cookie latte that you can eat together with the cup. Now the brand has innovated further on this basis, launching a limited-edition Combo paired with a medium-roast Ethiopian blend bean, achieving two drinks from one bean. The black-and-white edible cups respectively hold a hot americano and a hot latte. The cup bodies are made from oat fiber grain, with the white cup being original flavor and the black cup cocoa flavor. However, this new product, which must be enjoyed on-site and cannot be delivered, has sparked polarized reviews on social platforms—beyond the coffee's taste drawing attention, the texture of the oat cup itself has become a hot topic of discussion. Many netizens complain that it is dry and hard like paper, difficult to swallow, and some even had their mouths cut. [more…]

Recently, taking advantage of the release of Paddington in Peru, Cotti Coffee launched a Paddington-themed collaboration set and simultaneously introduced a new sea salt caramel latte series. However, after the campaign kicked off, consumers in many places reported serious shortages of store-related materials, with cup sleeves, collaboration bags, and custom cups frequently out of stock, and even awkward scenes of SpongeBob cups being used as substitutes. At the same time, reviews of the two new drinks were mixed: the Sea Salt Caramel Silky Latte was criticized for being too sweet, while the Sea Salt Caramel Oat Latte was described as too bland. This article will restore the true picture of this collaboration campaign from multiple perspectives, including product taste, the experience of obtaining collaboration merchandise, and Cotti Coffee's internal material supply issues. [more…]

For consumers who are lactose intolerant yet can't live without caffeine, oat lattes have become a preferred alternative to traditional lattes. As the oat milk market expands rapidly, brands such as OATLY and OATSIDE have gradually entered the public eye. Recently, however, some netizens noticed that when searching for OATSIDE on social platforms, the page would be flooded with a large number of posts praising OATLY while bashing OATSIDE, with posting times concentrated, accounts mostly newly registered, and copy formats strikingly similar, sparking fans' suspicions that a competitor had hired paid internet trolls. Is this controversy a case of malicious smearing, or is there another story behind it? And what do malicious attacks mean for brands and consumers? [more…]

Walking into Starbucks but hesitating over the menu? This article rounds up the five most popular drinks among customers right now, including the Oat Latte, Iced Americano, Cold Brew, plus the caffeine-free Matcha Frappuccino and Iced Shaken Berry Hibiscus Tea, explaining each one's features and who it's best suited for. It also includes the 2023 price list for Starbucks' four major series—Handcrafted Espresso, Frappuccino, Teavana, and Cold Brew—covering full pricing from Tall to Grande and Venti, so you can quickly decide based on your budget and taste. Whether you're lactose intolerant, cutting sugar to lose weight, or simply want to try something different, you'll find your next cup here. [more…]

Luckin Coffee's co-branding campaign with the Lunar New Year film "Creation of the Gods II" has officially launched, with the simultaneous release of a pistachio latte and movie-themed merchandise. However, the first batch of consumers who tried the new product gave polarized reviews of its taste, with many reporting a noticeable greasiness and the inability to substitute oat milk with regular milk. Even more surprising to merchandise collectors was that the co-branded limited-edition cup sleeves were urgently recalled by headquarters due to a printing error, and themed cup sleeves would no longer be offered during the campaign. Meanwhile, misprinted cup sleeves have appeared for sale at high prices on second-hand platforms, sparking considerable skepticism. This article will sort through the sequence of events and the reactions from all sides. [more…]

Plant-based milk coffee has become increasingly popular in recent years. Alternatives to milk such as oat milk and almond milk are now commonplace in coffee shops, yet soy milk, a national staple drink, is rarely used to make milk coffee. Soy milk is also a plant-based milk, so why do coffee shops hardly ever offer soy lattes? Is it a flavor mismatch, or is there another reason? This article will use practical testing to make lattes with soy milk instead of milk, analyzing the ratio, mouthfeel, operational details, and other aspects, and sharing Front Street Coffee's testing process and conclusions, to help coffee lovers understand the feasibility and specific method of soy milk coffee. [more…]

At the Shanghai Road Life Festival, Starbucks launched three limited-time regional-flavor drinks. Among them, the "Qin-Jin Fire Crystal Persimmon Frappuccino" went viral after its name was misread as "Mars Persimmon," and it also sparked doubts among netizens about whether persimmons and milk can be consumed together. This article sorts through the new product launch information and netizen feedback, and invites experts to explain the dietary taboos of pairing persimmons with milk, revealing that the milk ingredient used by Starbucks is actually oat milk, while also retaining Front Street brand recommendations to help you enjoy the autumn flavors with peace of mind. [more…]

OATLY recently conducted a precautionary recall of 12 batches of Oat Drink Deluxe 330ml oat milk in the Chinese market. The recall was triggered by its U.S. manufacturing partner Lyons Magnus initiating a large-scale recall of 53 beverages due to failure to meet commercial sterility standards, involving multiple OATLY product lines. Although testing found no microbial contamination in the Chinese products and they were not on the U.S. recall list, OATLY still proactively recalled them out of safety concerns, sparking widespread discussion among consumers about food safety. This article will review the sequence of events, the official response, and the nutritional controversy surrounding oat milk, while retaining relevant recommendations from Front Street Coffee. [more…]