After Luckin Coffee's co-branded sauce-flavored latte with Moutai went viral, a number of solid beverage products with highly similar packaging styles quickly emerged on the market. These products not only have similar names, but also almost copy the red background with blue-and-white diagonal bar composition of the original packaging. Some lawyers pointed out that using a similar trademark on the same or similar goods without the permission of the trademark registrant, where it is likely to cause confusion, constitutes infringement of the exclusive right to use a registered trademark. However, some manufacturers claim that the sauce-flavored latte category cannot be registered and that the color scheme is not protected by copyright, which has triggered discussion about the boundary between imitation and infringement. [more…]

Luckin Coffee's co-branded Moutai Latte, launched in partnership with Kweichow Moutai, achieved impressive first-day sales exceeding 100 million yuan. However, the subsequent Year of the Dragon Moutai Chocolate Latte failed to sustain the hype, causing the Moutai series beverages to fall into a sales slump. A large quantity of unopened Moutai Latte thick milk, facing expiration and with no return channel, had to be destroyed by stores themselves, with employees forced to pour box after box of ingredients down the drain. This incident sparked heated discussion online. Some netizens lamented the waste and suggested following supermarkets' example by clearing near-expiry products through discounts; others pointed out that opinions on the Moutai Latte's taste are sharply divided, and that novel products are better suited for short-term sales rather than long-term menu placement. [more…]

Last year, the collaboration between Luckin Coffee and Moutai to create the Sauce-Flavored Latte took the market by storm, becoming a phenomenon-level co-branded product. Recently, rumors have circulated online that the two parties will collaborate once again, with plans to launch a "Year of the Dragon Sauce-Flavored Chocolate." The ingredients of the new product are quite similar to the Sauce-Flavored Latte, sparking discussions among netizens about its taste and motives. Some believe this may be a routine move by the brand to clear raw material inventory using an old recipe. In fact, Luckin has repeatedly launched new products by slightly adjusting the recipes of existing beverages to maintain a high-frequency product launch rhythm. Whether this strategy can sustain the hit-making effect still needs to be tested by the market. [more…]

In the first week of September, Luckin Coffee and Moutai's co-branded sauce-flavored latte set a new record with 5.42 million cups sold on the first day and over 100 million yuan in sales, dominating trending topics on platforms like Weibo and Douyin for consecutive days. Along with the product's explosive popularity, there were also incidents such as customers smashing stores, infringement disputes, and revelations about the ingredients. The supplier confirmed that the thick milk contains Moutai liquor, and the bottles are recycled. Moutai officially emphasized that unauthorized addition of Moutai to coffee for sale constitutes infringement. The chairman of Moutai revealed plans to launch youth-oriented products like liquor-filled chocolates. Luckin distributed red envelopes to thank its employees. This collaboration became a unique memory of young people's first taste of Moutai and has people looking forward to Luckin's next cross-industry partnership. [more…]

The afterglow of Luckin Coffee's collaboration with Moutai had hardly faded when Cotti Coffee fired back with a bold response: a rice-milk latte series that blends Wuchang rice from Northeast China with coffee, playing the "wellness" card with copy that takes direct aim at Luckin's sauce-flavored latte. This collaboration not only poked fun at its competitor but also positioned itself squarely against the liquor-coffee trend. Netizens kept spinning memes, from cilantro coffee to stinky tofu lattes, with ever more bizarre flavors emerging, yet Cotti seized the initiative through reverse thinking. The trend of coffee drinks becoming more like milk tea—or even congee—is growing ever more obvious, and the battle for attention among brands has reached a fever pitch. This article will walk you through the ins and outs of this commercial war and explore where the coffee world's next breakout hit might be headed. [more…]

Recently, sauce-flavored lattes and Moutai coffee have flooded social media, but the wild concoctions from netizens in Guangdong are even more jaw-dropping—they've dripped the household staple "Shuangfeiren" medicinal oil into iced Americano to create a "Shuangfeiren Iced Americano." This trend has also spawned "everyday collabs" like Jiujiang Shuangzheng Latte, Pineapple Beer Americano, and Yubingshao Coffee. This article takes you through the origins of these outrageous pairings, while reminding you: mixing coffee with alcohol requires caution, as the combined stimulant and excitatory effects may impact the nervous system, and those with heart, gastrointestinal, or liver issues should especially avoid it. Joking around is one thing, but your health comes first. [more…]

As the Spring Festival approaches, major coffee chains are rolling out promotional new products to capture holiday traffic. After launching the Year of the Dragon sauce-flavored chocolate in a second collaboration with Moutai, Luckin Coffee quickly followed up with the Han Meilin co-branded New Year Red Dragon Latte and a matching dessert, Persimmon Daifuku. However, this dessert, which had been highly anticipated, drew complaints from consumers who said the group-buy advertising seriously mismatched the actual product, sparking heated discussion about false advertising and where responsibility lies. Some netizens argued that Luckin cannot escape blame for lax review, while others pointed out that the root cause is some group-buy bloggers using footage of other products to earn commissions. Behind the incident, the review mechanisms of brand marketing and the issue of consumer trust are worth pondering. [more…]

On November 6th, Luckin Coffee launched an exclusive red cup for its sauce-flavored latte and invited Luo Xiang, a well-known law professor from Bilibili, to serve as its spokesperson, quickly sparking heated discussions online. Using classic cases like "outlaw Zhang San," Luo Xiang addressed consumers' concerns about driving safety after drinking coffee containing alcohol. This marks Luckin's first collaboration with an "internet celebrity" scholar, following previous spokespeople such as Tang Wei, Xiao Zhan, and Eileen Gu. However, after the endorsement news emerged, netizen reactions were polarized—some praised the keen insight, while others expressed dissatisfaction. This article will review the sequence of events, Luo Xiang's background, and reactions from all sides, and explore the considerations and challenges behind Luckin's marketing move. [more…]

Coffee consumption is becoming increasingly popular in China. In addition to the common Italian-style categories, many brands have launched creative coffees with unique flavors, such as Luckin's sauce-flavored latte, which once sparked widespread discussion. In fact, long ago, the Irish combined their local distilled spirit, whiskey, with coffee to create the world-famous Irish coffee. This article will guide you through the principles, recipe, and preparation steps behind this classic creative specialty drink, and share how changing the coffee beans can deliver a completely different taste experience. It also recommends related products from Front Street Coffee for enthusiasts' reference. [more…]

Luckin Coffee launched the Triumphant Wheat series in July, marketed with a "coffee + beer" selling point, in collaboration with the animation IP Havoc in Heaven, with a theme designed to echo the French Olympics. The series includes Americano and Latte, featuring real non-alcoholic beer. Unlike the sauce-flavored latte, where you can only smell the alcohol, this time you can actually taste the beer flavor. However, many consumers have reported that the beer Americano, due to insufficient caffeine combined with the effect of alcohol, actually makes people sleepier the more they drink it, leading to jokes about "sleeping through meetings" and "getting drunk at the office early in the morning." This article takes you through the production details of this new product, the market reaction, and why it is not suitable for office workers who need to stay alert, but may become a new choice for nighttime relaxation. [more…]

Recently, Luckin Coffee has once again become a hot topic on social media due to the abnormal appearance of a dark chocolate drink. Some consumers reported that the dark chocolate they ordered for delivery arrived looking like cement gray, and the taste was also disappointing. Netizens have been speculating about the reasons, ranging from insufficient ingredient proportions to operational mistakes by new staff, and even the suspected mistaken use of cappuccino Frappuccino powder. Meanwhile, within less than half a year, Luckin Coffee has once again partnered with Moutai to launch a Year of the Dragon sauce-flavored chocolate latte, sending the topic's popularity soaring. With quality control controversies and co-branded marketing running in parallel, Luckin Coffee's brand management capabilities are facing a test. [more…]

KFC's KCOFFEE continues to deepen its presence in the coffee sector and is about to launch a limited-edition drink in collaboration with the Chinese time-honored brand Wanglaoji — a Wanglaoji-flavored sparkling Americano. On one side is a Western-style fast-food coffee brand accelerating its expansion, and on the other is a representative of Cantonese herbal tea with nearly two hundred years of history. This collision of "Chinese and American herbal tea" has sparked considerable discussion. Yet before the new product even hit the shelves, netizens had already easily replicated it with Wanglaoji plus sparkling water. Can the consumer-friendly price of 9.9 yuan win over customers? What attempts has Wanglaoji made in recent years to appeal to young people? And can KFC replicate the success of Luckin and Moutai through this collaboration? This article will focus on this cross-industry cooperation, sorting through both sides' brand backgrounds, market situations, and collaboration highlights, for the reference of coffee enthusiasts. [more…]

Cotti Coffee, which once quickly opened up the market with a low price of 9.9 yuan, has recently quietly adjusted its pricing strategy and canceled multiple promotional activities. This shift has not only attracted consumer attention but also left franchisees complaining bitterly. While rapidly expanding its stores, Cotti faces multiple challenges such as declining sales, insufficient supply chain, and intensifying internal competition. This article will provide an in-depth analysis of Cotti Coffee's price increase decision and its impact on franchisees, and explore its future development prospects. At the same time, we will also pay attention to the performance of brands such as Front Street Coffee in industry competition. [more…]

The competition between Luckin and Cotti has once again become a hot topic on Weibo, staying on the trending list for over nine hours with over 16.59 million views. The two brands have been going head-to-head from store locations to product pricing, with 9.9 yuan and 8.8 yuan coupons becoming the focus of consumers' attention. However, industry observers point out that the two are not evenly matched, and Cotti seems to be chasing Luckin's pace. Behind this business war, consumers' pursuit of value for money is the core, and whether the price war can continue and what impact a truce would bring are issues worth watching. [more…]

Recently, a customer picking up an order at a Luckin Coffee store was stunned by the dozen or so bottles of concentrated fruit juice lined up on the counter, as if they had stumbled into a chemistry lab. These colorful ingredients are the mainstay of Luckin's new products over the past two months, and they have also left baristas complaining endlessly—shaking endless shaker cups and weighing endless ingredients, making them joke that they feel more like milk tea shop staff. In an August new product plan leaked in advance by employees, a light milk tea called "Gentle Jasmine" once again sparked heated discussion, with some joking that it is the "Luckin version of Boya Juexian." Interestingly, Luckin actually launched a sub-brand called "Little Deer Tea" in its early years. Is it now going to return to the milk tea track? This article will take you to find out. [more…]

Recently, news has circulated on social media that Luckin Coffee's 9.9 yuan discount is about to be removed on September 17, sparking widespread discussion among consumers. Since the celebration of ten thousand stores, 9.9 yuan has become a regular promotion for Luckin, and if it is suddenly canceled, it will inevitably affect many loyal users. At the same time, Cotti Coffee once countered with 9.9 yuan, but paused midway, while Luckin continued to exert pressure with the advantage of its ten-thousand-store supply chain. Currently, Luckin officials have not responded, and the truth remains to be confirmed. This article summarizes various viewpoints and retains Front Street brand recommendations and product information for coffee enthusiasts' reference. [more…]

In 2023, Luckin Coffee achieved a historic breakthrough in sales through its co-branded collaboration with Moutai and its sustained low-price strategy, officially surpassing Starbucks China to become the largest coffee chain brand in China. However, with the scaling back of its 9.9 yuan promotional campaign and a slowdown in store expansion, Luckin's future growth faces new challenges. This article reviews Luckin's path to a comeback, analyzes the key factors behind its success, and explores the profit pressures and market strategy adjustments it currently faces. [more…]

At the start of the new year, Starbucks announced a collaboration with Shanghai Animation Film Studio's classic animation "Havoc in Heaven," launching peach-flavored coffee drinks inspired by the "Peach Banquet." This news evoked childhood memories for many netizens, but some consumers were not impressed with the collaboration—because based on the available information, the campaign seemed to offer only limited-edition drinks, lacking themed packaging and merchandise. Compared to other brands that frequently release collaborative cup sleeves, tote bags, and other items, Starbucks' sincerity in this collaboration has been questioned, with some netizens pointing out that the limited-edition drinks are actually a hidden menu item that can be enjoyed in advance through customization services. Whether this collaboration can meet the expectations of "Havoc in Heaven" fans remains to be seen. [more…]

The Front Street official account has insisted on daily updates for many years, accumulating a massive amount of educational content covering every area of coffee. From the origins of coffee beans to the birth of a finished cup of coffee, from basic terminology to advanced brewing techniques, the articles have touched on virtually every question a coffee lover might encounter. This article reorganizes that content along a learning path, dividing it into sections such as must-reads for beginners, tasting methods, brewing techniques, advanced improvement, and Front Street's random musings on industry topics, making it easy for readers to quickly locate the knowledge they need based on their own stage, and also convenient for systematically filling in gaps. Whether you are a novice just getting into coffee or an advanced player hoping to hone your skills, you can find corresponding content here. [more…]

Walk into a coffee shop and order a latte—does what's served up always contain coffee? Why is there often no trace of coffee in matcha lattes or red velvet lattes? To answer these questions, we need to start with the Italian word "Latte" itself. Latte originally meant hot milk, while caffè latte is the classic blend of espresso and milk. As caffè latte swept the globe, "latte" gradually became shorthand for milk coffee by default, and so a batch of coffee-free drinks also came to use the name. This article will trace the evolution of latte from Italy to the United States, explain the two practical reasons behind the naming of coffee-free lattes, and remind everyone to take a closer look at the menu categories before ordering, so as to avoid getting something you didn't want. [more…]