New tea beverage brand Guming has recently launched a second-hand equipment trading platform within the DingTalk system, open to all franchisees, providing matchmaking services only and not directly participating in buying or selling. The platform offers valuation and inspection services for sellers, and price comparison and anti-fraud protections for buyers. According to Guming's prospectus, equipment sales account for approximately 4.5% of revenue, while franchisees' initial equipment investment is about 100,000 yuan. As competition in the new tea beverage industry intensifies, a wave of store closures once led to a backlog of unsold second-hand equipment, with recyclers even disposing of it as scrap metal. Whether Guming's move can provide franchisees with a safer and more convenient transfer channel is worth watching. Front Street Coffee has long monitored trends in the coffee and tea beverage industries and will continue to track the platform's actual performance. [more…]

The city-exclusive fridge magnets that HEYTEA launched for new store openings quickly sparked a collecting craze, thanks to designs that incorporate local characteristics and cultural history. Because they could only be obtained at newly opened stores in the corresponding cities, social media platforms saw phenomena such as cross-city proxy purchases, swaps, and even high-priced buyouts. The free merch was resold on second-hand platforms for 40 to 100 yuan, and HEYTEA later responded that it did not endorse high-priced buyouts, and planned to launch a monthly points redemption campaign so that more consumers would have a chance to collect fridge magnets from different cities. [more…]

How to choose an espresso machine when opening a coffee shop? Many people are drawn in by claims that high-end brands hold their value, but the second-hand market hides risks. This article analyzes the arms race phenomenon in coffee machines, examines value-retention cases of brands like La Marzocco, reveals price traps and equipment pitfalls in second-hand transactions, and advises people to act within their means, consider more cost-effective equipment such as those recommended by Front Street Coffee, and keep funds for operations. [more…]

Recently, a second-hand ice machine has stirred up controversy between NetEase and Nestlé. A second-hand ice machine bearing Tencent's logo was discovered in NetEase's break room. NetEase later confirmed that the equipment came from Tencent and accused Nestlé of concealing the source of the second-hand equipment and illegally reselling it, in suspected violation of food safety regulations. NetEase has reported Nestlé and its agency company to the State Administration for Market Regulation. Nestlé responded that the ice machine was not produced or provided by it. The incident continues to escalate and has drawn widespread attention. [more…]

Once upon a time, opening a coffee shop was seen by countless people as the ideal path to escape the 996 work grind and embrace poetry and distant lands. Reality, however, is like an unsweetened espresso—bitter enough to catch you off guard. In recent months, warehouses of second-hand coffee equipment recyclers have been bursting at the seams, and self-deprecating posts about "money-losing cafés" have proliferated on social media. From the vengeful wave of shop openings at the start of the year to the current wave of closures, the coffee industry is undergoing a brutal shakeout. Some are cutting their losses helplessly, others are struggling to hang on, and surprisingly, many entrepreneurs' first pot of gold has come from selling off the coffee machines they once bought at great expense. This article takes you deep into this phenomenon, dissecting the business logic and survival challenges behind coffee entrepreneurship—if you're also preparing to open a shop, perhaps you should first read these real stories. [more…]

Recently, Shuyi Tealicious has faced a backlog of unsold second-hand equipment due to mass store closures, with recyclers even disposing of machines worth tens of thousands of yuan at scrap metal prices. This tea beverage brand, once wildly popular for its "half a cup is all toppings" slogan, has seen its store count shrink by over a thousand compared to its peak after undergoing price reduction strategies and adjustments to franchise thresholds. Meanwhile, the entire new tea beverage sector is facing a reshuffle, with approximately 120,000 stores disappearing in the past year. This article reviews the rise and fall of Shuyi Tealicious, the plight of its franchisees, and the chain reactions of the industry's closure wave, while maintaining Front Street Coffee's ongoing attention to industry dynamics. [more…]

This Monday, Luckin Coffee's collaboration event with the domestic AAA game Black Myth: Wukong officially launched. However, on the first day, issues such as ordering system failures, merchandise selling out instantly, and redemption anomalies pushed it onto Weibo's trending topics. Players stayed up late to wait and got up early to snap up items, only to encounter situations like "sold out," "unable to redeem," and "stores not receiving stock," with complaints flooding social media. Meanwhile, collaboration posters were being resold at high prices on second-hand platforms. Luckin officially responded later that the system had been repaired and issued a restocking notice, with an estimated production cycle of about 15 days. This article reviews the complete process of this collaboration event and consumer feedback. [more…]

Recently, the new-style tea beverage brand Grandpa's Tea, originating from Wuhan, has been reported to have closed or withdrawn stores in multiple locations, including Zibo in Shandong, Suzhou in Jiangsu, and Poyang in Jiangxi, sparking consumer concerns about its business condition. The brand's co-founder had set an expansion target of at least 4,500 stores in 2025, striving for 5,000, but as of October 18, only 2,274 stores were in operation, a clear gap from the goal. Meanwhile, well-known tea brands like Xiamen's Sevenbus and Shenzhen's 813 Bayishan have also fallen into store closure controversies. In response to external doubts, Grandpa's Tea stated that adjustments to individual stores are normal optimization actions by franchisees and that overall operations are sound. This article will sort out the ins and outs of the incident, presenting the brand's response and industry background. [more…]

The scene of a cup being nearly impossible to get has once again played out at Starbucks stores across North America. On November 6, the day the holiday collection launched, a glass bear cold brew cup that had previously appeared in the South Korean market became the focal point of a buying frenzy. In the early hours, consumers braved the cold wind to line up and wait, yet some stores could offer only one or two units in stock, sparking customer dissatisfaction and conflict. Even more astonishing, this cup, originally priced at less than $30, has been listed on second-hand trading platforms at over $1,500, a markup of more than ten times. Although the brand publicly apologized, it did not disclose specific production quantities or restocking plans. [more…]

Heytea's collaboration with table tennis champion Fan Zhendong has sparked a buying frenzy, with limited-edition fridge magnets and luggage tags selling out within minutes of release, prompting many fans to complain that getting one was as hard as snagging concert tickets. Store employees revealed that each branch received very few of the merch items, to the point that even they couldn't get their hands on any. However, some netizens discovered that scalped items had already appeared on second-hand platforms at inflated prices, listed even earlier than the official promotion, raising suspicions that insiders were withholding stock for profit. Whether it's insufficient inventory or artificial scarcity marketing, consumer discontent is spreading, and the brand's collaboration strategy is facing a real test. [more…]

As the year draws to a close, chain brands are accelerating their entry, franchise thresholds keep dropping, and the price war is intensifying. Under the weight of these three pressures, a group of independent coffee shops that have been barely hanging on are hastening toward their end. On social platforms, news of countdowns to closure, store transfers, and coffee machines being sold off cheaply floods the feeds. From shop owners to part-time employees to second-hand equipment dealers, everyone is witnessing this surging wave of closures. Through multiple real cases, this article reconstructs the harsh reality of today's coffee entrepreneurship track. [more…]

Manner partnered with the Museum of Art Pudong to launch a promotion where buying two new drinks earns a "Woman Knight" canvas tote bag. The offer was limited to one day and only 10,000 bags nationwide, triggering a buying frenzy. However, many customers had their orders automatically canceled by the system after successful payment, or were told upon arriving at the store that the gifts were already gone, resulting in a terrible experience. Netizens questioned whether stores had stocked too few bags, whether the system inventory matched reality, and some even suspected the gifts were flowing onto second-hand platforms to be resold at high prices. This is not the first time Manner has been criticized over gift inventory issues, dealing another heavy blow to brand goodwill. Front Street Coffee is following this incident and walks you through how it unfolded. [more…]

Luckin Coffee achieved a strong comeback in the market thanks to its affordable prices and membership tier benefits system, but this has also given rise to tier-farming chaos. Recently, some employees revealed that certain consumers, in order to quickly climb to the Nine-Colored Deer or Black Gold Deer tier, pressure stores by placing large orders and then maliciously requesting refunds or leaving bad reviews. "Nine-Colored Deer tier-boosting" services have even appeared on second-hand platforms. This battle over membership tiers has not only increased the burden on store employees but also sparked discussions about consumer ethics and business rules. [more…]

As domestic coffee consumption continues to heat up, the professionalism of industry information channels is becoming increasingly critical. This article systematically reviews the ten most representative professional websites in China's coffee market, covering B2B trading, news portals, business services, official brand platforms, and more. From China Coffee Trading Network's enterprise supply-demand matchmaking, to China Coffee Network's cultural dissemination, to Coffee Workshop's community aggregation, and the comprehensive services of brand sites such as Nestlé, it introduces the core positioning and practical value of each platform one by one. Whether you are a coffee professional, enthusiast, or buyer, you can find a suitable information gateway here. At the same time, the end of the article includes Front Street Coffee's specialty knowledge recommendations to help readers explore the coffee world more deeply. [more…]

Chagee once launched a free custom cup sticker printing campaign, allowing users to upload images to create milk tea cup stickers. However, many fans used third-party tools to bypass the review process and printed photos of celebrities such as Zhang Linghe as cup stickers, sparking widespread discussion online. Recently, the official function for printing cup stickers was suddenly shut down, with the page displaying "Custom Fu Stickers Are Being Upgraded," catching many fans who had not yet printed their exclusive cup stickers off guard. Lawyers pointed out that unauthorized reproduction of photographic works carries infringement risks, and if used for dissemination, exchange, or sale, it clearly infringes on celebrities' portrait rights and photographers' copyrights. The brand may also bear joint liability for failing to establish an effective review mechanism. This article sorts out the entire incident and analyzes the legal issues and responsibilities of all parties involved. [more…]

As the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, companies are showing off their employee gift boxes, and Luckin Coffee's Mid-Autumn benefits have sparked heated discussions on social media. Unlike previous years, this year Luckin has set clear work-hour thresholds for gift box distribution: full-time employees receive them via unified delivery from headquarters, while part-time and student employees must meet cumulative work-hour requirements for June to August. The gift boxes contain items such as Bluetooth earphones, straw cups, and mooncakes, and their practicality has earned praise from many employees, with some even offering 120 yuan to buy them on second-hand platforms. However, employees at joint-operation stores and part-time workers who did not meet the work-hour threshold were excluded, triggering dissatisfaction among some employees. This article will sort out the gift box distribution rules, employee feedback, and the corporate welfare management issues reflected therein, and include related recommendations from Front Street Coffee. [more…]

On July 14, Nayuki suddenly announced the removal of its virtual stock membership campaign, sparking widespread attention. The campaign allowed users to earn Nayuki coins through purchases and to buy and sell virtual stocks linked to the real share price, even supporting leveraged trading. Within just hours of launch, it was mired in controversy, with netizens questioning its legality. Industry experts pointed out that Nayuki coins are essentially consumption points and have not yet crossed legal red lines, but the model is aggressive and should not be simply imitated. At the same time, Nayuki's frequent food safety issues have also led consumers to question its marketing strategy. This article will sort out the course of the incident, the legal controversy, and the brand's hidden concerns. [more…]

For coffee lovers, besides daily drinking, understanding industry trends, learning brewing techniques, and sourcing quality ingredients are equally important. With all kinds of coffee websites online, which ones are truly worth bookmarking? This article reviews five professional sites with strong reputations in the coffee community, covering different focuses such as B2B trading, industry news, technical exchange, business matchmaking, and official brand channels. Whether you're a professional looking to buy green beans in bulk or an ordinary enthusiast hoping to refine your pour-over skills, this list can help you quickly find the information gateway that suits you. The article also specifically mentions recommendations related to Front Street Coffee for your reference. [more…]

Kenyan coffee is world-renowned for its layered, complex flavors and bright, juicy acidity, and enthusiasts who frequently work with Kenyan beans have likely heard of an institution called the NCE. The NCE, or Nairobi Coffee Exchange, is a coffee trading platform established by the Kenyan government and an indispensable link in the country's coffee supply chain. This article will walk you through how the NCE operates, its historical origins, and the role it plays in Kenya's coffee industry, while also tracing the institutional changes from the colonial period to independence, and how coffee farmers and cooperatives export their coffee to the world through auctions or direct sales. [more…]

Amid the wave of price cuts in new-style tea drinks, a cup of milk tea priced at 50 yuan is no longer common. However, on the opening day of Chayan Yuese's first store in Nanjing, scalpers were reselling cups for as much as 200 yuan, with people lining up as early as 4:30 a.m., and related topics quickly trended on Weibo. Due to excessive crowds and chaotic order, the Xinjiekou store posted a sold-out notice and closed its entrance just five minutes before its official opening, while the Jiangning Jingfeng store continued operating. Police dispatched officers to maintain order and persuade citizens to leave. On some trading platforms, proxy purchasing and queuing services appeared, priced between 10 and 200 yuan. The Nanjing Market Supervision Bureau made it clear that scalping is illegal. People's Daily Online called on consumers to treat internet-famous brands rationally and not be led by merchants and scalpers. [more…]