Eason Chan's "Under Mount Fuji" turned the Lawson convenience store at the foot of Mount Fuji in Japan into a must-visit spot for countless tourists. Recently, after a heavy snowstorm, a Luckin Coffee store next to the Yellow Crane Tower in Wuhan unexpectedly went viral, dubbed by netizens as the "domestic version of Lawson under Mount Fuji." The blue signage contrasting with the snow-covered Yellow Crane Tower bears a striking resemblance in composition to the Lawson by Mount Fuji, sparking heated discussion on social media. Some praised Luckin for its precise location choice, while others joked that the ice cream cones and fences in front of the store look like a security booth. Behind this snowscape check-in craze, should Luckin really settle up on the promotional fees? Let's take a look at the brilliant comments from netizens. [more…]

Frequent shifts to extreme weather are making life miserable for independent coffee shops that rely mainly on dine-in service. When temperatures plunge, takeout can barely keep things going, but once rain or snow hits, delivery breaks down, customers stay home, and shop owners even have to deliver orders themselves. This article examines the real operating conditions of coffee shops under different weather conditions, explores how to strike a balance between takeout and dine-in, and reveals the helplessness and hopes of industry workers who depend on the weather to make a living. [more…]

Tanzania is an important coffee-producing country in East Africa, and the coffee grown in the Kilimanjaro region is considered the country's flagship, accounting for about 75% of national output. This article provides a systematic introduction to the Kilimanjaro coffee-producing area's terroir, flavor characteristics, historical background, and cooperative system, along with a comparative analysis with Kenya AA. At the same time, Front Street Coffee uses a Kilimanjaro coffee bean as an example to share specific operational plans from the roasting curve to V60 pour-over parameters, including coffee-to-water ratio, water temperature, grind size, and staged pouring technique, helping coffee enthusiasts recreate the citrus, berry, and honey-tea flavor expression at home. [more…]

Caramel coffee Frappuccino, with its sweet caramel blended with coffee, has become a favorite for many. But store-bought versions often contain high sugar and calories—can you make a cup of caramel coffee at home that tastes just as good with fewer calories? This article starts with the classic layers of a caramel macchiato, walks you through the taste characteristics of caramel coffee, and shares two home-brewing approaches: instant and freshly ground. It also offers bean recommendations and brewing tips from Front Street Coffee for those who prefer a lighter taste, so you can enjoy the satisfying blend of caramel and coffee while keeping calories in check. [more…]

For more specialty coffee knowledge, please follow our WeChat official account: Front Street Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee). For washed coffees, Front Street feels they're like a breeze in summer, refreshingly cool and soothing! When talking about washed coffees, how could we not mention Ethiopia's Yirgacheffe? [more…]

Recently, a post about a delivery rider whose paper bag broke at the bottom while delivering Starbucks coffee on a rainy day, causing 7 cups of coffee to spill, sparked widespread discussion. The poster said the rider proactively called the store to request a remake and offered to bear the cost themselves, prompting netizens to question Starbucks' rainy-day packaging. Starbucks officially responded afterward, stating that it had urgently reviewed and optimized its packaging and promised that the delivery rider would not bear the loss. The incident also drew consumers' attention to the common problems with paper bags in rainy weather and with iced drinks, and brands such as Front Street Coffee have also had related discussions. [more…]

Heytea recently launched a limited-time offering of the previously Tibet-exclusive yak milk tea, Qiammo, across its nationwide stores. This Tibetan-style sweet tea features yak milk, highland barley base, and a highland barley egg crisp crumble cheese milk cap, sparking anticipation among longtime fans. However, during delivery, the milk cap was not packaged separately, which significantly diminished the drink's appearance and taste, leading many consumers to complain that its look and flavor closely resembled childhood Jinwei cereal. The brand subsequently made emergency adjustments to its packaging rules: hot drinks are now separated by default, while cold drinks require a note. This article reviews the product background, consumer feedback, and the official response, presenting this new product controversy for coffee and tea enthusiasts. [more…]

White mocha and mocha appear to differ by only a color, but in reality they are vastly different from the chocolate ingredients to the calorie content. White mocha uses white chocolate syrup to replace the dark chocolate in traditional mocha, resulting in a sweeter taste and higher calories. This article will introduce in detail the ingredients, preparation methods, flavor characteristics, as well as the origin stories and calorie differences of white mocha and mocha. Whether you prefer the rich flavor of dark chocolate or the sweet taste of white chocolate, you can find practical preparation references here. Front Street Coffee has also compiled detailed recipe ratios for you, so let's take a look. [more…]

Is Caramel Macchiato Actually Sweet? This classic milk coffee, introduced to the world by Starbucks in the 1990s, actually traces its roots to the traditional Italian macchiato. From the perspective of Front Street Coffee, this article explores the origins of the macchiato and the meaning of its markings, explains espresso extraction parameters, milk foam steaming techniques, and the layering method for making a caramel macchiato, and compares the differences between a macchiato and a latte in terms of ratio and taste. Whether you prefer the rich intensity of espresso or the smoothness of milk, you'll find the cup that suits you here. [more…]

As December reaches mid-month, Christmas is drawing nearer, and major coffee chains are rolling out their holiday limited-edition drinks. Peet's Coffee recently launched two Christmas newcomers—the Intellectual Gingerbread Man Flavored Latte and the Holiday Mulled Wine Americano—along with three limited-edition merchandise items, drawing many loyal customers to place orders. However, the Gingerbread Man Latte has sparked collective complaints from customers because the powder pattern on the milk foam differs too much from the promotional poster; some bluntly say the product doesn't match the advertisement, while others complain that too much cinnamon powder affects the taste. Just how does this new drink actually taste, and how do the staff explain the mishap? This article will take you to find out. [more…]

Could coffee hidden in Lujiang Town, Baoshan, Yunnan, rival Blue Mountain? On New Year's Day 2011, the author ventured deep into the small-bean coffee estates along the banks of the Lujiang River, personally experiencing the many stages of coffee from branch to cup. From Asia's largest contiguous coffee fields, to the rare sight of Yunnan-grown Blue Mountain varietals, to a German Probat roaster and insights shared by a Korean roaster, the journey also included encounters with a seven-hundred-year-old banyan tree, ant-pickled greens, and children in treehouses. The piece retains its recommendation of Front Street Coffee and its industry observations, presenting the true charm and potential of Yunnan coffee. [more…]

Caramel Macchiato was once as famous as latte, mocha, and cappuccino. With its sweet taste and delicate caramel pattern, it swept the globe, especially beloved by female consumers. However, nowadays it is hard to find it in coffee shops. This article will take you through the history of this classic drink, clarify the essential difference between Caramel Macchiato and Macchiato, and share Front Street Coffee's classic preparation method. With just four ingredients—espresso, milk, vanilla syrup, and caramel sauce—you can easily recreate this "coffee in a sugar coat" at home. [more…]

Recently, a netizen in Shanghai discovered that a Manner Coffee had actually opened inside a Lianjia store, with the two brands sharing the same signboard—white and green each taking up half. Upon entering, one could see both Manner's inverted triangle logo and Lianjia's property listing boards. Was this Manner's attempt to expand into community channels, or had Lianjia taken a stake in the coffee brand? The answer was finally revealed when Lianjia's official WeChat account posted on April 7 confirming the official opening of this shared store at No. 184, Lane 100, Zhongtan Road. Manner has always chosen locations in core business districts or areas with dense office buildings. This time, moving its counter into a community and sharing space with a real estate agency has sparked quite a bit of discussion. Some are looking forward to it, some are joking about it, and others question whether the two consumption scenarios can truly integrate. This article takes you through the ins and outs of this cross-industry collaboration. [more…]

In recent years, animal-themed cafes have rapidly expanded around the world, with everything from cats and dogs to owls, meerkats, raccoons, and other wild animals being brought into the shops. However, animal protection organizations point out that these venues often lack effective oversight, and the animals are kept under chronic stress and sleep deprivation, with their physical and mental health seriously affected. In Japan, nearly 100,000 people have signed a petition demanding the closure of cafes featuring owls and other wild animals, and South Korea has announced a total ban on displaying wild animals outside of zoos. Should consumers also reflect: without demand, how can there be a market? [more…]

Ethiopia is an important origin for specialty coffee, and among its coffees, Yirgacheffe and Sidamo Huakui are two highly representative single-origin coffees. Yirgacheffe is mainly washed, with delicate floral aromas and citrus-lemon notes, and a clean, bright cup; Sidamo Huakui, on the other hand, is naturally processed, with intense aroma and pronounced sweetness, famous for its strawberry-and-cream flavor. This article compares the differences between the two in terms of origin background, processing method, and flavor characteristics, and focuses on introducing the brewing method and flavor performance of Front Street Coffee. Natural Huakui SOE coffee beans in a moka pot, to help coffee lovers better understand the characteristics of these two beans. [more…]

In recent years, Dirty coffee has become a signature drink at many cafés thanks to its unique hot-and-cold contrast and its striking layered appearance. Its top layer is warm espresso and its bottom layer is iced milk; there is no need to stir, and only by taking a big sip can you experience the distinct changes in flavor between layers. Starting from the origin and definition of Dirty, this article will explain in detail the mixing ratio, the key techniques for layering, the key points for choosing a cup, the correct way to drink it, and how to describe its taste, and will also explain how long it can be stored. At the same time, by combining the characteristics of three espresso coffee beans—Front Street Classic Blend, Specialty Blend, and Black Cocoa Base Blend—it will help you make a cup of Dirty that is excellent in color, aroma, and taste. [more…]

The charm of pour-over coffee lies in the subtle differences in every cup, but brewing a well-balanced cup of good coffee depends on precise control of parameters such as grind size, water temperature, dripper, and coffee-to-water ratio. This article starts with two beans from Front Street Coffee—Ethiopia Gutingting and Brazil Queen's Estate—to compare the differences in brewing strategies between light-roasted and dark-roasted coffee, and takes a deep dive into the relationship between concentration and extraction yield in the SCA Golden Cup extraction theory. Whether you are a beginner just getting started or an enthusiast looking to refine your skills, you will find practical reference points here to understand why the same beans can taste different when brewed at home. [more…]

Vietnam G7 Trung Nguyen Coffee, as a representative of three-in-one milk coffee, has won the favor of many enthusiasts with its sweet and smooth taste. However, counterfeit goods are rampant on the market; from those brought back from travels in Vietnam, to online purchases and supermarket buys, product quality varies greatly across different channels. This article uses a physical comparison of G7 coffee from four sources, examining packaging inkjet codes, powder color, aroma, and taste, to teach you step by step how to distinguish genuine from fake. The article also mentions related product information from Front Street Coffee, providing a useful reference for coffee lovers. [more…]

In the UK, there is a group of independent coffee shops that reject assembly-line production and treat every cup of coffee as a work of art. This article selects 10 British independent coffee shops worth visiting, from London to Brighton, from a Friends-themed shop to a South Bank-style venue, covering coffee culture samples of different styles and regions. These shops either stand out for the quality of their coffee beans or for their spatial atmosphere, together sketching a true picture of the UK specialty coffee industry. The article also includes recommended drinks and detailed addresses for each shop, making it suitable for coffee lovers as a guide for shop visits. Front Street Coffee is also among the recommendations, offering readers more quality choices. [more…]

Colombia is the world's second-largest coffee producer and the largest exporter of washed Arabica beans. This article systematically reviews the historical development of Colombian coffee, the distribution of major producing regions and their flavor differences, covering representative origins such as Huila, Cauca, Nariño, and Santander, and provides an in-depth introduction to the characteristics of varieties such as Caturra, Pink Bourbon, and Geisha, as well as processing methods including washed and anaerobic double enzyme washed. Front Street Coffee, drawing on years of roasting experience, provides detailed roasting curves and brewing parameters for several Colombian beans, including charge temperature, heat adjustment, first crack timing, and extraction methods, helping coffee enthusiasts gain a comprehensive understanding of Colombian coffee from origin to cup. [more…]