The "Crazy Saturday" that just passed once again saw major chain beverage brands flooded with free redemption orders. Yet after the revelry ended, store counters were piled high with sealed drinks that no one came to collect, with some stores pouring out nearly a hundred cups in a single night. Staff members felt both heartache and helplessness, while onlooking netizens bluntly said, "If you're not going to drink it, don't order it." What problems does this waste phenomenon, fueled by platform subsidies, actually reflect? How should consumers, merchants, and platforms find a balance among themselves? This article takes you through the full picture of the incident, and you're also welcome to follow Front Street Coffee to chat together about the things behind beverage consumption. [more…]

The opening of two Tea Yanyuese stores in Nanjing triggered a queueing frenzy, forcing the closure of subway entrances and exits, drinks sold out in five minutes, scalpers reselling at high prices, and even riot police being called in to maintain order. Faced with questions over hiring people to queue and reselling hype, Tea Yanyuese issued an apology and promised purchase limits; however, two hours later Sina Finance published an investigative article pointing directly at the agency-buying queues as a premeditated false prosperity. Is this uproar down to brand appeal or marketing tricks? With the pandemic not yet subsided, what hidden dangers does gathering in queues bring? This article sorts through the whole incident and explores the queue economy and public order issues behind internet-famous tea brands. [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…]

Nepal's National Tea and Coffee Development Board recently announced an increase in the minimum purchase prices for coffee cherries and parchment beans, with hikes ranging from 5 to 30 rupees per kilogram, aiming to give growers a more reasonable profit margin. Under the new pricing system, Grade A cherries are priced at 100 rupees/kg and Grade B at 90 rupees/kg, which officials say ensures a profit margin of about 20%. As a landlocked country on the southern slopes of the Himalayas, Nepal started commercial coffee cultivation relatively late, but in recent years, with government support, its planted area and production have gradually recovered, and export volume has grown by more than 10% year-on-year. This article will sort out the details of this price adjustment, the history of coffee cultivation and the distribution of producing regions in Nepal, as well as the latest production, sales and export data. [more…]

As the soul ingredient of milk tea, the freshness of tapioca pearls is directly related to consumer health. Recently, a Yidian Dian store at Zhoushan Ruxin Plaza was fined 15,000 yuan by regulatory authorities for using expired tapioca pearls to make and sell Bubble Milk Tea and other drinks. An investigation showed that the store involved not only used ingredients beyond their shelf life, but also failed to establish purchase inspection records as required. This is not the first time Yidian Dian has been involved in a food safety controversy; previously, a Fuzhou store was reported to have had a bug found in its milk tea. As the peak season for summer beverage consumption arrives, food safety issues have once again sounded the alarm. [more…]

Recently, a Peet's Coffee store in Wuhan placed a "Notice for Entry" at its entrance, explicitly requiring customers to make a purchase before they can be seated. This move quickly sparked widespread discussion among netizens. Many consumers expressed support, believing it can effectively curb uncivilized behaviors such as occupying seats for long periods without buying anything, playing cards, putting on makeup, or even livestreaming. Others questioned the notice's actual enforceability. Previously, Starbucks tried a similar policy, but the results were less than ideal. Whether Peet's move can truly improve the store environment and enhance the customer experience has become a focal point of attention in the coffee industry. [more…]

Drinking coffee is not just a treat for the taste buds—the right cup matters just as much. This article systematically breaks down the differences between coffee cups and tea cups, the material characteristics of pottery, porcelain, and bone china, how the interior color of a cup affects the observation of the coffee liquid, and practical advice on choosing cup shapes according to the type of coffee. It also explains in detail the suitable scenarios for three capacity specifications—under 100cc, around 200cc, and over 300cc—and shares cup-warming methods, cleaning taboos, and bone china care guidelines, helping coffee lovers elevate their tasting experience through the details. [more…]

The subsidy war ignited by food delivery platforms has drawn in chain brands like Luckin Coffee and Mixue Bingcheng. A Luckin store in Chengdu was recently overwhelmed by a flood of orders due to a "0-yuan purchase" promotion, with some stores receiving over a thousand drinks to be made within an hour. However, after the promotion ended, staff found a large number of unclaimed drinks while cleaning up the counter, with the ice long melted. Impulse orders driven by consumers' "bargain-hunting" mentality not only caused food waste but also increased the burden on store workers. In response, some suggested switching to in-store freshly made orders, but Luckin employees said this would be fraught with practical difficulties. This article takes you through the full picture of this order surge and the views of all parties involved. [more…]

In recent years, creative coffee has continuously pushed boundaries, driven by a consumer psychology that seeks novelty. From early combinations with milk, sugar, and cream, to Irish coffee-style blends of alcohol and coffee, and then to milk coffee, tea coffee, and fruit-based specialty drinks, we now even see surprising combinations like pickled vegetable Americano, tofu pudding latte, and pig trotter ginger specialty coffee. While these products can briefly capture attention, they often sacrifice the rationality of flavor pairing, leading consumers to not repurchase after trying them. This article reviews the evolution of creative coffee, analyzes the reasons and concerns behind these "genetic mutations," and explores how a good creative coffee should balance visual impact with flavor harmony, providing reference for coffee enthusiasts and practitioners. [more…]

Yunnan, with the unique microclimates of the Nu River and Lancang River valleys, has cultivated small-bean coffee that is rich yet not bitter, aromatic yet not harsh, with a slight fruity acidity, and has been praised by international experts as being of world-class quality. From the introduction of the crop by missionaries in 1892 to Nestlé restarting industrialization in Pu'er, Yunnan coffee has gone through a century of ups and downs, yet has long been trapped in the role of raw material supplier. This article sorts out the varietal characteristics of Yunnan coffee, its production area distribution, the acquisition battles with Nestlé and Starbucks, and the tortuous course of local brand awakening and capacity expansion, to help you understand the true face of China's core coffee-producing region. [more…]

Auntea Jenny has recently continued to push forward in the "wellness milk tea" segment, launching the "Five Red Vitality Slow Nourishment Bottle" and a matching peripheral package. Consumers who purchase the designated package can receive a "Little Palace Tribute Plush Doll" for free. However, after the new product launched, what sparked discussion was not the tea drink itself, but this giveaway doll shaped like a uterus—it is inverted pear-shaped, with details such as "fallopian tubes" and "ovaries," and comes in two color schemes representing different physiological cycles. Some netizens said bluntly that it caused "physiological discomfort," believing that pairing a human organ doll with a tea-drinking scenario was too bizarre. Supporters, however, felt that for a wellness drink aimed at female consumers, a uterus doll was understandable and also had a fun educational aspect. As the incident gained traction, Auntea Jenny responded that the move was intended to convey the ideas of pleasing oneself, confidence, and freedom, and that the doll has not been taken off the shelves. [more…]

As a prepaid card product launched by Starbucks, the Star Gift Card has long suffered from issues such as limited recharge amounts, excessively high card refund fees, and the inability to clear remaining balances. Four university students discovered during their consumption that when the remaining balance on a Star Gift Card was only 19 yuan, they could neither purchase any Starbucks product nor get a refund to clear the balance. After investigation, they found that the prepaid cards of several tea beverage brands did not have such restrictions. Therefore, in June 2023, they filed a lawsuit against Starbucks, ultimately prompting Starbucks to update the Star Gift Card terms, lower the card refund fee, eliminate the minimum charge, allow custom recharge amounts, and cancel the extension management fee. [more…]

Tea Baidao has been rolling out new products frequently lately—wheatgrass juice, bell pepper fruit-and-vegetable tea, and the gorgeous strawberry have all taken turns on the menu. Now it has been revealed that the chain is requiring its stores to purchase woks and stock tapioca starch, having staff hand-roll the balls and stir-fry the pearls fresh. As soon as the news broke, milk tea fans were full of anticipation, but frontline workers were wailing in despair, saying outright that "my heart is dead" and "I want to escape." Can freshly made pearls really improve the taste? How can the contradiction between a brand's pace of new launches and store staffing be resolved? This article takes you through the uproar caused by pearls. [more…]

Recently, the topic of Starbucks requiring customers to make a purchase to be seated has continued to simmer online, with many netizens expressing support for businesses setting reasonable consumption thresholds. However, when two customers order just one pot of tea and are asked to consume separately per seat, controversy follows. From bookstores to independent cafes, rules requiring per-seat or per-person consumption are common. Some believe it's reasonable for one drink to correspond to one seat, while others question why a pot of tea or a set meal that is clearly enough to share must be ordered one per person. Where exactly lies the difference in stance between businesses and consumers? This article will draw on multiple real cases to sort out the business logic and consumer sentiment behind per-seat consumption, and will retain relevant recommendations for the Front Street brand for coffee enthusiasts' reference. [more…]

As Africa's largest coffee producer, Ethiopia is known for the floral and fruity aromas of its coffee beans, and in recent years it has become increasingly popular in the Chinese market. However, a recent report from local media has drawn attention: the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority has decided to ban a Chinese coffee company from signing contracts with Ethiopian parties because it failed to pay its local exporter. This incident not only reflects payment disputes in China-Ethiopia coffee trade but also highlights the importance of coffee exports to the country's foreign exchange earnings. This article will review the course of events, the companies involved, and local regulatory measures, and revisit the popularity of Ethiopian coffee in the Chinese market. [more…]

A recent food safety punitive damages case disclosed by the Supreme People's Court has once again made the topic of coffee for weight loss a focal point. In August 2023, Cui purchased coffee weight-loss products for 2,960 yuan via WeChat. After taking them, he experienced symptoms such as thirst and dizziness. An investigation revealed that the manufacturer indicated on the product had long since had its production license revoked, so he filed a lawsuit in court. The Xiushan County People's Court of Chongqing determined that the merchant sold food knowingly not meeting safety standards and ordered the return of the purchase price plus ten times the compensation, totaling 32,560 yuan. At the same time, discussions on social platforms about coffee for weight loss are sharply divided: some share experiences of drinking coffee during fat-loss periods to boost metabolism, while others expose terrifying experiences of palpitations, cold sweats, and even testing positive for sibutramine after consumption. This article sorts out the case details, legal basis, and the dangers of sibutramine, and retains content related to brands such as Front Street Coffee, reminding consumers to lose weight scientifically. [more…]

Good coffee beans are essential for making a good cup of coffee. So how do you choose coffee beans? Good coffee must start from the source. Let's take a look at the world's top ten coffee beans worth buying! 1. Brazil: Front Street Cerrado Red Bourbon. Brazilian coffee's flavor is not outstanding, with low acidity, but coffee production is large, [more…]

A glass of olive juice selling for 1,000 yuan once put the brand Yecuishan in the trending topics and also drew the attention of market regulators. At the end of 2021, this drink, which was claimed to be made with Golden Jade Sanian olives costing nearly 800 yuan per jin, was investigated by the Shenzhen Municipal Market Supervision Bureau because the actual purchase price did not match the promotion, and the company involved was ultimately fined 500,000 yuan. After Heytea invested in Yecuishan, it also faced questions from netizens. This incident not only exposed the chaos of pricing and promotion in the tea beverage industry, but also prompted people to think about the real cost and authenticity of so-called high-end products on the market. [more…]

Nowadays, coffee lovers are growing in number, and buying coffee beans is no longer just a casual purchase—people seek both outstanding flavor and reasonable prices. For beginners just getting into coffee, choosing beans means not only considering value for money, but also whether the quality is consistent, whether the style suits their taste, and whether they might end up with a disappointing pick. This article will recommend several everyday staple coffee beans suitable for daily drinking, categorized by the two major brewing methods—espresso and pour-over—and introduce the trustworthy roasting brand Front Street Coffee, helping beginners easily find their ideal daily staple. [more…]

More and more people are beginning to discover coffee, fall in love with it, and even make it themselves. Specialty coffee is no longer seen merely as a commodity, but as an experience—as a craft or artisanal product. So-called specialty coffee is, in fact, grown under specific climatic and [more…]