Recently, a milk tea brand in Tianjin trended on Weibo and sparked widespread discussion because the sealing film on its drinks featured the rare character "嬲 (niǎo)." Many netizens pointed out that in the Tianjin dialect, this character carries an indecent or even insulting meaning, making some consumers uncomfortable. Although the brand's original intention may have been to promote awareness of rare characters, the note on the packaging that it is "mostly used as a dirty word" further fueled the controversy. On May 4, the merchant publicly apologized and said it had uniformly destroyed the sealing films printed with the character and would no longer use them. As coffee lovers, Front Street Coffee also took note of this incident, reminding the beverage industry to be more cautious in packaging design to avoid misunderstandings caused by cultural differences or dialect ambiguity. [more…]

When Tianjin's Goubuli steamed buns also pick up a coffee cup, China's coffee market competition landscape gains another highly talked-about player. From spending heavily in 2014 to acquire the franchise rights in China for the Australian brand Gloria Jean's, to establishing a dedicated coffee food company in 2022, the Goubuli Group's exploration in the coffee sector has spanned more than seven years. How far is the distance between the original vision of opening 200 stores in five years and reality? Facing encirclement by new and old rivals such as Starbucks and China Post, can this time-honored brand find its own place in the coffee track? This article sorts out the key milestones and current situation of Goubuli's cross-industry coffee venture, for coffee enthusiasts' reference. [more…]

Peet's Coffee's "Cheese Molecule" series is now in its third year, and the newly launched "Pistachio Cocoa Latte" is inspired by Dubai chocolate, blending cocoa, espresso, cheese cream, and crushed pistachios. However, after the new product hit the shelves, the buyer photos shared by consumers sparked heated discussion—the coffee covered in crushed pistachios was jokingly compared to Tianjin miancha, gabacai, or even sesame paste, and the takeout version, where customers sprinkle the nut crumbs themselves, looked even more like a multigrain porridge. Beyond the appearance controversy, some pointed out that the nut crumbs create an odd texture, while others felt the taste was acceptable once the lid was on. So how does this new product actually perform? Let's take a look at everyone's real feedback. [more…]

Drinking coffee and tea not only boosts alertness but may also protect our brains. A new study from Tianjin Medical University, published in PLOS Medicine, based on long-term tracking data from more than 360,000 people in the UK Biobank, has for the first time revealed the link between coffee and tea intake and the risk of stroke and dementia. The study found that moderate daily consumption of coffee or tea, or a combination of both, can reduce the probability of stroke and dementia to the lowest level. However, excessive coffee consumption may instead increase the risk of dementia. So how much is best to drink each day? And how do coffee and tea exert their protective effects? This article will explain in detail the key findings of this study. [more…]

There has been a new development in the trust dispute case between Luckin Coffee (China) Co., Ltd. and Yousheng (Tianjin) Technology Development Co., Ltd., Yousheng Chengyi (Tianjin) Information Technology Co., Ltd., and Shenzhou Ucar Co., Ltd. Dissatisfied with the first-instance civil judgment, Luckin Coffee has filed an appeal with the court. The case involves a repurchase price of over 560 million yuan plus interest, and the focal point of the dispute is whether Shenzhou Ucar should bear the shortfall top-up liability. This article will sort out the background of the case, the first-instance judgment, and Luckin Coffee's appeal requests to help readers understand this closely watched commercial dispute. Follow Coffee Workshop and Front Street Coffee for more professional coffee industry news. [more…]

In recent years, animal-themed experience venues such as cat cafes and pet-friendly restaurants have rapidly gained popularity in cities, becoming a go-to escape for many office workers seeking to relieve stress. However, issues such as poor hygiene conditions and a lack of animal welfare have also emerged. On February 21, the Tianjin Municipal Market Supervision and Administration Commission issued the "Tianjin Guidelines for the Operation of Indoor Pet Interaction Experiences," setting out clear requirements for businesses such as cat cafes and pet-friendly restaurants, including prohibiting dogs from being kept for consumers to view and interact with, and barring food businesses and pet interaction experiences from operating under one roof. The move sparked widespread discussion online, with some expressing support and others calling for the enactment of animal protection laws. Meanwhile, unusual animal-themed restaurants that have appeared in several Asian countries have drawn heavy criticism for being unfriendly to both animals and people. Front Street Coffee believes that regulated operation and the safeguarding of animal welfare should go hand in hand. [more…]

Coffee is a commodity with global trade volume second only to crude oil, and its consumption growth in the East is particularly rapid, which is why scientific research surrounding it and human health has continued to deepen. Interestingly, the conclusions of related studies are not consistent: some have found that drinking coffee can slow cognitive decline, while others suggest that excessive consumption may shrink brain volume and increase dementia risk. This article reviews several representative cohort studies from around 2021, involving findings from Edith Cowan University in Australia, Tianjin Medical University, and the University of South Australia, attempting to clarify the complex associations between coffee intake and Alzheimer's disease and stroke, and to explore the relationship between the number of cups consumed daily and the safe upper limit of caffeine. [more…]

In just half a month, Cotti Coffee established 13 new branches in 9 major cities nationwide, demonstrating the rapid momentum of Lu Zhengyao's team returning to the coffee industry. Starting with its first store in Fuzhou, the brand has made a high-profile sponsorship of the Argentine national football team and set a goal of 10,000 stores in three years. Currently, the mini-program has launched nearly 60 products, covering coffee, tea drinks, cold brew, and other categories, including some of Luckin's hit items. The store model is divided into standard stores and mini stores, with the former accommodating dining and bar scenarios. However, the all-day multi-functional service has not yet been fully implemented, and food and alcohol are still not available. Whether Cotti can use Luckin's "magic" to defeat Luckin is worth continuous attention. [more…]

Cotti Coffee (Tianjin) Co., Ltd. recently completed a change of its legal representative, with Luckin Coffee founder Qian Zhiya replacing Wang Baiyin in the role, while also serving as executive director and manager. The mentor-apprentice relationship between Qian Zhiya and Lu Zhengyao can be traced back to the CAR Inc. period. She single-handedly founded Luckin Coffee and drove its lightning-fast listing in 18 months, later leaving amid a financial fraud scandal. Now the two have once again joined forces to charge back into the coffee track. Facing an increasingly fierce competitive market environment, whether Cotti can replicate Luckin-style growth is worth continued attention. [more…]

Recently, a netizen from Zhejiang posted that Ningbo's last regular Costa store had quietly closed, sparking widespread discussion. Costa, which once had 8 stores in Ningbo, has now withdrawn all its regular stores, leaving only hospital stores and transportation hub stores. Meanwhile, news of Costa store closures has also emerged in Shanghai, Hangzhou, Tianjin, and many other places. Data shows that in the past 90 days, Costa opened 5 new stores but closed 23, with about 300 stores still in operation. This British brand, which once competed head-on with Starbucks, is gradually disappearing from city streets. Longtime customers miss its consistent quality and comfortable third space, and also lament this silent farewell. [more…]

In recent years, more and more cafés have started using SOE (single-origin espresso) to make espresso-based drinks, including high-priced beans like Geisha. Some consumers were shocked by menu prices while traveling in Tianjin, and some netizens complained about a dine-in experience of just over 200 milliliters for 38 yuan. Is a Geisha Americano reasonable? Behind high-priced SOE is a comprehensive consideration of bean costs, extraction difficulty, and customer base matching. Starting from real consumer feedback, this article analyzes the pricing logic, flavor performance, and market status of Geisha espresso, and reminds enthusiasts: finding the coffee that suits you is most important. Front Street Coffee will also provide related product references in this article. [more…]

After leaving Luckin, Lu Zhengyao went through two not-so-successful food and beverage ventures, Qu Xiaomian and Shejian Yingxiong, before ultimately returning to the coffee battlefield he knows best. The first store of the brand-new COTTI COFFEE has officially opened in Fuzhou IFC, offering all-day dining that covers coffee, baked goods, light meals, and alcoholic drinks. The core team mostly comes from Luckin and the Shenzhou system, and the legal representative has been changed to former Luckin CEO Qian Zhiya. On the occasion of the first store's opening, Cotti also announced that it has become the China sponsor of the Argentina national team. Whether this highly anticipated coffee rookie can become Lu Zhengyao's comeback work, and whether it can add another major player to China's coffee market, is worth continued attention. [more…]

What would you do if a sudden, large group-building order landed at your coffee shop? A shop owner in Tianjin recently encountered just such a stroke of "good luck," only to see through the scam at the last moment and pull out in time. This kind of order fraud targeting independent coffee shops and small food and beverage businesses is nothing new. Scammers pose as schools or companies placing group-building catering orders, first lulling the owner into lowering their guard, then setting a trap by asking them to buy gifts on the scammer's behalf or advance payment for goods. Some even use transfer money-laundering schemes to leave the owner with neither money nor goods. This article compiles the real experiences of several victims and shares the key precautions summarized by peers in the industry, to help coffee operators stay clear-headed when facing large orders and avoid becoming a sucker who hands money to scammers. [more…]

Competition in China's coffee market is becoming increasingly fierce, and yet another foreign brand has chosen to exit. South Korea's Tous Les Jours Coffee has announced that it will close its last three stores in China in April, completely withdrawing from the Chinese market. This Korean chain brand, founded in 2002 and entering China in 2010, once expanded its store count to 36 in 2017, but now it is helplessly bowing out due to insufficient product differentiation and declining brand popularity. Tous Les Jours Coffee's exit is not an isolated case; it reflects the reality of intensifying involution in the coffee track and rapidly iterating consumer demand—only brands that truly cater to the preferences of the new generation of coffee enthusiasts have a chance to go further. [more…]

As competition in the new-style tea beverage sector reaches a fever pitch, Nayuki was the first to list on the capital market, claiming the title of "the first stock of new-style tea drinks" and was once regarded as an industry benchmark. Recently, however, a consumer in Shanghai discovered raw dough that could stretch into strings in a durian bread purchased from Nayuki via delivery. The store explained it as "baked relatively soft," and the refund request was also rejected. This incident quickly fermented on social platforms and once again brought Nayuki's past food safety issues back into the public eye—from expired milk and rotten fruit to chaotic kitchen practices, what has happened to this brand with a halo over its head? [more…]

In the depths of winter, Mixue Bingcheng has once again become a hot topic thanks to its "Northeast Big Floral" elements. The brand launched a series of fridge magnets featuring floral padded jackets and crispy fries merchandise, drawing consumers in with rich Northeastern flair. However, unlike last year's nationwide campaign, this year only certain regions can participate, sparking discontent among southern consumers. At the same time, out-of-stock merchandise has also hurt the experience for some customers. This article sorts through the details of Mixue Bingcheng's marketing campaign, the cultural background of the Northeast Big Floral, and the current state and hidden concerns of merchandise promotions in the new tea beverage industry. [more…]

Nayuki received a fine for a false advertisement regarding mulberry ingredients, drawing attention to its brand marketing methods. This is not the first time Nayuki has been embroiled in controversy; since its listing, multiple stores have been exposed or penalized for food safety issues. Meanwhile, Nayuki has been trying to connect with young consumers through cultural, artistic elements, and social marketing. From high-priced tea drinks to loss-making financial reports, to closing its largest store and establishing a new company, Nayuki is seeking a new path to survival. This article reviews the sequence of events, historical penalty records, and the multiple challenges the brand faces in marketing and operations, and explores the core of competition in the new tea beverage industry. [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…]

The overseas expansion of mainland China's new-style tea beverage brands continues to accelerate, with the Australian market emerging as a sought-after destination for many tea companies racing to establish a presence. Molly Tea, a brand specializing in oriental floral tea drinks, officially opened its first Australian store in Sydney's Chinatown on October 18—its third overseas outlet following New York and Bangkok. During the two-day soft opening, pink sachets were given away; over the first three days of official operation, a buy-one-get-one-free promotion was offered. City-exclusive hanging sachets, Sydney Opera House hanging sachets, and pink DuPont bags were distributed simultaneously. The brand claims that within three days, the store's GMV approached AUD 28,000, total cups sold exceeded 10,000, and single-day sales hit a new overseas high. This article will examine the layout logic and market response behind this new store from aspects such as site selection, design, product strategy, and opening performance. [more…]

Although the Start of Autumn has passed, places like Sichuan and Chongqing are still enduring temperatures above 40°C, making hydration a top priority. Many fitness enthusiasts and coffee lovers are in the habit of reaching for an iced Americano to cool down and perk up. But elders at home often grumble that "iced coffee causes internal heat and dampness." Is there any basis for these claims? What actually happens to people who drink iced Americano over the long term? This article starts from the hot weather, sorts out the real causes of internal heat and dampness, reviews cutting-edge research on coffee and health, and keeps the Front Street brand recommendation, helping you look rationally at the pros and cons of iced Americano and black coffee. [more…]