Recently, a craze for Chinese knot latte art has swept through the coffee community. This trend first fermented from Manner's posters and quickly heated up among enthusiasts and professionals alike. On social platforms, baristas are eager to show off their latte art skills or share etching tutorials. Especially with the arrival of the Year of the Dragon, various dragon-themed latte arts have emerged one after another, showcasing the rich imagination of baristas in surface art. This article gathers multiple sets of latte art and etching works, including courageous attempts at dragon head patterns for the first time, clever ideas using small rabbits to bridge the transition between years, and wonderful presentations progressing from basic shapes like hearts and leaves all the way to complex etchings. Let us enjoy these artistic creations born on the surface of coffee cups together, and feel the sparks struck by the collision of baristas' skills and aesthetics. [more…]

Collaboration campaigns by coffee chains usually come with limited-edition cup sleeves, stickers, and paper bags, while Starbucks has long stuck to its classic brown paper bags and green logo, a habit consumers jokingly call "unchanged for a decade." Yet during the Chinese New Year of the Dragon, Starbucks unexpectedly rolled out three limited-edition dragon-year cup sleeves, sparking widespread discussion. Netizens jokingly dubbed this move "a decision that betrays the ancestors," and it was also seen as a new attempt by Starbucks at localizing in the Chinese market. Against the backdrop of accelerating store expansion into lower-tier cities and insisting on not engaging in price wars, can Starbucks win over more consumers through limited-edition packaging? This article takes you through the details. [more…]

During the Spring Festival of the Year of the Dragon, the coffee industry blended into traditional New Year flavor in a unique way, as many independent café owners posted carefully crafted coffee-themed Spring Festival couplets on social media. These couplets cleverly combined coffee elements such as lattes and Americanos with auspicious blessings, showcasing the charm of coffee culture while conveying good wishes for the New Year. From “Coffee has bitterness and sweetness too” to “Iced Americano is simply the best,” each couplet embodied the shop owner’s love of life and blessings for customers. Let us step into these highly creative cafés together, experience a distinctive New Year flavor where tradition and modernity blend, and savor the cultural charm within the rich aroma of coffee. [more…]

Co-branding between chain brands has long become commonplace, yet Luckin Coffee's frequent moves in co-branded marketing still turn heads. From cross-industry collaborations to routine co-branding, Luckin has consistently demonstrated keen market instincts and creative capabilities. On January 22, Luckin joined hands with artist Han Meilin for a second time to launch Year of the Dragon limited-edition co-branded merchandise, with paper bags and cup sleeves rolling out nationwide. Subsequently, Luckin officially launched the call "Every generation has its own merch makeover frenzy" on Xiaohongshu, sparking a creative carnival among Luckin's craftspeople. From pen holders and picture frames to oracle bone script mahjong and Chinese-style oil-paper umbrellas, netizens transformed free merchandise into works of art brimming with ingenuity. This article will take you through the highlights of this zero-cost DIY merch craze, letting you feel the creative vitality that comes from brand-consumer interaction. [more…]

As Halloween approaches at the end of October each year, major coffee brands rush to launch their limited-edition festive specials. This year, Starbucks, Peet's Coffee, Costa, and other brands have all rolled out new offerings. The visual designs are certainly eye-catching, but the flavors have left many consumers crying "dark." From dragon fruit cloud-topped lids to bamboo charcoal black sauce Frappuccinos, from sesame almond tofu to Pirate's Treasure Lattes—how do these Halloween special drinks actually perform? Netizens' reviews are mixed: some are sold on the aesthetics, while others are put off by the taste. This article will review the highlights and sore points of these festive new releases to see which one is truly worth a try. [more…]

As the Dragon Boat Festival approaches, major coffee shops are joining the holiday battle one after another. Starbucks has once again launched its creative Frappuccino-style zongzi this year, bringing four all-new cool flavors and pairing them with versatile tote bags, injecting coffee-inspired novelty into the traditional festival. From coconut and lychee to espresso, and even salted egg yolk cheese, each one blends Chinese and Western elements to challenge your taste buds. In addition, Starbucks has specially included two kinds of popping candy dipping mixes, making the tasting experience even more fun. Presales begin on May 4, with an 8-piece set priced at 198 yuan, the early-bird bag canceled, and replaced by a choice between black and white tote bags. Coffee lovers, are you ready to try something new? [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…]

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…]

Every year around the Dragon Boat Festival, Starbucks' Frappuccino Zongzi (星冰粽) always becomes a hot topic on social media. This product, which defies categorization for both the savory-leaning South and the sweet-leaning North, has appeared in Starbucks' Dragon Boat Festival lineup for thirteen consecutive years. Netizen comments have evolved from blunt criticism to all sorts of creative mockery. Despite the sharply polarized reputation, Starbucks has never given up on this controversial zongzi. This year's Frappuccino Zongzi comes in four flavors with eight pieces, still priced at 198 yuan, and adds a new spicy popping candy dipping sauce. Caught between consumer complaints and employees' helpless sales pitches, what exactly is the business logic behind this product? Is it a clever gift-bag marketing strategy, or a commitment to brand exposure during the holiday? This article will take you on a deep dive. [more…]

As the Dragon Boat Festival approaches, Starbucks' 2023 Frappuccino Zongzi arrives as scheduled. This year, four flavors have been launched, one fewer than last year, with the price remaining at 198 yuan per bag. In addition to classic flavors like lychee coconut and peach oolong, the lime cheese espresso flavor continues to incorporate coffee elements into the zongzi. To enhance the tasting fun, Starbucks has also specially provided two types of popping candy dipping powders: pepper spicy and Xinhui tangerine peel. Purchasers can receive a black-and-white tote bag as a gift, but the early bird bag giveaway has been canceled. This article gives you an overview of all the highlights of this year's Frappuccino Zongzi. Coffee lovers might want to pair them with Front Street Coffee's selected beans for a unique Dragon Boat Festival experience. [more…]

Valentine's Day is supposed to be a symbol of sweetness, and Starbucks duly launched a Cocoa Raspberry Mocha, with pink cream paired with raspberry syrup—visually, it's certainly eye-catching. However, many consumers who rushed to try it exclaimed, "I've finally tasted the bitterness of love." Some described it as resembling Banlangen, cold medicine, or even traditional Chinese medicine, and complaints poured in from all sides. What exactly is wrong with this limited-edition drink? Is it poor flavor integration, or is the freeze-dried dragon fruit dragging it down? Meanwhile, Starbucks has noticeably accelerated its pace of new releases over the past six months, yet its new products have repeatedly flopped in terms of reputation. The reasons behind this are worth examining closely. [more…]

During this year's Dragon Boat Festival, several Starbucks stores in the Jiangsu-Zhejiang-Shanghai region ran short of Frappuccino Zongzi (sticky rice dumplings), leaving customers holding redemption vouchers unable to collect their goods as scheduled. At some stores, heated arguments broke out between customers and staff. Some employees were reduced to tears by verbal abuse, while other customers threatened to call the police or expose the situation. Starbucks responded that it had made every effort to meet redemption demand, but some consumers remained dissatisfied with the compensation package. This supply-demand conflict triggered by a zongzi shortage reveals deeper issues in the brand's allocation and inventory management of seasonal products. [more…]

China is the homeland of tea and the world's largest tea-growing country, with an annual output of about 2 million tons. Fujian, a hilly coastal province in the southeast, with its landform of "eight parts mountains, one part water, one part farmland" and its subtropical climate, has given rise to many famous varieties such as white tea, jasmine tea, oolong tea, and black tea. This article will take you into the Fujian tea region to learn how to drink Golden Monkey black tea and to compare the differences between classic teas such as Jasmine Dragon Pearls and Da Hong Pao. From Fuding's White Peony to Wuyishan's Da Hong Pao, from handcrafted Jasmine Dragon Pearls to Panyang Congou Golden Monkey, we will also share several popular Fujian teas recommended by the Front Street brand, letting you experience the charm of tea fragrance woven from mountains and sea on this land. [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…]

As Dragon Boat Festival approaches, Starbucks employees once again face the annual "zongzi ordeal." To meet the sales targets for Frappuccino zongzi, some set up microphones at the bar to livestream and hype, some hand out lottery tickets for good luck, some advertise in the message book, and others set up stalls for free tastings. From co-branded microphones to mystical prayers, a variety of clever tactics take turns on stage, reflecting the pressure and helplessness behind holiday marketing. This article takes you to see these workers doing their utmost for zongzi, and how they respond to KPIs with creativity and humor. [more…]

Sumatra Mandheling coffee from Indonesia is famous for its full body and low acidity, and within this producing region there is a rather special variety—Longberry. It comes from the Gayo highlands by Lake Tawar in Aceh Province, has an elongated bean shape, is a natural mutation of Typica, and its cultivation history can be traced back three centuries. This Sumatra·Lake Tawar Wet-Hulled Longberry offered by Front Street Coffee uses wet-hulled processing and presents flavor notes of spicy fruit, herbal spices, and clean acidity. This article will guide you through a comprehensive understanding of this rare long-shaped Mandheling by covering the regional terroir, the origin of the variety, the processing method, and Front Street's roasting and brewing recommendations. [more…]

In the 2023 Dragon Boat Festival season, Starbucks' presale of its Frappuccino Zongzi started on April 26. The price remained 198 yuan per bag, but the quantity was reduced from 8 to 6, the flavors were cut from 5 to 4, and the free gift changed from an early-bird bag to a choice between two gift bags. This strategy of reducing quantity without lowering the price sparked discussion. This article sorts out the specific changes to the Frappuccino Zongzi and, combined with current market product innovation trends, analyzes why Starbucks' move struggles to attract a new generation of consumers. At the same time, boutique coffee recommendations are retained at the end of the article; follow Coffee Workshop and Front Street Coffee for more professional content. [more…]

Affected by El Niño, Vietnam is experiencing its worst drought in nearly a century, and agriculture in the Mekong Delta has been hit hard. As a major global coffee-producing region, Vietnam's robusta coffee is in its flowering season but faces a water shortage crisis, and spot prices have soared to more than double those of the same period last year. At the same time, the planting boom in high-return fruits such as durian and dragon fruit is further squeezing coffee-growing areas. This article will review the specific impact of the drought on Vietnam's coffee industry, current price trends, and the latest progress on China's emergency water replenishment from the Lancang River at Vietnam's request. Friends who like Vietnamese coffee may want to follow Front Street Coffee's upcoming product updates. [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…]

During the Spring Festival, while most industries enter holiday mode, the operations of coffee shops present a strikingly different picture. Some Luckin employees had expected an easy shift during the holiday, only to be hit by an unexpected flood of orders, working nonstop from morning to night. Meanwhile, others staying at their stores enjoyed a rare stretch of quiet time, with some even having the leisure to draw dragon-year patterns on packaging bags. This polarizing Spring Festival work experience reflects how young people's strong demand for coffee has now extended to their hometowns and into the holiday period. This article takes you through the real Spring Festival working conditions of Luckin baristas and the unique warmth of coffee culture during the festive season. [more…]