CHAGEE recently launched its winter new product "Qingshan Qigu" across its nationwide stores, featuring Wanxi yellow large-leaf tea paired with brown rice buckwheat and milk. The official description highlights its rich aroma of scorched rice and roasted rice. However, after this new product hit the market, consumer feedback has been sharply polarized—aside from disputes over the flavor, a large number of netizens have complained on social media about being unable to sleep all night after drinking it, with the number of insomnia posts even far exceeding taste reviews. According to the brand's published nutritional information, the product contains approximately 24.9mg/100ml of caffeine, which translates to about 144.4mg of caffeine in a large 580ml cup. Is it the caffeine at work or individual differences? This article takes you to find out. [more…]

Valentine's Day has always been a key moment for tea and coffee brands to compete for attention, and Nayuki's Tea took the opportunity this year to launch rose-themed limited-edition products, including the Mountain Wild Treasure Tea series and two cute merchandise items. However, after the new products hit the market, they unexpectedly flopped. Many consumers reported that the drinks tasted strange and were hard to swallow, and some even experienced palpitations and an inability to sleep all night after drinking them. What exactly went wrong with this rose milk tea? Was it a mistake in flavor formulation, or was there something hidden in the caffeine content? This article will walk you through the real feedback on Nayuki's Valentine's Day new products and explore why netizens jokingly called it the "new king of insomnia." [more…]

On the streets of many cities, it is no longer news that tea beverage brands are densely clustered together, and Mixue Bingcheng, with its catchy theme song, has almost become the most easily noticed presence among passersby. However, when this cheerful melody continues to play late at night after the store has closed, the scene shifts from amusing to eerie. Recently, in Liaoning, Henan, and other places, there have been successive incidents where Mixue stores did not turn off their sound systems after closing, playing music all night, forcing upstairs residents to listen for an entire night. Some called the police to complain, while others joked that it was like a horror movie scene. Was it employee negligence or equipment failure? How should the brand prevent similar disturbances from happening again? This article takes you through the incident and the heated discussions among netizens. [more…]

Pacific Coffee has once again become the focus of industry attention. Recently, reports have emerged that multiple stores in Zhuhai will close in mid-October due to business adjustments, including the Huafa Waterfront Store, Haitian Station Store, and City Balcony Store, all distinctive locations along the Couple's Road. After this round of adjustments, Pacific Coffee's directly operated stores in Zhuhai will all be withdrawn, leaving only three franchise stores. From a peak of nearly 500 stores to fewer than 100 today, the situation of this former second-largest coffee chain brand in China's coffee market is lamentable. This article will review the specific circumstances of these closures, the brand's contraction trajectory in recent years, and the complex emotions of coffee enthusiasts regarding Pacific Coffee's current situation. [more…]

Recently, the Heytea store in Southampton, UK, replaced its menu with an all-English version, sparking strong dissatisfaction among overseas Chinese consumers. The original poster pointed out that after all Chinese product names disappeared, ordering became difficult, and even Chinese employees made mistakes because they were not accustomed to the new menu. Subsequently, netizens discovered that multiple overseas stores in London, New York, Sydney, and other locations had also switched to all-English menus, and the official app also removed the language selection option, instead displaying based on location. Although some people believe this is catering to localization, more people criticize the move for diluting the brand's Chinese symbols and harming the ordering experience of overseas Chinese. Heytea customer service did not respond directly, and some consumers said they might spontaneously boycott it. [more…]

Recently, Starbucks Korea introduced a new rule that has drawn attention: all stores nationwide have completely banned customers from consuming outside food. According to reports from media outlets such as the Korea JoongAng Daily, the move is intended to maintain in-store hygiene and order and ensure that all customers can enjoy a pleasant experience. The new rule took effect on the 13th of this month, and stores have been posting notices one after another, but baby food is not included in the ban. Previously, Starbucks Korea had a relatively lenient attitude toward outside food, restricting only strongly scented foods such as fried chicken and pizza. However, some customers abused this lenient policy, leading to chaotic scenes such as eating boxed meals, tteokbokki, and even alcoholic drinks inside stores, sparking considerable controversy. Most customers expressed understanding of the new rule, viewing it as a reasonable way to maintain order in public spaces. Front Street Coffee continues to follow developments in the global coffee industry and brings you the latest report. [more…]

The extra-long National Day holiday, formed by the overlap of Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day, brought a long-awaited surge in dining and consumption, yet the operating conditions of independent coffee shops presented two starkly different sides. Some stores saw a surge in popularity, with orders pouring in continuously, baristas so busy they were run off their feet, and there were even cases of circuit breakers tripping due to excessive load; meanwhile, another group of café owners complained online that foot traffic had declined instead of increased, with a scenic-area store selling only 19 drinks all day, and shops around office buildings even more deserted. Within the same Golden Week, the joys and sorrows of coffee people were not shared alike. This article will present the real operating conditions of these two types of stores and explore the operational pressures and challenges the coffee industry may face after the holiday consumption peak. [more…]

Many people are used to being told that coffee should be drunk while it is hot, because once it cools, the flavor seems to deteriorate. But what exactly happens to coffee after it cools? How does temperature affect our perception of bitterness, acidity, and sweetness? What roles do aroma loss and the congealing of oils play? Starting from a tasting case of Front Street Hamashu, this article explains the real reasons why the taste of hot coffee changes as it cools, and clarifies that not all coffee tastes bad when it goes cold. If you also want to improve your tasting ability, the article also recommends several Front Street single-origin beans with highly distinctive flavors, helping you experience the full character of coffee at different temperatures. [more…]

Luckin Coffee's recently launched Fair Isle Latte has quickly become a new favorite among some office workers and tea-coffee enthusiasts, thanks to its flavor reminiscent of Assam milk tea and its powerful energizing effect. However, a large number of "warning" posts have emerged on social media, with many consumers reporting that they couldn't sleep all night after drinking it, and even experiencing symptoms such as hand tremors, dizziness, and heart palpitations, with some seeking medical attention late at night. At the same time, netizens who were after an energizing effect tried it and said it had no effect at all, leaving them still sleepy. This starkly contrasting feedback has plunged this new drink, which blends espresso with Ceylon black tea, into controversy. This article will sort through the various viewpoints, explore the effects of differences in caffeine tolerance, and offer professional advice from Front Street Coffee. [more…]

Coffee, as an agricultural product, is named in many different ways: some are named after their place of origin, some after the estate, but coffee beans named after musicians are especially interesting. Front Street Coffee also has a series named after musicians, including Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart. These beans come from Canet Estate in the Tarrazú region of central Costa Rica. The estate owner loves classical music, so the coffee beans produced there are named after musicians. The estate uses two varieties, Caturra and Catuai, combined with raisin honey processing and washed processing. The altitude ranges from 1,700 to 1,950 meters, and all are SHB-grade high-altitude strictly hard beans, known for their sweet flavor, fruity aroma, winey notes, and tea-like fragrance. The 2019 vintage Musician Series all uses the Caturra variety, and the three coffees each have their own focus: Bach is layered and rich with a red wine character, Beethoven uses washed processing to present a clean and refreshing summer feel, while Mozart highlights gorgeous floral notes and sweetness. Below, Front Street will guide everyone through the unique qualities of these three coffees one by one. [more…]

Ordering an iced Americano with extra ice and no water has become increasingly common in coffee circles in recent years. It is not simply equivalent to drinking espresso directly; rather, through the collision of ice cubes with hot espresso, it produces a cup of iced coffee with higher concentration, lower bitterness, and more fully preserved aroma. This article will start from the basic composition of an Americano, explain the difference between a water-free iced Americano and a regular iced Americano, and detail the order of production, the principle of extraction cooling, and practical techniques such as shaking to cool down, helping you make a better-tasting all-ice Americano. [more…]

A trending topic about food safety in milk tea shops has sparked widespread concern: The Market Supervision Administration of Fengxian District, Shanghai, conducted surprise inspections of several well-known milk tea stores in Baolong Plaza, and the results showed that all five brands—Yidian Dian, ChaBaiDao, 7FenTian, CoCo, and XiongJi—had problems, involving incomplete health certificates, chaotic raw material management, and unsanitary operating environments. The incident quickly surpassed 500 million views, with netizens exclaiming, "I dare not drink it anymore." At the same time, the article also reviewed food safety cases in recent years involving Burger King, 85°C, IKEA, and others, reminding the food and beverage industry that it must strictly abide by operating standards. [more…]

Stockpiled a bunch of coffee beans but can't finish them? Should you refrigerate or freeze them? Which really matters more—the shelf life or the peak flavor window? Starting from a question a customer sent to Front Street, this article systematically sorts out the core logic of coffee bean preservation: first clarify what "freshness" actually is that we're after, then break down the strategies for dealing with the five great enemies—light, heat, moisture, oxygen, and odors—one by one, and finally provide practical steps and precautions for freezing, helping you find the freshness-locking solution that suits you best. [more…]

No sooner had the Qingming holiday ended than Starbucks was already busy preparing for its next round of in-store campaigns. This time, it is not a collaboration with a popular IP, but the annual, uniquely positioned-in-the-zongzi-world Starbucks Crystal Dumpling, which is about to hit the shelves again. Mocked by netizens as "a zongzi that is not a zongzi," the Starbucks Crystal Dumpling, branded with the label of "weird flavors," has once again returned to consumers' view thanks to Starbucks' persistence. According to information circulating on social platforms, this year's Crystal Dumplings follow last year's format: one box of eight, four flavors. Compared with last year, this year's lineup emphasizes a colorful visual route, with crystal-clear outer skins wrapping brightly colored fillings, looking at first glance like rainbow candy. The most eye-catching of all is the sky-blue "Coconut Wave" in the upper right corner. The promotional copy says it uses imported coconut and tastes "as blue and free as the ocean," yet netizens have described it as so abstract that it is hard to imagine. Blue food has always challenged the appetite, and even though the ingredients list shows that food coloring is used, many people still blurt out that it "looks even less appetizing." As for flavors, Starbucks seems to have listened to outside opinions. This year's four new products are all mainly fruit-flavored. Although they are still unconventional compared with traditional zongzi, netizens believe this may be the edition with "relatively normal flavors" in history. Whether improved looks and adjusted flavors can stir up the desire to buy is something most people are still taking a wait-and-see attitude toward. After all, Starbucks Crystal Dumplings are constantly criticized for being unpalatable, yet there are always people willing to pay for this "evil legend of the zongzi world." And in this, the salesmanship of Starbucks employees cannot be underestimated. During every Crystal Dumpling sales period, staff members strongly recommend them to customers ordering at the bar, and in order to sell a box of gift packages, they can truly [more…]

Starbucks recently launched a Happy Holiday Member Night event for Gold and Diamond members, allowing eligible users to book free in-store participation through the official App. However, after the event ended, a large number of feedback posts appeared on social platforms, with many members calling the experience extremely poor: the new product tasting consisted of only one mini drink, limited-edition badges were in short supply, the coffee lecture and interactive games were simply canceled, and there were no discounts on merchandise purchases either. Some participants also pointed out that the quality of the event varied by store, and stores that attached greater importance to it still delivered a decent holiday experience. Starbucks employees, meanwhile, revealed that rushed preparation, insufficient bookings, and last-minute situations could all dilute the effectiveness of the event. Why did this member event receive such polarized reviews? This article will sort through feedback from all sides and the reasons behind it. [more…]

Heytea's sub-brand Xixiaocha recently closed its last store located in Guangzhou City Investment Building. From the opening of its first store in April 2020 to its complete withdrawal now, only two and a half years have passed. Xixiaocha once deeply cultivated six cities in the Pearl River Delta and opened 22 stores, focusing on affordable drinks priced from 8 to 16 yuan. Before closing, most stores were still profitable. At the same time, Heytea's main brand has continuously lowered prices since the beginning of this year, announcing that it will no longer launch products priced above 29 yuan, and all new products will be priced no higher than 20 yuan. The product positioning and price ranges of the two brands are increasingly overlapping. The last update on Xixiaocha's official WeChat public account remained on July 20, 2022, and its mini-program can no longer be searched. Heytea has not yet responded. This article reviews the rise and fall of Xixiaocha and analyzes its connection with the strategic adjustments of the main brand. [more…]

Blue Mountain coffee is one of the first specialty coffees many coffee lovers encounter, and the market is flooded with all kinds of "Blue Mountain flavor" products. What exactly makes coffee truly grown in Jamaica's Blue Mountain range so unique? From the cultivation history of the Typica variety, estate harvesting and processing methods, to the grading of NO.1, NO.2, NO.3, and Peaberry, and further to the pricing, wooden barrel packaging, and certificate identification methods of Blue Mountain No.1, this article will guide you through a systematic understanding of Blue Mountain coffee. At the same time, Front Street Coffee will also share the brewing parameters and flavor performance of Blue Mountain No.1, helping you more fully appreciate this classic coffee's balance of acidity, sweetness, and bitterness along with its rich, mellow mouthfeel. [more…]

Yuanyang is a highly representative double-blend drink in South China and the Hong Kong-Macau region, combining coffee and silk stocking milk tea into one. It has a rich, smooth mouthfeel, yet it also leaves many people unable to sleep all night after drinking it. Why is it called "Yuanyang"? What versions circulate about its origin? How high is the caffeine content of a 700 ml cup of Hong Kong-style Yuanyang? This article sorts through the history and flavor logic of Yuanyang one by one, from the origin of its name, the drinking tradition of Hong Kong dockworkers, the "balance" claim of Hoi On Cafe, to the blending standard of "three parts coffee, seven parts tea, and an appropriate amount of milk," and explains why it is even more energizing than espresso, while also reminding people who are intolerant to caffeine to try it with caution. [more…]

After specialty coffee became popular, the claim that coffee helps with fat loss spread widely, but the real prerequisite for it to be effective is drinking black coffee with no sugar and no milk, along with a sensible diet and moderate exercise. However, many people can neither control their eating nor get themselves to move, so weight-loss coffees swooped in under slogans like "no exercise, no dieting, no injections or pills, one cup a day and you'll lose over ten jin in thirty days." These products often have no ingredient list, no production information, and no Chinese labeling, yet they sell briskly through channels such as WeChat resellers and Xiaohongshu. After drinking them, consumers commonly experience thirst, nausea, palpitations, and other reactions, and some have even tested positive for the banned drug sibutramine. This article reviews related cases and court rulings to remind everyone to be wary of weight-loss coffees of unknown origin and to view the relationship between coffee and fat loss scientifically. [more…]

Many friends who have drunk red wine should be all too familiar with one step in wine tasting: decanting. After a period of decanting, the astringency of the tannins weakens slightly, and the sweet and sour notes in the red wine become more lively. Drinking coffee is actually quite similar to drinking red wine—red wine needs decanting, while coffee beans need resting. [more…]