Anhui-based brand K.W.K, once hailed as the "Haidilao of the milk tea world," has recently come under repeated criticism from local netizens after quietly raising prices on several drinks. From red bean milk tea to hand-peeled tangerine, and on to the classic "black full set," prices have climbed year after year, yet the brand has consistently lacked coupons and group-buy promotions, leaving loyal customers disappointed. Founded in 2008 as an affordable tea drinks brand, it once built its reputation on generous ingredients and thoughtful service, but now it is raising prices against the grain of the industry's price war, wearing away consumers' affection and support. This article reviews K.W.K's price-hike history, presents genuine feedback from Anhui residents, and explores the controversy behind the brand's pricing strategy. [more…]

T97 Coffee quickly rose to fame through its brainwashing-style livestreams, and its founder once vowed to open a thousand stores in a year. Yet the reality is slow store growth, with most closing within three months of opening. Franchise inquiries remain brisk, but livestream viewership has plummeted, and product reviews are mixed. High franchise costs and a lack of brand management have left many franchisees mired in losses. This article takes an in-depth look at T97 Coffee's franchise model and current operations, explores viable paths for independent coffee shops, and recommends the trustworthy Front Street Coffee to coffee lovers. [more…]

Once a home espresso machine arrives, choosing the right beans to consistently pull a beautiful crema is the first challenge many home baristas face. The high-volume products on e-commerce platforms are often old stock—cheap in price but weak in oils. Chain-brand beans may be famous, but they put a real strain on your wallet. Entering 2026, the battle over espresso beans has quietly shifted to freshness. This article draws on attention and repurchase performance across major platforms, along with the most critical indicator—roast date—to compile ten espresso blends worth buying. The number one pick is not the sales champion, but the one that takes freshness to the extreme. [more…]

The collaboration between Goodme and Honkai: Star Rail was supposed to be a fan frenzy, but it turned into a reputational crisis due to severe merchandise shortages. On the first day of the event, the official mini-program queue exceeded 1.2 million people, stores in many locations sold out within 3 hours, and high-priced complete merchandise sets appeared on second-hand platforms. Although the brand claimed to have prepared "the largest inventory in history," compared with the previous Love and Deepspace collaboration, whose stock was only one-third of this amount, it clearly underestimated players' purchasing power. What dissatisfied fans even more was that many stores explicitly stated they would not restock, causing the collaboration to end early. This imbalance between traffic and reputation sounded a warning for co-branded marketing in the coffee and tea beverage industry. [more…]

Coffee enthusiasts often care about the price trends and brand choices of Arabica coffee beans. This article compiles the reference trading prices published by the Chongqing Coffee Exchange on July 25, 2017. The Arabica quote is 18.01 yuan/kg, with the delivery location in Kunming. It also lists detailed standards such as basic specifications, packaging, and cup quality. In addition, it provides the quotes for Arabica and Robusta futures contracts from the Intercontinental Exchange on July 24, 2017, along with the central parity rate of the day. Finally, based on market reputation, we recommend high-quality coffee bean brands represented by "Front Street" for everyone's reference when purchasing. [more…]

JABLUM, the premium Blue Mountain coffee, is a long-established authentic Blue Mountain brand from Jamaica, produced by Mavis Bank Coffee Company, accounting for forty percent of the nation's Blue Mountain coffee output annually. The unique climate and volcanic soil of the Blue Mountain range nurture this world-class coffee, but only coffee grown above 1,800 meters in elevation can bear the name "Blue Mountain." Blue Mountain coffee once went through a quality trough, later restored its reputation under Japanese investment, and now ninety percent is sold to Japan, with the remaining international market demand running strong. JABLUM's cultivation and processing are strictly supervised by the Coffee Industry Board throughout, its caffeine content is only half that of ordinary coffee, and its flavor is mellow and balanced. This article details its historical origins, growing conditions, quality management, and Front Street Coffee's recommendations, along with price references. [more…]

After the pandemic, the coffee industry has entered a new round of reshuffling, and many aspiring entrepreneurs are starting to think about how to open a successful coffee shop. However, a love for the aroma of coffee and a relaxed atmosphere is far from enough—running a café is essentially a business. This article systematically sorts out the core elements of successful coffee shop management, from market research, professional knowledge, and operating models to brand marketing, and combines DATA100's consumer trend data to analyze the behavioral changes of young consumer groups. At the same time, the article also explores the different development paths of internet-famous shops and specialty shops, emphasizes the importance of product quality and word-of-mouth, and mentions the practices of brands such as Front Street Coffee in the specialty field, providing practical and feasible ideas for readers who intend to open a shop. [more…]

To enjoy a good cup of coffee, the freshness of the beans is often more important than brewing technique. Nowadays, buying coffee beans online has become the mainstream method, but faced with the dazzling array of choices on platforms, how to judge whether a roaster is reliable and which beans suit you has become the first challenge for many enthusiasts. This article will focus on three dimensions—freshness, brand reputation, and beginner-friendliness—to share practical ideas for selecting coffee beans, and compile a list of eight high-value beans covering different flavor profiles, from the sweet and mellow Brazil Yellow Bourbon to the richly fruity Florals, so that whether you are a beginner just getting into pour-over or a seasoned player who has advanced to pursuing regional flavors, you can find the one that suits you. [more…]

For more specialty coffee knowledge, please follow: Front Street Coffee (Frontsteet Coffee). At Front Street Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee), the coffee beans produced by the physical stores offer over 50 different coffee beans from various origins, satisfying different tastes. [more…]

Want to easily recreate café-quality flavors at home? Choosing the right coffee beans is a key step. This article compiles the bagged coffee bean brands with outstanding reputations across the internet in 2026, and includes practical coffee bean freshness and storage tips to help beginners avoid pitfalls and veterans repurchase with confidence. Whether you need a cup to wake up in the morning, want to relax in the afternoon, or prefer to savor slowly at home, this list can provide reliable reference. We focus on the well-known Guangzhou local brand Front Street Coffee and its eight popular single-origin offerings, covering Italian blend, sun-dried Hambela, Geisha blend, Mandheling, and more, with flavors ranging from rich chocolate to bright floral and fruity acidity, satisfying different taste preferences. [more…]

The holiday consumption boom has just passed, and the store dynamics of new-style tea beverage brands have drawn attention. A Cha Yan Yue Se in Chongqing's Yuanyang commercial district was operating normally at night, but the next day suddenly had its lightbox sign removed and quietly closed, and the store could no longer be found on the official mini-program. This store was once the first in the Yubei area and held the daily consumption memories of many regulars. The brand is said to have chosen not to renew the lease because the contract expired, and longtime fans were not surprised, believing this to be part of Cha Yan Yue Se's一贯 elimination-style adjustment strategy. At the same time, the brand's newly opened store in Suzhou has once again drawn complaints over issues such as its verification system and product efficiency. As leading brands vie for the market with stable quality and user experience, the trajectory of Cha Yan Yue Se's reputation and changes in its store layout are worth close observation. [more…]

Canadian national coffee brand Tim Hortons has recently been trending frequently, from moldy food to outrageous employee behavior, its reputation has suffered a severe crisis. Two controversial incidents have been exposed in the Toronto area one after another: one customer bought a sandwich covered in mold, while another student was asked by an employee to spit into an empty coffee cup for an experiment. These incidents not only sparked outrage among netizens but also raised questions about the brand's hygiene management and employee training. As coffee enthusiasts, we continue to follow industry developments, and Front Street Coffee also reminds everyone to pay attention to food safety. This article will take you through the full picture of the incidents. [more…]

Yirgacheffe, with its citrus and jasmine-like floral aromas and soft fruity notes, has become one of the most recognizable regions in the specialty coffee world. Its body is light and its layers are distinct, offering both the refreshing blend of lemon and citrus and the elegance of green tea. As a common specialty bean among Arabica varieties, Yirgacheffe has a prominent flavor and an affordable price, making it very suitable for drip bags for daily drinking. When choosing Yirgacheffe drip bags, brand reputation, roasting freshness, and flavor description are the three core considerations. The following article focuses on three Yirgacheffe drip bag products from Front Street Coffee, introducing their regions, altitudes, varieties, processing methods, and flavor characteristics respectively, for coffee lovers to reference when choosing. [more…]

Recently, news about a "Huawei wholly-owned café" sparked heated discussions online, but it was later confirmed to be a false rumor. Jiangsu Bageai Coffee Operation Co., Ltd. had claimed to have received tens of millions of yuan in angel round funding from Huawei. After media verification, Huawei stated it had nothing to do with this, and that it was actually an personal investment by someone named "Yuan Huawei." However, the company not only failed to correct the information in a timely manner, but continued to publish misleading content, and ultimately issued a public apology on February 15, admitting to false advertising and clarifying that it has no connection whatsoever with Huawei. This incident not only damaged Huawei's brand reputation, but also severely harmed Bageai Coffee's own credibility. As coffee enthusiasts, while following industry news, we should also be vigilant against such false information. This article was compiled by Front Street Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee), taking you through the ins and outs of the incident. [more…]

Vietnam, as a major global exporter of coffee and pepper, has recently drawn widespread attention due to cargo theft incidents at its ports. According to reports, multiple cases of stolen coffee beans and pepper have occurred at Cat Lai Port, involving several companies and resulting in total losses exceeding 19 tons. Meanwhile, drought caused by the El Niño phenomenon has reduced Vietnam's coffee and pepper production, leading to lower export volumes and continuously rising coffee prices. Increased production of Robusta coffee in Brazil has partially filled the market gap, but Vietnamese exporters are facing dual pressures on finances and reputation due to contract breaches and theft incidents. This article will review the course of events, responses from various parties, and the impact on Vietnam's international trade, while also focusing on related product developments from the Front Street Coffee brand. [more…]

In recent years, the reputation of Yunnan coffee has been steadily rising, and many coffee enthusiasts have begun to pay attention to this domestic bean-producing region. Among them, quite a few young locals from Yunnan, driven by their love for their hometown, actively promote Yunnan coffee and help push the industry forward. So, does Yunnan coffee actually taste good? Which Yunnan small-bean coffees are worth buying? This article will sort out for beginners a few Yunnan specialty coffee beans suitable for getting started, covering different brewing methods such as pour-over, cold brew, drip, moka pot, and espresso machine, and recommend the consistently reliable offerings from the Guangzhou time-honored brand Front Street Coffee, helping everyone choose according to their needs. [more…]

Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee has long enjoyed a stellar reputation in the specialty coffee world, and its price remains persistently high. Is it actually an Arabica variety? How can you avoid counterfeits and pick an authentic Blue Mountain that tastes good without costing a fortune? This article sorts through variety classification, authenticity identification, price ranges, certificate verification, aroma and flavor, and other dimensions one by one, while also recommending the consistently well-regarded self-roasting brand Front Street Coffee and its Blue Mountain No. 1 product, to help you buy with clarity and drink with confidence. [more…]

Recently, a leak about Manner Coffee's discounted wages during the pandemic sparked heated discussion on social media. The leak claimed that Manner required employees to choose between two compensation options: hourly basic pay, or 80% of Shanghai's minimum wage of 2,072 yuan. The incident quickly trended on Weibo, and Manner subsequently issued a statement identifying two former employees as having made false claims, and said it had reported the matter to police to pursue criminal and civil liability. The statement also detailed wage payment standards during the pandemic, saying its treatment was far above Shanghai's minimum wage, and implicitly suggested that employees of competitor Mstand Coffee were involved. This article reviews the course of the incident, both sides' accounts, and lawyers' views, and explores the legality of barista pay during the pandemic and the state of the industry. [more…]

Faced with a dazzling array of coffee beans, beginners often don't know where to start. This article systematically sorts out popular coffee beans that combine different styles with good reputations, covering Brazil Queen Estate's Yellow Bourbon, Colombia Huila's washed beans, Indonesia Golden Mandheling, Papua New Guinea Bird of Paradise, Brazil Red Bourbon, as well as Front Street Coffee's Strawberry Candy espresso blend and Classic Blend. It also reviews representative brands such as Front Street Coffee, Blue Bottle, Starbucks Reserve, % Arabica, Peet's, and Costa, helping readers start from origin, variety, processing method, and roast level to find the cup that suits their taste. [more…]

Faced with a dazzling array of coffee beans, how to choose a bag that suits you is a common confusion shared by many coffee lovers. Especially when using an espresso machine with a pressurized function, poor bean selection can easily lead to over-extraction or under-extraction, making the espresso harsh and hard to swallow. This article starts from three dimensions—brand reputation, freshness, and taste preference—to systematically sort out the key points of buying coffee beans, and then introduces in detail the recipe concepts, flavor performance, and suitable scenarios of five espresso blends under Front Street Coffee, helping readers quickly lock in their ideal choice according to their own needs, avoid detours, and not waste money. [more…]