Luckin Coffee's collaboration with the mobile game Honor of Kings has not yet officially launched, but a new product called "Tamarind Americano" has already sparked discussions on social platforms ahead of time. Many netizens, upon first hearing the name, mistook it for pickled string beans added to coffee and blurted out "dark cuisine"; later, a Yunnan netizen clarified that tamarind is actually a common local fruit, often used to make beverages, and has long been paired with coffee. However, after the full name "Pain Mask · Tamarind Americano" was revealed, it triggered consumer worries about the taste. Whether this collaboration drink is a pleasant surprise or a flop will only be known after it hits the market. [more…]

After Tea Baidao's lychee iced milk was discontinued with the changing seasons, the brand quickly launched two new iced milk drinks, among which the iced mint iced milk co-branded with Frozen drew a lot of attention thanks to its mint element and co-branded merchandise. However, this drink, made with fresh mint leaves, green grapes, lemon, matcha liquid, and milk, did not deliver the expected cooling sensation upon tasting; instead, the grassy flavor of freshly squeezed mint juice sparked polarized reviews. Some described drinking it as turning into a cow chewing on grass, while others found the plant's fresh fragrance uniquely appealing. Whether this cross-boundary mashup is a stroke of creativity or a flop is worth investigating. [more…]

Luckin Coffee has teamed up with the classic animated IP Tom and Jerry for the third time to launch a New Zealand raw cheese latte and a series of limited-edition merchandise, among which the face-changing pen quickly captured the hearts of a large number of consumers with its fun design of pressing to change faces. However, many buyers found in actual use that after pressing this face-changing pen several times, the printed pattern of the character's face inside the pen barrel window began to peel, become mottled, or even disappear, and quality control issues then surfaced. Consumers' photos and complaints appeared one after another on social platforms. Some tried to exchange the product at stores but found the problem persisted, while others took apart the pen and applied film in an attempt to extend the life of the pattern. This article will review the complete process of this face-changing pen from going viral to flopping, present consumer feedback and coping methods, and focus on the quality control controversy surrounding Luckin's co-branded merchandise. [more…]

Chagee recently launched the second wave of its "Ne Zha 2" co-branded limited-edition packaging across stores nationwide. The popular character Ao Guang is printed on paper bags and takeaway cups, sold in a bundle with "Seeking Fragrance Camellia." Buying one cup earns you a matching paper bag. As soon as the news broke, fans rushed to buy them, but after receiving the actual products, they were greatly disappointed: the pattern on the cup body has severe ghosting, so much so that people joked you'd need 3D glasses to see it clearly. The color difference between the themed cup, paper bag, and poster is obvious, and the details are blurred into a mosaic. Many consumers pointed out that the first batch of packaging had already suffered from problems like blurry printing and fading. They had expected the brand to improve its craftsmanship, but unexpectedly the second batch still flopped. In addition, some stores did not use the themed cups as advertised, which harmed the rights of delivery customers. As coffee enthusiasts, Front Street Coffee has also noticed this co-branded merchandise quality control controversy. This article will sort out the whole story and consumer feedback. [more…]

On the fourth anniversary of the Raw Coconut Latte, Luckin Coffee chose to collaborate with stand-up comedy champion Fu Hang for a co-branded campaign and launched a new product, "Jelly Raw Coconut Latte." However, the co-branded stickers that had been highly anticipated unexpectedly fell flat—many customers returned them on the spot because they didn't recognize the person, didn't like him, or didn't know how to use them. When asked "Who is he?" by customers, staff even had a quick-witted reply: "He might be the founder of the Raw Coconut Latte." Why exactly did this collaboration flop? And how did the merchandise giveaway turn into staff members' "creative ways to clear inventory"? This article takes you through the whole story. [more…]

Collaborations happen every year, but this year there are especially many. Luckin Coffee recently leaked news of a collaboration with Victoria's Secret, with co-branded paper bags, cup sleeves, and a new osmanthus Longjing latte expected to launch tomorrow. As soon as the spoiler photos of the pink winged cup sleeves were exposed, they triggered polarized reactions from netizens—some bluntly called them "ugly and rejected," while others were drawn in by their good looks. Victoria's Secret's aim with this collaboration is to build hype for the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, which will return with a revamp next month. As a veteran of collaborations, how Luckin's crossover will perform this time is something to look forward to. [more…]

Recently, the TV drama "Forever Night Star River" has surged in popularity, and the milk tea brand Molly Tea took the opportunity to launch a collaboration, but issues such as delayed merchandise, stock shortages, and reselling have led to collective complaints from fans of the show. Although the official side issued an emergency apology on the 15th and promised compensation, the limited-edition paper bags will not be available until the 30th at the earliest, prompting fans to exclaim that "the timeline is too long, and enthusiasm is being worn down." Why did this highly anticipated collaboration fail? Who exactly was hurt when the brand temporarily changed the schedule and store issues occurred frequently? Join Coffee Workshop as we review the entire incident and also take a look at the heartwarming recommendations Front Street Coffee has prepared for coffee lovers. [more…]

Manner Coffee's seventh-anniversary celebration introduced a limited-edition grab-and-go cup giveaway with takeout orders. The intent was to boost online orders, but it unexpectedly triggered order surges at multiple stores nationwide, supply chain breakdowns, and even intermittent closures. Consumers flooded social media, with some sharing receipts to score freebies and others complaining about orders being canceled without explanation, delivery fees soaring, and stores shutting down outright. This marketing campaign, seemingly full of complaints, actually reveals Manner's ambition to push into the takeout market. From its brick-and-mortar beginnings to aggressive online expansion, the capacity bottlenecks brought by rapid store expansion and semi-automatic equipment are now emerging. This article will sort through the sequence of events and retain relevant recommendations for Front Street Coffee. [more…]

During International Women's Day, Coconut Palm Group launched a "Hunky Guy Live Stream" for e-commerce sales, recruiting tall, sunny young men with at least 1.8 meters in height, chest and abs muscles, offering a daily salary of up to 800 yuan. However, despite over a million viewers across two live streams, sales fell short of 30,000 yuan, with a conversion rate of only 0.03%, sparking widespread discussion online. Coconut Palm continues its signature "Coconut-style rustic" approach, from female anchors' awkward dances to male anchors' fitness routines, all set against an unchanging blue backdrop. This article reviews the event, netizens' analyses, and Coconut Palm's history with live stream e-commerce, and includes observations on brand marketing from Front Street Coffee's perspective. [more…]

As people return to work after the holiday, coffee chains are rolling out merchandise to grab office workers' attention. Manner is releasing its popular ceramic cup in new colors as a limited edition, while Mstand has taken a different approach with a lunchbox jokingly dubbed the "cattle and horse trough," bundled with a new coffee-flavored latte as a limited two-cup set. However, once the actual product arrived, consumers found the lunchbox riddled with scratches, rough edges on the clasps, too small a capacity, and no indication on the material that it was microwave-safe, sparking widespread complaints. From looks to practicality, this piece of merchandise seems to have failed to meet the expectations of people who bring their own lunch. [more…]

Mstand has collaborated with streetwear brand AMAZING PANDA to launch a bamboo latte and panda-themed limited-edition merchandise, among which a "Panda Hug Cup" has sparked heated discussion due to its design. Many consumers said after receiving the actual product that it differs noticeably from the promotional images, with the all-black version described as looking like a "black-skinned muscular man," while the light-colored version was jokingly said to look like "feet holding up a cup." Besides the appearance controversy, practical complaints were also frequently mentioned, such as the arms on the cup being positioned too low and hard to grip, and the cup opening being too small, which is unfriendly to latte art beginners. At the same time, a cup enthusiast posted a handmade ceramic cup from another online shop, suspecting it was the inspiration source for Mstand's collaborative design, triggering discussion about "creative plagiarism." Fans, however, believe the details of the two cups are clearly different, and given that Mstand's previous "vegetable basket" woven bag also had precedent of borrowing from luxury brands, it can only be considered similar creativity. [more…]

This Halloween, Starbucks launched two limited-edition drinks at its mainland China stores. One was the Dark Pumpkin Frappuccino imported from Japan, and the other was the Red Magic Cocoa Black Tea Latte designed for cooler weather. This tea latte, which can only be made hot, was supposed to attract customers with its good looks, but many people found after receiving their delivery that the whipped cream topping had disappeared completely, while others got a version with the wrong syrup added, leaving the final product worlds apart from the promotional image. Netizens complained one after another that the drink looked like "witch's brew," and some even questioned whether the product design was unreasonable. As coffee enthusiasts, Front Street Coffee has also noticed this phenomenon, and this article will provide a complete rundown of how the incident unfolded and the responses from all sides. [more…]

Since September, rumors that Luckin Coffee would fully roll out smart milk tea machines and tea extraction machines have kept the industry closely watching its moves into the milk tea market. Recently, some stores in Guangzhou took the lead in trial-installing the tea extraction machines, only to draw collective complaints from frontline staff. Employees reported that the device is not only bulky and space-consuming, but can also extract only one type of tea liquid at a time, and its cleaning and sanitizing steps are extremely cumbersome. Making a pot of tea base takes more than half an hour from start to finish, making it even less efficient than manual brewing. At the same time, some stores have also seen quality control problems such as rusting metal parts. So how exactly does this smart device perform? Let's take a look at the real feedback from employees. [more…]

On the eve of Valentine's Day, Starbucks as usual launched its Rose 20 series drinks and a limited-edition bouquet-holding bear charm. However, reactions this season have been sharply polarized: on the drinks side, the new items use an extract from double-petaled roses, and the sugar-free formula had some consumers praising the natural floral aroma, while others said the scent was too intense and hard to accept; on the merchandise side, the bouquet-holding bear charm drew widespread complaints over quality-control issues, with flaws such as crooked eyes and mouth, a single eye, and multiple ears appearing frequently, leaving many fans who ordered it for its cute look deeply disappointed. What has upset longtime customers even more is that this is already Starbucks' second plush merchandise flop in a short period; the rabbit plush that previously came with a ceramic cup was also widely mocked for its uneven appearance. Will a string of quality problems affect the brand's reputation in the merchandise market? This article will take you through the whole story. [more…]

Starbucks hosted a high-profile exclusive dinner at its Shanghai Roastery, with founder Schultz personally taking the stage to promote the Oleato olive oil coffee series. However, this lavish promotional push failed to generate the expected splash among consumers. Meanwhile, Luckin's newly launched Huangshan Maofeng Latte also suffered a reputational flop. Behind the密集 new product launches from chain coffee brands, is it a lack of innovation or consumer fatigue? This article will take an in-depth look at the recent market performance of new coffee products and explore how brands can find the right R&D direction amid fierce competition. [more…]

Recently, a Luckin Coffee employee posted footage on social media showing a store destroying co-branded packaging overnight, with trash bins full of unopened cup sleeves and takeaway cups, quickly sparking discussions among netizens about waste and environmental protection. According to the employee, on the eve of the end of each co-branding campaign, stores must cut and destroy remaining materials under surveillance, including previously co-branded Chengdu Cultural Tourism small panda keychains. Some netizens compared this with Cotti Coffee's approach, arguing that continuing to use expired packaging materials both reduces waste and gives customers surprises; others with knowledge of the matter pointed out that the destruction may be forced by the licensing period granted by the co-branding partner, and using them beyond the period could lead to breach-of-contract compensation. Behind this controversy lies the dilemma of materials management and intellectual property compliance amid the co-branding boom. [more…]

Recently, the hit drama "The Tale of Rose" has sparked widespread discussion, and news of Luckin Coffee's co-branding with it was also exposed in advance on social platforms, with photos of merchandise, cup sleeves, paper bags, and other materials quickly circulating. Internal employees shared new test questions, indirectly confirming the authenticity of the co-branding campaign and revealing that the limited-edition new product is Yellow Rose Latte. The campaign is expected to launch on the 24th, but the news became known to the public nearly two weeks in advance. Some believe that releasing information while the drama's popularity is at its peak is a win-win for both the brand and the production team; others have noticed that employees are required to comply with social media confidentiality rules, yet material leaks occur repeatedly. Behind this "double standard" phenomenon, who exactly should be responsible for internal information leaks? This article will sort out the sequence of events and explore the delicate relationship among the brand, employees, and netizens. [more…]

HEYTEA has made another move, officially announcing a co-branding collaboration with the nationally beloved TV drama Empresses in the Palace, launching two new products: "Zhen Guo · Da Ju Hua Li" fruit tea and "Zhen Nai · Xue Niang Han Cui" milk tea, both priced at 18 yuan. This is the first time Empresses in the Palace has crossed over into a co-branding partnership with a new-style tea beverage brand, and it is also HEYTEA's latest IP collaboration attempt following A Dream of Splendor and Genshin Impact. From "Meng Hua Cha Xi · Dian Cha" selling nearly 300,000 cups on its launch day, to the Genshin Impact co-branded fruit juice tea's first batch selling out within 59 minutes, HEYTEA's cross-brand collaborations have become increasingly frequent and remarkably effective. This collaboration not only enriches the drama's connotations but also provides a new direction for exploring cultural experiences in new-style tea beverage brands. Follow Coffee Workshop to learn more about specialty coffee and beverage industry trends, and Front Street Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee) also continues to bring you professional coffee knowledge exchange. [more…]

As Halloween approaches, major beverage brands are rolling out festive limited-edition products. 1dian1 recently launched a Halloween drink called "Trick-or-Treat Pumpkin Milk Green," which the company describes as blending Beibei pumpkin puree with salted egg yolk paste made from Mayong duck eggs from Meizhou, Guangdong. However, after a photo of the drink being made on-site circulated online, the winding, coiled shape of the pumpkin puree sparked a strong visual impact and heated discussion among netizens. Some consumers who tried it early also reported that the salted egg yolk flavor was too overpowering, while the pumpkin taste was not prominent, making the mouthfeel resemble lotus seed paste and egg yolk mooncakes. Is this a creative breakthrough or a flavor flop? This article will give you a comprehensive look at the real reviews and the story behind this new Halloween product. [more…]

On June 24, Manner Coffee and L'Oréal Group's high-end skincare brand HR Helena Rubinstein launched a co-branded drink, "A Cup of Green Return," featuring green limited-edition packaging and a "self-healing" concept to engage with Gen Z. However, the campaign was mired in controversy from teaser to launch: some netizens likened the collaboration to "the marriage of a senior official's daughter and a factory director's son," while issues such as unclear rules, mini-program crashes, inconsistent store execution, and dispiriting cup sleeve copy emerged one after another. Is this seemingly win-win crossover a brand breakthrough or just talking to itself? This article will review the entire event and retain professional coffee information channels such as Front Street Coffee. [more…]