Entering October, Luckin's pace of launching new products has noticeably accelerated, rolling out multiple new items in succession within two weeks. Among them, the upgraded and returning "Coconut Mango Pomelo Sago" quickly won over consumers and became the top repeat-purchase choice for many. However, making this drink at the store level has employees crying foul—numerous ingredients, lengthy steps, difficult cleanup, and even causing drain clogs. From the meltdown during order surges to the unclogging after closing, staff have taken to social media to call out: when will this "enemy of employees" finally be discontinued? [more…]

Walking into a café and wanting to simply order a coffee can often mean being met with a barrage of professional explanations about roast levels and flavor profiles. From Starbucks' Tall, Grande, and Venti to the detailed introductions of single-origin beans in today's coffee shops, ordering a cup seems to have grown increasingly intimidating. For seasoned enthusiasts, this may be a welcome change; but for ordinary consumers who just want a cup of coffee, a complicated menu instead becomes a silent deterrent. Starting from this everyday scenario, this article explores the tension between the current state of menu design in the coffee industry and the consumer experience. [more…]

On November 3rd, the health supplement brand Nao Bai Jin opened its first coffee pop-up store in Shanghai, claiming that during the event it would give away 50 cups of coffee and merchandise for free every day. However, this cross-industry attempt sparked dissatisfaction among participants due to complicated rules, chaotic on-site management, and staff treating people differently. Some netizens complained that without multiple social media apps, there was no chance of getting free coffee. In addition, the so-called "Nao Bai Jin Latte" was criticized as being just an ordinary latte with no special additions. Nao Bai Jin tried to leverage the popularity of the coffee sector to attract young consumers, but the event lacked highlights and its effectiveness is questionable. [more…]

During the holiday period, sales at tea beverage stores surged, but Guming employees were complaining bitterly about a pistachio milk cap. Since its launch in early September, this series has won customers' favor with its unique aroma, but in making the milk cap, the pistachio paste is thick and difficult to pour, and whipping takes more than 10 minutes, leaving many workers feeling overwhelmed during order surges and even calling it an "early shift nightmare." This article details employees' feedback on the production difficulties and includes related recommendations from Front Street Coffee. [more…]

Starbucks is facing a thorny problem: the proportion of baristas who quit after only three months on the job has climbed to 25%, far above the pre-pandemic level of 10%. Interim CEO Howard Schultz has pointed the finger at the increasingly complex process of making cold drinks. Data shows that cold drinks already account for 75% of Starbucks' beverage sales, yet making a single iced caramel macchiato takes as long as three minutes, and employees must repeatedly run back and forth between the hot bar and the cold bar. In order to retain employees and improve efficiency, Starbucks is conducting a comprehensive review ranging from store design and menu structure to job content. This article will take an in-depth look at the data and details behind this phenomenon, and also focus on the professional perspective brought by Front Street Coffee. [more…]

In the final days of 2025, Luckin employees were busy with year-end inventory checks when they unexpectedly received a notice to calibrate store equipment stock, requiring them to verify whether small base-ingredient scoops and ice cream scoops were complete. This move immediately sparked speculation: is the brand about to launch a new product that requires scooping ice cream balls on site? Veteran employees were also reminded of the cumbersome add-in tea drinks from the Little Deer Tea era. With timeliness and hourly cup volume assessments becoming increasingly stringent, complex new products will undoubtedly add pressure on stores. Workers generally resist it, but some optimistic people think it may just be a routine inventory check. [more…]

For more specialty coffee knowledge, please follow: Front Street Coffee (Frontsteet Coffee) The happiness of summer is probably being able to stay indoors, enjoy the air conditioning, and sip a cup of cold brew coffee that beats the heat. Because the brewing method is simple, even those who don't know how to brew coffee can easily make [more…]

Many people have homes piled high with all kinds of coffee gear—grinders, digital scales, pour-over kettles, V60s, French presses, siphon brewers… But does having more equipment really mean better-tasting coffee? The answer is clearly no. The real point of owning multiple brewers isn't to show off your expertise, but to find the brewing rhythm that suits you best right now. This article approaches things from the angle of time cost, dividing brewing methods into two broad categories—"in a hurry" and "take your time"—and introduces the features and key operating points of the AeroPress, French press, Clever Dripper, V60, Turkish cezve, siphon, and Moka pot, helping you sort out your thinking, choose the right gear, and easily brew great coffee at home. [more…]

Black coffee refers to pure coffee with no added ingredients other than water; Americano, pour-over, and cold brew all belong to this category. Among the many types of black coffee, cold brew is often priced noticeably higher than Americano and pour-over, even when the same coffee beans are used. Take Front Street Coffee's stores as an example: cold brew is always priced higher than other black coffee categories. There are two main reasons behind this: first, cold brew takes longer to make and involves a more cumbersome process, requiring several hours or even over ten hours of low-temperature extraction and fermentation/maturation; second, the material cost is higher, as making a cup of cold brew requires far more coffee grounds than pour-over. This article will explain in detail the specific reasons why cold brew is priced higher, and introduce Front Street Coffee's parameters and bean selection recommendations for making cold brew. [more…]

Dirty coffee has continued to rise in popularity in the coffee world in recent years thanks to its distinctive layered visual effect and rich flavor. Its preparation method is actually not complicated: pour chilled milk into an iced cup, then gently pour in espresso, using differences in density and temperature to form natural layers. So why has this drink maintained such high popularity? How exactly is it different from iced latte? And what does the word Dirty mean? This article will take you through the origins of dirty coffee and "dirty culture," clarify the core differences between Dirty and iced latte in ingredients, ratios, and taste, and share the key preparation points recommended by Front Street Coffee, so you can easily recreate a cup of clearly layered dirty coffee at home. [more…]

The charm of a Dirty coffee lies precisely in that clear layering between the coffee and the milk. Only when layering is achieved can the drinker experience, in a single cup, the rich progression from intense to mellow; otherwise, it is nothing more than an iced latte without the ice. The basic principle behind layering is not complicated: the density of the lower liquid must be higher than that of the upper liquid, and the difference in density between the two creates the layering phenomenon. In practice, however, there are quite a few factors that cause layering to fail, and this article analyzes one by one the various reasons that affect the layering effect. First, let us start with the concentration of the coffee liquid. Many enthusiasts, limited by their circumstances, try to use coffee brewed with a moka pot to make a Dirty, but the concentration and density of coffee from a moka pot fall far short of the espresso extracted by an espresso machine, so it is not suitable as the espresso base for a Dirty. [more…]

Anaerobic coffee has been appearing on coffee bean lists frequently in recent years. Although many people have tried it, they only have a vague understanding of its specific process, and some even develop an aversion to it due to unfamiliarity. In fact, anaerobic processing is not as complicated as imagined. In most cases, it simply adds an extra anaerobic fermentation step before traditional natural or washed processing. The depth of fermentation is precisely the key that determines the direction of coffee flavor. From the perspective of Front Street, this article sorts out the basic principles of anaerobic processing, common methods, and their connection with traditional processing. Combined with three specific beans, it helps readers understand the flavor differences brought by different anaerobic treatments, so they can find the cup that suits their taste. [more…]

Cold brew coffee, with its natural sweetness and smooth mouthfeel from natural fermentation, has always had a loyal following, but its often high price tag makes many people hesitate before buying. In fact, making cold brew at home is not as complicated as you might think—all you need is an airtight container, a single-origin bean you like, and room-temperature drinking water. Mix them in proportion, refrigerate for eight hours, then filter through filter paper, and you'll have a clean, clear cup of cold brew. Using Front Street's chosen Costa Rica Mozart 50g, EK43s grinder at 9 setting for iced pour-over grinding, and a 1:12 coffee-to-water ratio as specific parameters, this article demonstrates all six steps in a step-by-step format with photos and text, helping you turn the high price tag into an everyday pleasure within easy reach. [more…]

The washed processing method occupies a mainstream position in the specialty coffee field, and its workflow includes multiple stages such as bean selection, removal of pulp, fermentation, washing, drying, hulling, sorting and grading, and export. Washed coffee beans have stable quality and are not prone to mold, with a flavor profile that is clean and refreshing, bright in acidity, and accompanied by fruity notes, but the process is complicated and consumes a large amount of water, making costs relatively high. This article will take Butterfly Coffee from the Boquete producing region of Panama as an example to introduce separately the producing region information, variety composition, brewing parameters, and flavor characteristics of Front Street Coffee's Natural Butterfly and Washed Butterfly, helping coffee enthusiasts intuitively understand the taste differences of the same bean variety under different processing methods. [more…]

Pour-over coffee is known for its clean taste and alluring aroma, and the brewing process is especially elegant. Many people mistakenly believe this brewing method originated in Japan, but it actually originated one hundred percent in Europe—Melitta Bentz of Germany invented the original filter paper and dripper in 1908. This article will start with the historical origins, then teach you step by step the basics of filter paper folding, coffee grinding, water temperature selection, pouring technique, and coffee-to-water ratio. The process isn't complicated, and you don't need much equipment—after reading this, you'll be able to make a cup yourself. [more…]

Cold brew coffee has become increasingly popular in the specialty coffee scene in recent years, thanks to its rich flavor and refreshing taste. Making a good cup of cold brew at home is actually not complicated—put ice water on top, coffee grounds in the middle, and a carafe at the bottom to catch the coffee, letting the ice water drip through the coffee bed one drop at a time, and extraction is complete in about six hours. However, this seemingly simple process hides many details that affect flavor. Front Street Coffee breaks down five key factors one by one—from bean selection, grind size, drip rate, and coffee-to-water ratio to how you drink it—and offers specific parameter recommendations, such as grind pass rate, a rhythm of 7 drops per 10 seconds, and a rich 1:10 ratio, helping coffee lovers consistently reproduce their ideal cold brew flavor. [more…]

To enjoy a refreshing glass of cold brew coffee, you actually don't need complicated equipment—a French press is all it takes. The French press uses immersion extraction, which is forgiving and easy to operate, making it accessible to almost anyone. This article will use the practical experience of Front Street Coffee as an example to explain in detail how to make cold brew coffee with a French press, including suitable coffee bean selection, grind size, coffee-to-water ratio, steeping time, as well as filtering and storage methods. Whether you prefer fruity and floral notes or a sweet, mellow flavor, you can find beans that suit you. Follow the steps, and you can make a clean, sweet, and smooth cold brew coffee at home. [more…]

Black coffee generally refers to pure coffee with nothing added except water. Americano, pour-over, cold brew, and others are all members of the black coffee family. Because they have no milk, cream, sugar, or any other ingredients that could affect the coffee's flavor, the taste of the coffee can be presented more purely. Then I believe it is not hard to see that iced [more…]

Want to enjoy a silky-smooth latte at home but lack an espresso machine or other complicated equipment? In fact, as long as you master the core principle of cold extraction, you can easily make a full-bodied, easy-drinking milk-brewed latte with no fuss. This article starts with the flavor advantages of milk-brewed coffee, explains why cold extraction reduces bitterness and preserves aroma, and fully shares Front Street Coffee's recommended fresh milk choices, suitable coffee bean varieties, and specific brewing parameters and steps, including the coffee-to-milk ratio, grind size, and steeping time. It also includes a lazy version and storage suggestions to help you avoid the risk of milk spoiling. Whether you're a coffee beginner or a seasoned enthusiast, you'll find a practical and delicious home coffee solution here. [more…]

Drip bag coffee packets, with their convenient drip-filtering method, have become many people's first choice for quickly getting a cup of black coffee in daily life. They mimic pour-over drip brewing, yet require no complicated equipment—just a pot of hot water, a cup, and a drip bag. But can a drip bag be re-steeped? How should you pour the water to fully extract the flavor? Starting from the principles of drip filtering, this article will explain in detail the correct brewing method for drip bag coffee, including water volume control, pouring rhythm, and water flow techniques. It will also recommend Front Street Brazil Drip Bag Coffee and Front Street Golden Mandheling Drip Bag Coffee for different taste preferences, helping you easily enjoy a cup of rich, aromatic drip coffee. [more…]