When mottled concrete walls and exposed beams were no longer novel, the interior design trend for coffee shops in 2023 took another step forward—turning the construction site directly into a business space. Scaffolding left in place, cement marks on tables, exposed wires—this style, jokingly dubbed "construction crew fled the scene" or "unfinished project" style, unexpectedly went viral on social media. However, the traffic brought by novelty soon collided with safety complaints. Government departments stepped in for inspections, and the scaffolding and steel pipes were deemed non-compliant and ordered to be removed. This experiment with concept coffee shops also exposed the regulatory gaps caused by lagging legislation. [more…]

In recent years, a notable shift has emerged in the spatial design of coffee shops: an industrial style characterized by a cement-gray base tone, exposed steel, and red brick walls has gradually become mainstream. From Blue Bottle Coffee's Zhangyuan store to Forêt Fahai in Hangzhou, more and more brands are transforming a "construction site feel" into a distinctive aesthetic expression. Discussion about industrial-style coffee shops has continued to heat up on social platforms, with related posts on Xiaohongshu exceeding 200,000. Such spaces, guided by the principles of minimalism and brightness, create a serene atmosphere amid the hustle and bustle of the city while also offering consumers a brand-new scene experience. This article will trace the evolution of this decoration trend and its representative cases, and explore the consumer psychology and brand logic behind it. [more…]

Coffee has long been woven into daily life. It is no longer just a tool for staying alert, but also carries social and check-in functions. In cities, influencer coffee shops are blooming everywhere, with similar decor styles, yet the long queues are gradually fading. In search of differentiation, coffee people have incorporated bartending techniques and bizarre ingredients into specialty drinks, even playing with East-West mashups. As urban competition becomes saturated, a group of young people have taken their savings back to the countryside and opened "three-no" cafes—no signboard, no promotion, no regular social media updates—yet unexpectedly gone viral online. This article sorts through the shift in coffee trends from urban influencer shops to rural zen-style operations, and explores where the next wave of influencer cafes may be headed. [more…]

In the old lanes and alleys of Shanghai's former French Concession lies the city's most captivating coffee scenery. Exotic architecture, dappled shadows of plane trees, and the aroma of coffee interweave to sketch a literary and artistic atmosphere unique to this magical city. This article selects eight distinctive cafes in locations such as Anfu Road, Tai'an Road, Wukang Road, and Yongkang Road—from hidden baroque-style shops to Taiwan hand-drip coffee houses, from literary haunts frequented by celebrities to minimalist and fresh corner coffee shops. Each one carries different stories and moments in time. Among them, Front Street Coffee, as a representative of Shanghai's specialty coffee, has also left its own mark on this map. Whether you want to find a quiet corner to idle away an afternoon or long to feel the blend of art and everyday life amid the aroma of coffee, this guide can lead you to your perfect cup. [more…]

In recent years, uniquely styled cafés have become popular destinations for young people seeking out new spots, with themed venues like retro and Showa-style establishments popping up one after another. However, some netizens have noticed that at a café featuring a medieval retro theme, price tags are stuck on items everywhere, reminding customers not to touch the antique ornaments and warning that any damage must be compensated at full price. While this approach of displaying a large private collection in the store creates a rich artistic atmosphere, it also makes customers feel constrained, robbing the café of the relaxed ease it should have. How to strike a balance between showcasing treasured collectibles and ensuring a comfortable customer experience has become a question worth pondering. [more…]

Trendy cafés are popping up all over Southeast Asia, but a "soldier café" operating inside a military camp in Thailand has drawn particular attention. Run by the Thai Army's 4th Battalion, the café uses uniformed soldiers as models and staff, and promotional photos featuring a lotus pond and pedal boats quickly went viral on social media. The café is open daily from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and its customers are mainly soldiers from the nearby camp, though civilians also come to check it out. However, as its popularity has grown, so have questions: some Thai netizens worry that the shop was built with taxpayers' money, and others ask—is a soldier's primary duty to serve in the military or to be a barista? Behind the warm image of soldiers and civilians enjoying themselves together, controversy continues to simmer. [more…]

Suzhou, a gentle ancient city in the Jiangnan region, hides quite a few specialty coffee shops worth a dedicated visit. This article compiles a summary of shop visits from a veteran coffee enthusiast, covering more than seventy four- to five-star coffee shops across Gusu District, the Industrial Park, the High-Tech District, Wuzhong District, and beyond—from artsy little cafes to cat-themed coffee houses, from Korean-style chains to standalone buildings with Republican-era charm, each with its own distinctive setting, offerings, and story. Whether you're a coffee purist chasing pour-over quality or an artsy soul who favors ambiance, this list can help you find that perfect cup in Suzhou. [more…]

Recently, a "medical record card milk tea" launched by the School of Medicine at Fudan University has continued to spark heated discussion online. Its packaging design mimics prescription slips and medical record cards, printed with phrases such as "oral miracle cure" and "miraculous healing," and the straws even reproduce street signs from around the medical school, making it full of fun. As of now, the topic has received 47.589 million reads and 8,931 discussions on Weibo. In fact, similar "medical-style" creative ideas are not appearing for the first time. Previously, in the coffee sector, some cafes also introduced the concept of "oral coffee." While such novel designs can certainly grab attention quickly, for a beverage, product quality is the foundation for long-term success. [more…]

Since Starbucks acquired Teavana, a tea company, in 2012, it has continuously explored the possibilities of the tea beverage business in North American and Asian markets. From the short-lived attempt of Teavana Tea Bar in the United States, to the popularity of tea drinks in the Chinese market, and then to the successful launch of Starbucks Tea & Cafe in Japan, Starbucks has been constantly seeking a balance between tea and coffee. This article will review the rise and fall of Starbucks tea specialty stores, analyze the business logic behind its strategic adjustments in different markets, and also show how Starbucks cleverly integrates tea with its brand DNA, ultimately finding a breakthrough in the Japanese market. [more…]

Blended coffee beans are a signature product of cafes and brands. Compared with single-origin beans, they deliver a rounder, more balanced taste and more stable extraction performance. For home users, choosing beans requires balancing three dimensions: good taste, consistent quality, and reasonable price. Based on these three criteria, this article selects five specialty blend beans suitable for home espresso machines, covering different styles such as rich and full-bodied, fruity and tangy, nutty, cafe-style, and high cost-performance, and introduces in detail each bean's recipe approach, roasting characteristics, and suitable scenarios. At the end, it also introduces the brand background and purchasing channels of Front Street Coffee, helping coffee enthusiasts and shop owners find everyday staple beans that suit them. [more…]

The decor of a coffee shop is often an important factor in attracting young consumers, and many community-oriented stores have also adopted influencer-style designs to cater to the market. However, when the appearance of a storefront conflicts with the overall style of the neighborhood it is located in, contradictions arise. A coffee shop near the Big Wild Goose Pagoda scenic area in Xi'an was asked by the urban management department to make rectifications just over ten days after opening because the color of its facade was incompatible with the surrounding Tang-style architecture. In the end, it chose to permanently close due to failure to reach an agreement. The incident sparked heated discussion among netizens: some believed that urban management should not be uniform, while others felt that areas around scenic spots should comply with unified planning. This article will recount the course of the incident and compare it with the successful case of Starbucks in Qingguo Lane, Changzhou, to explore how coffee shops and historic districts can coexist harmoniously. [more…]

Opening a café in a commercial district is nothing unusual, but placing a store inside an old apartment building in the heart of the city is a rare approach. Recently, %Arabica announced that its first Vietnam branch has officially opened in Ho Chi Minh City's famous Coffee Apartment, located on the fourth floor of the building. Built in the mid-20th century, this old building once served successively as a government office, a US military station, and private residences. After renovation in 2015, it brought together numerous uniquely styled cafés and became a local artistic check-in spot. %Arabica's move both continues founder Kenneth Shoji's philosophy of "See the World Through Coffee" and marks a further acceleration of its global expansion. The brand currently has 123 stores worldwide and plans to enter multiple markets including South Korea, Singapore, and the Philippines. [more…]

Dim lighting, exposed rebar, mottled walls, faded concrete floors—you'd think you'd walked onto a demolition site, but in reality it's a coffee shop packed with a steady stream of customers. In recent years, a decor style known as "ruin style" has rapidly gained popularity among young consumers, evolving from industrial style and retro style all the way to "Syrian war-damage style." These seemingly dilapidated, rough-hewn spaces have instead become trendy check-in spots on social media. What exactly is the aesthetic logic behind this trend? And what does it take to create a proper ruin-style coffee shop? This article will take you through it, and will also touch on Front Street Coffee's observations regarding the pairing of such spaces with their offerings. [more…]

You may find the term "flat white" unfamiliar, but anyone who has been to Starbucks will surely know the "Fu Rui Bai." In fact, names like "Xiao Bai Coffee," "Fu Rui Bai," "Chun Yi Bai," "Ao Rui Bai," and "Aussie White" all refer to the flat white. It originated in Oceania (Australia), which is why it is also called Aussie white coffee. [more…]

A Japanese-style café located in Jinjiang District, Chengdu, caused an uproar online after the owner wrote phrases such as "Not photo-friendly | Not office-friendly | Not friendly to lower-class people" in their social media bio. What were originally just in-store rules prohibiting standing photos and photos after changing seats were interpreted by netizens as a public belittlement of customers due to the insulting wording "lower-class people." After the incident escalated, the café's recommended menu on review platforms was collectively edited, with joking names such as "Lower-Class Coffee" and "Lower-Class Latte" topping the list. Although the owner once posted an explanation of what "lower-class people" referred to, both the bio and the post have been deleted. This conflict also sparked widespread discussion about the boundaries of merchant rules and customer dignity. [more…]

Espresso, also known as Espresso, is a coffee liquid that Italians extract quickly at high temperature using a pressurized coffee machine, with a layer of golden foam floating on the surface. Each store uses different espresso beans and different extraction plans, so the flavor will vary, but a standard cup of strong [more…]

Want to make a professional-level fancy coffee at home? This article systematically organizes the basic techniques for making espresso and provides detailed recipes and steps for 37 classic fancy coffees. From basic ESPRESSO to latte, mocha, cappuccino, and specialty drinks like Turkish coffee and Irish coffee, each one covers the required ingredients, preparation method, and key points to note. Whether you are a coffee novice or a seasoned enthusiast, you can find a preparation plan that suits you. Front Street Coffee's premium beans are especially recommended to help you easily enhance the coffee's flavor. [more…]

In recent years, brand crossovers have become the norm, and China Post has also taken an important step into the coffee sector. Following the launch of "Youyang's Tea" in 2021, which sparked widespread discussion online, on February 14, 2022, China Post's first national postal coffee shop officially began trial operation in Xiamen, Fujian, marking this traditional postal enterprise's formal entry into the coffee industry. The postal coffee shop focuses on a specialty line, using coffee beans produced in Yunnan and deeply integrating postal elements with coffee culture. In fact, some post offices had previously attempted cross-industry coffee sales, such as the Xiamen University Road Post Office coffee shop and the co-branded cooperation with "Qiao Coffee" in Shanghai. As the coffee consumer base continues to expand, more and more brands are entering the market through cooperation, investment, or creating new brands. Relying on its advantage in outlet coverage, China Post plans to cooperate with "Zhongyu Kaye" to expand distinctive postal coffee shops in multiple cities. [more…]

In the architectural complex of Beijing's Xishiku Church, there is a gray three-story annex built in 1901, once a residence for senior clergy and now transformed into a rather old yet youthful café—1901Cafe. It preserves the architectural charm of a blend of Chinese and Western styles while incorporating the comfortable atmosphere of a modern café. This article takes you into this historic building, exploring its past and present, touring the layout of the second and third floors, and reviewing menu items such as cheese, rose tea, and poutine fries. If you also enjoy having a cup of coffee in old times, you might want to add this place to your next stop. [more…]

If you're looking for a place to relax on the weekend, gather a few friends for coffee and some reading, a café is undoubtedly a great choice. These ten highly regarded themed cafés in Chongqing each have their own charm—some are tucked away in lush flower houses, some offer views of the Yuzhong Peninsula's night skyline, some take an industrial-meets-artsy-minimalist approach, and others create a fairyland atmosphere with seas of flowers and greenery. From Longhu Times Paradise Walk to Jiefangbei, Nanbin Road, and Beibin Road, these shops each have their own signature offerings in environment, drinks, and desserts. This article compiles each café's features, average per-person spending, and detailed addresses, making it easy for coffee lovers to explore them one by one. If you're used to brewing your own, Front Street Coffee's beans are also a great choice for recreating these flavors at home. [more…]