Tims' newly launched fruit and vegetable drink "Cranberry Yogurt Smoothie" quickly caught consumers' attention with its unique ring-shaped packaging cup, and many people even placed orders specifically for this oddly shaped cup. However, when customers received the drink, they found that it came with a straight, thick straw, and the combination with the ring-shaped cup made people exclaim, "Is this reasonable?" The smoothie has a thick texture, and the straight straw can hardly reach the bottom inside the ring-shaped bottle, so customers had no choice but to unscrew the cap and drink directly. At the same time, Tims employees also complained that the ring-shaped cup affected service efficiency, as the slushy drink was difficult to pour into the narrow bottle opening. Whether this creative packaging is a bonus or a trouble maker has sparked widespread discussion. [more…]

Following the case of Shuyi Burning Grass Jelly, the Shanghai Consumer Council on March 13 once again turned its attention to the internet-famous tea beverage brand More Yogurt, focusing on the ingredient composition of its "Mango Yogurt Smoothie." Testing by the Consumer Council found that the drink contained only a small amount of yogurt yet had unusually high fat content, and despite being labeled as having no added sugar, sucrose and maltose were still detected. The Consumer Council questioned the source of this excess fat and sugar and demanded that More Yogurt explain to consumers "what was added." The incident quickly sparked widespread discussion and trended on Weibo. This article sorts through the testing data and science popularization information released by the Consumer Council to present the full picture of the incident. For readers interested in coffee and beverage industry trends, Front Street Coffee also continues to follow such food safety topics and advocates transparent consumption. [more…]

The freshly made yogurt sector has been hit by yet another food safety scandal. An undercover reporter from The Beijing News worked inside several More Yogurt franchise stores in Beijing and found that oat and highland barley toppings more than forty days past their expiration date were still being used as usual, expiry labels existed in name only, and decisions to scrap fruit relied entirely on staff members' sense of smell. More worrying still, these violations were not isolated cases, but an unspoken rule tolerated by store managers in order to cut costs and boost their personal income. The brand issued an urgent apology a few hours later, announcing that the stores involved would be permanently terminated. This is already the second time this year that More Yogurt has been thrust into the spotlight; previously, the Shanghai Consumer Council questioned the labeling of its product ingredients. This article provides a complete rundown of the undercover details, the brand's response, and the latest status of its stores. [more…]

As coffee has gradually become more widely recognized, specialty coffee promotion in cafés has emerged in response, and we too have begun tracing things back to their roots—we have come to treat coffee as culture. The rise of specialty pour-over coffee undoubtedly reflects the demands of the market and the needs that cafés have identified. Café counters have also begun to lower their "status," no longer featuring the early design of a bar raised a foot high. [more…]

Front Street Colombia Rose Valley has become a highly talked-about coffee on the bean list thanks to its signature flavors of peach, cranberry, liqueur chocolate, and rose florals. Where exactly does its intense aroma come from? Is it a flavored bean? This article traces the real causes of Rose Valley's flavor step by step, from the volcanic soil of the Santander growing region and the characteristics of the Caturra variety to the anaerobic enzyme washed processing method that rose to prominence after 2014, and includes Front Street Coffee's in-store V60 brewing parameters and three-pour extraction steps to help you recreate at home that cup combining berry-like acidity with caramel sweetness. [more…]

Heytea recently announced that it will launch its first "Tea Special" product, "Guava Snow Jasmine King," on August 13, accompanied by a limited-time buy-one-get-one-free promotion, drawing widespread consumer attention. However, behind the frequent release of new products, store employees are facing increasingly heavy production pressure. According to statistics, Heytea has launched at least 7 new products in the past two months, covering categories such as milk tea, fruit and vegetable tea, and smoothies, with the menu updated almost every 1 to 2 weeks. From washing and cutting fruit to stirring cheese glutinous rice, and then to making smoothies, employees' workload keeps piling up, and a large number of complaints have appeared on social media. This article sorts out the contradiction between new product launches and employee burden, presenting the real voices behind the rapid product innovation in the tea beverage industry. [more…]

The collaboration between Gu Ming and the hit game "Honkai: Star Rail" ignited a consumer frenzy as soon as it launched, with over 1.2 million people queuing in the mini-program, and the topic quickly shot to the top of trending searches. Store orders poured in like snowflakes, and the limited-edition drinks were all fresh fruit smoothies with complex preparation processes. Under high-intensity operation, multiple smoothie machines were overwhelmed, emitting white smoke and even exploding on the spot, while staff were so busy they didn't even have time to drink water. To deal with equipment failures, some stores prepared backup machines in advance, while others had to borrow juicers from neighboring Shu Yi Shao Xian Cao and Luckin for emergency use. Behind this collaboration frenzy, issues such as excessively high thresholds for obtaining merchandise and enormous pressure on stores were exposed, also triggering discussions on optimization measures such as selling drinks and merchandise separately and cup storage services. [more…]

Recently, a consumer in Fuqing, Fujian, complained on social media that they found a wriggling, light-colored live worm in a vanilla cream melon chiffon milk tea smoothie purchased from Lelecha. The store responded that a review of the surveillance footage revealed no problems, and pointed out that the smoothie's temperature was below 0°C, making it impossible for a live worm to wriggle as quickly as shown in the video. The Fuqing Market Supervision Administration has inspected the store and has so far found no abnormalities; the incident is still under investigation. The consumer refused communication and compensation, insisting on keeping the post, while Lelecha stated that it had processed a refund and cooperated with the inspection. As of press time, the relevant video and post could no longer be found on social media. As coffee enthusiasts, understanding such food safety incidents helps us view issues in beverage consumption more rationally. Front Street Coffee reminds you that choosing reputable brands and stores and paying attention to beverage preparation and storage conditions are the keys to better enjoying every cup. [more…]

Recently, a consumer exposed that in a ChaPanda takeaway drink, they fished out a piece of avocado that had not been crushed and had already spoiled, sparking widespread attention. The drink involved was from ChaPanda's previously launched fruit and vegetable smoothie series, which in principle should not contain obvious fruit pulp residue. After the incident was exposed, many ChaPanda employees and netizens spoke out, directly pointing to serious dereliction of duty in store operations. At present, the customer has received a full refund and platform compensation, and ChaPanda has also proactively apologized and discussed compensation. This controversy has once again pushed the issues of ingredient quality control and employee operating standards at chain tea beverage brands into the spotlight. [more…]

Recently, a consumer posted on social media reporting that when ordering lunch through a third-party delivery platform at a Starbucks store, they received a box of yellow peach-flavored Greek-style yogurt with a grain mix that was three days past its expiration date. During consumption, the customer noticed that the date code on the packaging showed an expiration date of March 4, while the day of receipt was already March 7. The incident quickly drew netizens' attention, with many suggesting keeping evidence and filing complaints through official channels to defend their rights. However, after the customer contacted Starbucks customer service, the reply was that because the order was placed through a third-party platform, only the platform could handle the refund. This response left onlooking netizens dissatisfied, as they felt the brand showed little concern for the store's mistake. As of press time, the individual has filed a complaint on the 12315 platform, but the outcome has not yet been announced. [more…]

Well-known yogurt brand Blueglass was fined 400,000 yuan by the Beijing Chaoyang District Market Supervision Administration for an advertisement that carried hints about male function. In May of this year, the brand launched the "Superboy Boyfriend Power Wins a Round" series, adding ingredients such as cistanche, polygonatum, and ginseng, and paired it with advertising slogans such as "I won't sell to anyone under 18," which sparked consumer backlash. Regulators determined that its advertisement was vulgar, bordered on pornography, and violated public order. After the case came to light, the brand removed the related advertisement, but recently reporters found that the ad image still exists in the mini-program, and the product has been renamed "Good Spirit Wins a Round," while the ingredients still include maca, deer penis, and other components. As coffee enthusiasts, we pay attention to the boundaries and compliance issues of brand marketing. [more…]

Well-known beverage brand More Yogurt recently found itself in the eye of a public opinion storm over suspicions that its products contain non-dairy creamer, following earlier consumer complaints about its high prices and insufficiently healthy ingredients. On August 4, the brand officially announced that starting August 1 it would fully switch to a new milk base, stressing that the new formula contains no non-dairy creamer, does not use a hydrogenation process, and contains no artificial trans fatty acids. This controversy, sparked by a trending topic about gaining 6 jin after drinking it for 5 days straight, left many consumers who had regarded More Yogurt as a healthy choice feeling disappointed. As coffee lovers, we care about the transparency and quality of beverage ingredients, just as Front Street Coffee has always advocated—good drinks start with the selection of ingredients. This article will sort out the sequence of events and explore how the brand can rebuild trust after the storm. [more…]

After 16 years of operation, FamilyMart's coffee brand Let's Café has opened its first standalone coffee experience store, Let's Café PLUS, in Taipei, focusing on specialty coffee and a light food space. The store adopts a deep blue brand color scheme and offers single-origin coffee, cold brew, sparkling coffee, and other series, with the most expensive drink being the limited-edition Taiwan Yunlin Gukeng Geisha cold brew coffee. It also serves Twinings tea drinks, smoothies, and nearly 30 light food items, while continuing its environmental protection philosophy. In Taiwan, China, FamilyMart's Let's Café annual sales have reached 160 million cups, with a target of 200 million cups in 2023, and single-origin coffee is growing at an annual rate of 15%-20%. For more specialty coffee bean information, follow Front Street Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee), WeChat ID: qjcoffeex. [more…]

Recently, the yogurt brand Blueglass launched the "Superboy Boyfriend Power Comeback" series, adding traditional Chinese medicine ingredients such as Cistanche, Polygonatum, ginseng, deer whip, and oyster peptides. The intention might have been to promote a health concept, but it was questioned for borderline marketing due to the poster labeling it "18+" and suggestive copy. Similarly, Coconut Palm brand coconut juice was fined 400,000 yuan for vulgar advertising slogans, yet it generated over 5 billion yuan in sales. In an era where traffic is king, eye-catching marketing emerges endlessly, but not all of it yields good results. After Blueglass was exposed, the Shanghai Municipal Administration for Market Regulation has launched an investigation, and the relevant copy was revised and republished. However, the negative label brought by borderline marketing may not be easily erased from consumers' minds. [more…]

Front Street Coffee has previously offered several Colombian coffee beans, among which the Sakura anaerobic beans from Finca El Paraiso have a unique aroma with a faint hint of mugwort. This article will guide you through the background of Finca El Paraiso, the characteristics of the Castillo variety, and Front Street's cupping and brewing process for this Sakura coffee. In addition, Front Street also evaluated the Strawberry Yogurt double anaerobic washed beans from the same estate and attempted to make them into an SOE. Through this article, you will gain an in-depth understanding of the flavor performance of Finca El Paraiso coffee and Front Street's selection standards. [more…]

Luckin Coffee has partnered with Mengniu's Deluxe milk brand to launch a limited-edition new drink, "Deluxe Exclusive Pasture Latte," priced from 14.9 yuan, or 17.9 yuan for an upsized cup, making it the most expensive item on the mini-program menu. The preparation method for this latte is quite distinctive: for the iced version, the espresso must first be stirred with Deluxe milk for 8 rounds, then poured into a smoothie blender and frothed for over ten seconds, and finally sealed in a cup with ice; for the hot version, the espresso is added to a milk pitcher, mixed with milk, and heated. However, feedback from the first batch of consumers indicates that the finished product does not have a dense layer of milk foam on the surface, and the taste is not much different from an ordinary latte. Staff explained that the milk foam dissipates very easily and recommended drinking it immediately at the bar. Front Street Coffee has noticed that this innovative process has sparked online discussions about "ritual" versus practicality. [more…]

Coffee tasting goes far beyond taste—it is a coordinated experience of sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste. This article starts from the interactive setting of a specialty coffee shop and delves into how to train and build your own coffee sensory system through daily accumulation and professional tools. You will learn how smell pulls on taste memory, how the tongue distinguishes the five basic tastes, how touch perceives body and smoothness, and how to use aroma kits such as the 36-aroma coffee nose and the 100-flavor flavor map for deliberate practice. Whether you are a coffee enthusiast or a professional, this method can help you read the flavors in the cup more clearly, making every tasting more enjoyable and more precise. [more…]

To make a delicious espresso with single-origin coffee beans, extraction parameters and roast level are key. Using Front Street Coffee's Colombia Finca La Divisa Sidra SOE as an example, CoffeeHunters shares a complete preparation plan from espresso to Americano, latte, and flat white: 20 grams of grounds extracted to 40 grams of liquid in about 27 seconds, and explores why SOE requires a lighter roast than traditional espresso beans. The article also addresses why Finca El Paraiso Strawberry Yogurt is not recommended for espresso, making it a useful reference for coffee lovers looking for SOE coffee beans or wanting to adjust their espresso recipe. [more…]

Having been active on television screens for over twenty years, the health supplement brand Naobaijin has officially extended its reach into the coffee sector. Its first coffee shop opened on November 7 in Songjiang District, Shanghai, under the youthful sub-brand "Naobaijin+Café." The store not only continues the brand's signature blue visual identity and classic IP image, but also offers coffee, tea drinks, smoothies, and other beverage categories at affordable prices. In recent years, giants across various industries have ventured into the coffee business, from China Post to Li-Ning, Huawei, and NIO—coffee has become a popular choice for cross-industry expansion. Is Naobaijin's entry a path to rejuvenate its brand, or can it carve out a share in the fiercely competitive coffee market? This article will outline the features of Naobaijin's coffee shop and the industry trends in cross-industry coffee ventures. [more…]

Coffee consumption is spreading from first- and second-tier cities to third-, fourth-, and fifth-tier markets, yet the price threshold for freshly ground coffee still makes many office workers hesitate. Lu Zhengyao has opened the first outlet of his new brand Cotti Coffee in the Fuzhou IFC International Financial Center, with all drinks priced at 9.9 yuan during the soft-opening period, continuing a familiar low-price playbook. The product line covers more than 40 items, including coffee, tea, smoothies, and sundaes, featuring popular items such as coconut latte and cheese latte, with original prices ranging from 18 to 32 yuan. Facing pressure from the two giants Luckin and Starbucks, as well as cross-industry players such as KFC TO GO and Mixue Bingcheng's Lucky Cup, whether Cotti can replicate Luckin's achievement of opening 2,073 stores in its first year is worth watching. [more…]