The sealed packaging for takeaway drinks is supposed to be a crucial step in ensuring food safety, but recently some consumers have reported that the Heytea takeaway they received not only had a loose and damaged seal sticker, but was also covered in curly hair, which was extremely unpleasant. After the person involved contacted the merchant and the platform, both parties claimed there was no issue on their end, and ultimately, because the evidence had been discarded, it could not be investigated. In fact, Heytea's "peace of mind" seal stickers have repeatedly been criticized by consumers for insufficient stickiness and easily popping open, making the sealing effect virtually useless. This incident has once again sparked public concern about hygiene and seal management in food delivery. [more…]

Buying coffee as a gift is supposed to be a classy gesture, but when the recipient discovers a yellow sticker plastered on the cup lid bearing an internet "toxic chicken soup" quote, the situation instantly turns awkward. Recently, a customer complained on social media about an embarrassing experience after ordering takeout coffee: all four drink lids had preachy quote stickers attached, leaving both the giver and the receiver uncomfortable. The incident quickly sparked heated discussion online, with some sympathizing with the poster's anger and others feeling the merchant simply tried too hard. What should and shouldn't be written on a tiny sticker on a coffee cup has become a question worth pondering for coffee industry professionals. [more…]

Recently, a post about live ants found inside Tims bagel packaging has sparked widespread discussion on social media. A consumer bought two bagels through a food delivery platform, and upon opening the packaging, discovered ants crawling inside the bag, with some even embedded in the cream filling. Although the store issued a refund, it refused the consumer's demand for triple or tenfold compensation. Netizens are divided over questions such as where the ants came from and whether there were hidden risks in the packaging method. The incident has been reported to the 12315 platform, and the consumer's path to defending their rights continues. [more…]

Recently, a heated discussion about "fully labeled Chagee" has erupted on social media platforms. Customers have posted photos of takeaway cups covered with dozens of labels, which at first glance look like a deluxe toppings combo, but on closer inspection, apart from one label showing the drink name, all the rest read "this store's merch has been given away." Behind this baffling behavior is customers exploiting zero-yuan prompt items on delivery platforms to bulk-add products, causing store label printers to indiscriminately print out a pile of invalid stickers. Staff, facing a sudden "order surge" that turned out to be a false alarm, grumble that this wave of manipulation both wastes supplies and adds to their workload. So what exactly is going on? Let's take a look. [more…]

As the weather turns cold, hot milk tea tends to get cold during delivery, and many consumers try to reheat it in a microwave, only for accidents to happen frequently. Recently, multiple customers have reported that when heating Jasmine Naibai drinks, the paper cups showed burn marks and even nearly caused a fire. In contrast, heating milk tea from brands such as Bawang Chaji, Mixue Bingcheng, and Nayuki did not cause similar problems, raising questions about the quality of Jasmine Naibai's paper cups. However, onlookers rushed to defend the brand, pointing out that the cup sticker already has a reminder, and that the metallic substances in the cup's gold-stamped pattern reflect microwaves in the microwave, which is the main cause of the accidents. This article reviews the course of the incident and the underlying principles, and reminds readers: heating milk tea in a microwave poses safety hazards, so do not imitate it rashly. [more…]

Luckin Coffee's co-branded campaign with the popular IP Butterbear launched on September 30, introducing four themed cups and a Little Butter drink series that drew widespread attention from fans. However, after the campaign began, many consumers reported that orders placed through third-party platforms such as Ele.me did not come with the co-branded stickers, which was inconsistent with the official promotion's promise of "free with any 2 cups." Customer service responded that peripherals could only be obtained by ordering through the Luckin App or mini-program, prompting consumer questions about the lack of transparency in channel rules. The incident reflects the problem of inconsistent messaging in brands' multi-platform marketing and serves as a reminder that consumers should carefully confirm giveaway conditions before placing orders. [more…]

As Shanghai gradually resumes production and daily life, being able to get a cup of takeout coffee right at one's doorstep has become a small blessing for many. However, MANNER Coffee's store on Wujiang Road in Shanghai was found in a surprise inspection by market regulators to have problems including substandard environmental hygiene and non-compliant food storage, and was placed under investigation on May 23, quickly sparking heated discussion online. On May 24, MANNER's official Weibo account issued an apology statement, admitting that during the supply-guarantee delivery period there were oversights such as non-standard use of raw milk and failure to promptly clean the backing paper of food-safety seals, and stating that the store involved had immediately suspended operations for rectification. But this apology was questioned by some consumers and industry experts as evading the key issues and failing to directly address core hazards such as floor grime potentially contaminating food. As the pioneer of the domestic boutique coffee shop model, MANNER is facing a dual test of quality and food safety on a coffee track now crowded with cross-industry giants. [more…]

Takeout coffee has become an important part of daily consumption. From the moment a store hands off an order to the moment a rider delivers it, packaging design directly determines whether the cup of coffee the customer receives is intact, whether the temperature is right, and whether the taste is as good as it was fresh. Behind a cup of takeout coffee lies a series of detailed considerations: vent holes, leak-proof paper, foil insulation, separate packing and bagging, and even rain bags and custom packing boxes. These seemingly inconspicuous packaging steps not only affect order efficiency and the consumer experience, but also serve to spread word of mouth for the brand. This article will break down, one by one, the often-overlooked tricks of the trade in coffee takeout packaging, and look at how merchants strike a balance between preventing spills, keeping coffee warm, and preserving taste. [more…]

During the Spring Festival holiday that just passed, milk tea sales nationwide surged by 180.4% year-on-year, with many consumers bringing milk tea and coffee to the New Year's Eve dinner table, replacing traditional alcoholic drinks and beverages. The surge in orders put chain tea beverage stores into high-intensity operation from New Year's Eve, with receipt printers at the front desk spewing orders nonstop, empty cups piling up like mountains on the preparation counters, and staff in the prep room peeling, juicing, and boiling ingredients without a moment's rest. Employees worked around the clock, some putting in 12-hour days for a full week straight, some so busy they had no time to drink water or use the restroom, and equipment frequently jammed or broke down. Facing customers and delivery riders clamoring for their orders, staff at the pickup station could only apologize repeatedly, mocking themselves as "sorry to everyone." This article takes you inside the Spring Festival tea shop frenzy and the real lives of these workers. [more…]

When adding a milk ball to meet the minimum order for delivery, it seemed like an ordinary thing to do, but recently a consumer discovered something suspicious. To reach the minimum order amount, the customer spent 1.5 yuan at a coffee shop to buy a milk ball labeled "Nestlé." Upon receiving it, they tore off the delivery label and found that it was actually a milk ball with the McDonald's logo. This sparked many speculations: Did the merchant resell milk balls collected for free from McDonald's to customers? Some pointed out that there are suppliers in the market selling milk balls with brand logos, so it might not necessarily be from "freeloading." Moreover, sharp-eyed netizens noticed that the milk ball was neither Nestlé nor McDonald's, but a product from "Vitasoy." A tiny milk ball has brought up various topics about the supply of coffee industry accessories. [more…]

In recent years, collaborations between new tea beverage brands and popular IPs have become the norm, and the partnership between Good-me and Mo Dao Zu Shi is no exception. In early November, the two parties launched a limited-edition collaboration event, covering themed stores in 16 cities across the country. Fans were highly enthusiastic, and the long queues even made it onto trending topics. However, before the event even started, they had to apologize due to the cancellation of a drone show, and the shadow of the previous failed collaboration with Love and Deepspace had not yet dissipated. Despite the bumpy start, Good-me still announced an additional second round of takeout packages, intending to use the popular IP to boost sales again. This article will review the entire process of this collaboration, fan reactions, and brand strategy, while interspersing Front Street Coffee's observations on the phenomenon of industry collaborations. [more…]

A silent coffee shop in Shanghai, staffed mainly by hearing-impaired baristas, published an article titled "Please rest assured, we are still alive. But..." on June 14, quickly gaining over 80,000 views. Under the impact of the pandemic, dine-in service was suspended, delivery communication was hindered, and masks obscured lip-reading, plunging the shop into a situation of zero revenue and zero foot traffic. The baristas hand-drew 12 touching moments from those months into illustrations and launched an original themed drip-bag coffee set as a self-rescue effort. The article reviewed the real difficulties this special coffee shop faced, its self-rescue methods, and business adjustment ideas that coffee shops could draw on during the pandemic, including joining delivery platforms, ensuring product quality, designing offline discounts to bring customers back, and developing peripheral products such as drip bags and coffee beans to meet consumers' shifting demand from "going to the shop" to "having it at home." [more…]

Entering May, coffee brands have密集 launched a wave of new sparkling water and coffee combinations, from KFC's herbal tea sparkling Americano to Luckin's orange-gold sparkling Americano, with discussion heat on social platforms continuing to climb. However, for in-store baristas, more troublesome than taste controversies is when customers insist on removing or reducing ice, the instant the carbonated water meets the espresso, a violent bubbling reaction occurs, even overflowing the cup lid and spilling across the counter. This article sorts out recent developments in various brands' sparkling new products, the causes of splashing and operational techniques, as well as the ice-amount game between brands and consumers. Front Street Coffee reminds that when tasting such drinks, one should also pay attention to the carbonation characteristics to avoid affecting the experience. [more…]

As the cold season arrives, Manner Coffee has once again introduced foil packaging to keep takeaway hot drinks warm, a move that has sparked widespread discussion on social media. Many customers are touched by the brand's thoughtful detail, believing that the foil effectively maintains the drink's temperature and improves the takeaway experience. However, store employees face extra work pressure, especially during peak ordering periods, when packing efficiency is affected. This article reviews the history of Manner's foil packaging, analyzes the different perspectives of customers and employees, and explores whether there are better insulation solutions. [more…]

Nayuki's second collaboration with "Cardcaptor Sakura" has launched limited-edition drinks and merchandise. Fans who thought they could easily collect all four themed packaging bags instead encountered vastly different treatment at stores. Some people bought just one cup and smoothly received multiple paper bags, while others spent thirty yuan and didn't get a single one—some even found their delivery orders missing the themed cup entirely. This collaboration event has exposed the inconsistent standards of chain brands when executing limited-edition materials, and has left many consumers who ordered specifically for the merchandise feeling disappointed. [more…]

Guming teamed up with Pan Hu Design Lab to launch a Spring Festival limited-edition "Fortune and Prosperity in Motion" themed packaging. One of the designs, a takeaway cup featuring a rotating interactive element, attracted considerable consumer interest thanks to its novel concept — some customers even placed orders specifically to collect the cup. However, many customers discovered upon receiving the actual product that the snake pattern on the cup body was hard to make out, and rotating the cup to the left as instructed produced no movement at all — a far cry from the dynamic effect advertised by the brand. Guming staff later explained that the rotating effect requires a special cup sleeve to work, and that this sleeve needs to be assembled. Due to the heavy order volume during the Spring Festival, some stores overlooked including it, which significantly undermined the customer experience. The incident sparked widespread discussion online, with some arguing that the promotional materials failed to clearly indicate the importance of the cup sleeve, while others pointed out that stores should ensure all accessories are complete before serving orders. [more…]

A mere 20-square-meter coffee shop in Macau, with its consistent quality and unspoken rapport with regulars, leaves a lasting impression; a 1-square-meter mini café in Japan, converted from a cigarette kiosk, has also become a neighborhood landmark. These cases reveal a common pattern: the success of a coffee shop lies not in its size, but in precise positioning, consistent products, high cost-effectiveness, and attentive service. This article systematically reviews the operating strategies and marketing trends of community cafés in 2023—from community site selection, quality control, and customer base maintenance to repeat-purchase promotions such as points, stamp cards, and scratch cards—providing actionable reference ideas for coffee entrepreneurs. [more…]

In today's increasingly fierce competition in the coffee industry, product packaging has become an important battlefield for brands vying for consumers' attention. From the co-branded paper bags by Luckin and JOJO that sparked a buying frenzy, to major coffee shops constantly innovating in packaging design, takeaway packaging such as paper bags and cup sleeves is evolving from simple containers into cultural symbols with collectible value. Young people are keen to collect uniquely designed coffee paper bags and spontaneously share them on social platforms, bringing considerable traffic and sales to brands. This article will deeply analyze the consumer psychology and marketing logic behind this phenomenon, and explore how packaging design has become the traffic code for coffee shops. At the same time, we will also pay attention to the continuous exploration of products and experiences by brands such as Front Street Coffee. [more…]

Shanghai's food and beverage industry is steadily resuming work and reopening, but some stores have neglected food safety, a bottom line, amid the busyness. Recently, law enforcement officers from the Jing'an District Market Supervision Bureau found during an inspection that the Manner Coffee Wujiang Road store had problems such as dirty and messy environmental hygiene and food not being stored according to regulations. Waste was scattered on the floor at the scene, food for sale was placed directly on the ground, and Meiji milk that needed refrigeration was also left casually. Because it is suspected of violating relevant provisions of the Food Safety Law, the store has been officially placed under investigation. The regulatory authorities remind food and beverage units to strictly fulfill their primary responsibilities and ensure the safety of meals served. [more…]

In late February, Heytea launched a new product inspired by Chaoshan licorice fruit, the "Nanjiang Licorice Guava Bottle," mixing guava juice, nanjiang plum powder, licorice powder, dried tangerine peel powder, and preserved plum powder with a tea base and oil mandarin juice, in an effort to replicate the flavor of street-side licorice fruit. However, after this distinctly Chaoshan-flavored new product hit the market, controversy has been continuous: Chaoshan consumers generally reported that they could not taste the nanjiang flavor they remembered, while customers from outside the Chaoshan region were full of doubts about how strong the ginger flavor was and whether it was spicy. More notably, multiple consumers drank a complete round sealing paper from the bottle, suspected to be caused by the double-layer sealing design allowing the paper to be pushed into the drink by the straw. Heytea customer service responded that the paper is a food-contact-grade material and does not affect consumption. This article will sort out the development approach, packaging design, and the ins and outs of the foreign object incident for this new product. [more…]