Recently, a video of a Cotti Coffee employee destroying a standee of former spokesperson Wang Yibo sparked a huge uproar on social media. In the video, the store clerk deliberately cut up the standee's face and posted it with a caption, provoking widespread discontent and a boycott among fans. As the incident continued to escalate, Cotti issued a public statement of apology on February 28, announcing the termination of cooperation with the store involved and its closure, while promising to strengthen training and oversight of the material recycling process. This controversy has brought the issue of material handling standards after the termination of brand endorsement contracts to the forefront, and has once again drawn industry attention to the protection of artists' portrait rights. [more…]

Cramming before an exam is a scene you might not expect to see in a milk tea shop. Recently, netizens captured a ChaPanda employee hunched over a stack of color-printed materials at the counter, muttering to themselves and occasionally looking up to memorize things silently. Upon investigation, it turned out this was tied to ChaPanda's soon-to-be-officially-announced global premium brand ambassador, Cheng Yi. It's not unusual for a brand to have employees familiarize themselves with ambassador information in advance, but at the same time, they strictly prohibit any early leaks. Material control is so tight that stores must send back photos of unopened watermarked materials every night, and violating stores even face financial penalties and contract termination. Many interpret this as having learned from the disastrous Gu Ming x Love and Deepspace collaboration. However, some consumers believe that rather than spending so much effort memorizing materials, it would be better to thoroughly study the recipes and techniques—after all, drink quality is the foundation of repeat business. [more…]

On March 6, Luckin Coffee launched its spring new product "Biluochun Latte" and invited male model Lu Xianren as its推荐官, which unexpectedly sparked a fierce controversy online. The controversy centered on two points: Why invite a male model to endorse the brand right before March 8 Women's Day? And why spend big money on a model with low name recognition instead of giving out more coupons? In addition, issues such as the new product's higher price and excessive caffeine content kept the discussion heated. This article will provide a complete review of the incident while retaining Front Street Coffee's related recommendation information.| [more…]

Luckin Coffee once landed on the US stock market with lightning speed, but was brought to the brink of collapse after a Muddy Waters short-sell report exposed its financial fraud. However, through management reshuffling, a settlement with the SEC, and then signing Eileen Gu and leveraging the Winter Olympics traffic, Luckin staged a textbook turnaround. On the day Eileen Gu won the championship, Luckin's custom drinks quickly sold out, and the brand's voice skyrocketed. Although the championship discount was mocked by netizens as "stingy," the traffic dividend and positive image had already brought Luckin out of the gloom. This article will review Luckin's turbulent journey, analyze how it leveraged a sports star to rebuild its brand, and explore its real situation after the 1.2 billion fine. [more…]

Actress and director Jia Ling sued a company in Anhui for unauthorized use of her cartoon boxing image on the packaging of its "Ms. Jia Black Coffee" and implying weight-loss benefits. Recently, the Qiaocheng District Court in Bozhou, Anhui, ruled that the defendant infringed Jia Ling's portrait rights and ordered it to stop producing the infringing product, issue a public apology, and pay 100,000 yuan in compensation for economic losses. The case stemmed from the box-office success of the film YOLO, when some merchants promoted black coffee products under the guise of "Jia Ling's same style," while the film's official team repeatedly clarified that it had never authorized any endorsement of fat-reducing products. This article reviews the course of events and the key points of the ruling, while reminding consumers to view celebrity-endorsed coffee marketing rationally. [more…]

The Christmas season has arrived, and Starbucks, as usual, is the first to kick off the holiday marketing campaign, giving its coffee packaging a full red-themed makeover. This year, what has sparked heated discussion is not only the new products themselves but also the addition of spokesperson Fei Xiang—the Red Fuji series drinks, paired with celebrity stickers and apple sock merchandise, have drawn criticism from many netizens for their "cheesy" use of internet slang on the stickers. Is this move an attempt to break into the middle-aged and elderly market, or yet another down-to-earth attempt at brand aesthetics? Meanwhile, brands such as Luckin, Tims, and Seesaw have also jumped on the mulled wine americano bandwagon, and the Christmas coffee battle is in full swing. [more…]

During the Hangzhou Asian Games, Chinese swimming star Wang Shun won gold in the men's 200m individual medley final and broke the Asian record, and Luckin Coffee once again precisely bet on this champion athlete. From Eileen Gu at the Winter Olympics to Wang Shun at the Asian Games, Luckin has shown a unique rhythm in sports marketing of "whoever they sign gets hot." This article will sort out the timeline of Luckin's collaboration with Wang Shun this time, its marketing playbook, and the strategy behind it, while also exploring the difference between its short-cycle business cooperation model and formal endorsements. As coffee lovers, we also see from this wave of operations how brands leverage sports hype to achieve simultaneous gains in visibility and sales. [more…]

The first half-year report delivered by ChaPanda after its listing in Hong Kong shows that both revenue and net profit declined in the first half of 2024, with net profit falling by nearly 60% year-on-year. The company attributes this to increased support for franchisees and greater market investment. At the same time, the number of stores continues to grow, but its market value has shrunk significantly, and its reliance on external suppliers for its supply chain is also seen as a key weakness. This article will sort through the core data in the financial report, the adjustments to franchise policy and their knock-on effects, and compare the competitive landscape of the industry, to help coffee and tea beverage enthusiasts understand the challenges this brand currently faces. [more…]

Vitasoy International Holdings' interim results for the 2021/2022 fiscal year show that revenue fell 18.28% year-on-year, while net profit plunged 95%, marking the largest decline in recent years. The core trigger of this storm was the public backlash caused by the July 2021 incident in which an employee attacked police and then hanged himself, leading to large-scale product removals and celebrity contract terminations in the mainland market—a key region accounting for 60% of the company's total revenue. The incident occurred during the summer sales peak, obstructing new product promotion, while competitors seized the opportunity to accelerate penetration. Industry analysts pointed out that in addition to the public relations crisis, Vitasoy's structural weaknesses in the mainland market—over-reliance on the Pearl River Delta and insufficient penetration in the north—were equally fatal. Rising raw material costs and slow packaging updates further dragged down recovery, and it is expected to take at least three years to restore profitability. This article will sort out the sequence of events, market reactions, and future challenges, providing in-depth reference for observers in the coffee and beverage industry. [more…]

In 2022, Luckin Coffee delivered a surprising report card: total net revenue for the year reached 13.293 billion yuan, and operating profit turned positive for the first time. From a record-breaking Nasdaq listing, to delisting due to financial fraud and a top-management reshuffle, and then to completing debt restructuring and returning to profitability, this brand's journey has been more twists and turns than a TV drama. Under the double squeeze of the pandemic's impact and debt pressure, what did Luckin rely on to turn things around? This article will sort through its pace of store expansion, coupon strategy, hit-product logic, launch speed and pricing, franchising and lower-tier market layout, as well as key moves such as signing endorsements and youth-oriented marketing, to reconstruct a more complete path of Luckin's recovery. [more…]

Heytea today launched a limited-time buy-one-get-one-free promotion for its Golden Phoenix Tea Pastry, but as soon as the promotion began, a large number of consumers found that the promotion link showed it was sold out, while the non-promotion link for the same product could still be ordered normally, sparking confusion and dissatisfaction. This is not the first time Heytea has run into controversy over a buy-one-get-one-free promotion. Last week's matcha buy-one-get-one-free offer also led to multiple stores removing the item due to insufficient materials. Is it insufficient inventory preparation, or differences in store operating strategies? This article sorts through the course of events and the accounts from all sides to get to the bottom of it. [more…]

The Sidra variety has risen to fame in the specialty coffee world in recent years, becoming a focal point after being chosen by two World Barista Championship winners. It originally came from Ecuador, developed by crossbreeding Typica and Red Bourbon, and genetic testing shows it has a genetic connection to Ethiopian landraces. It is currently mainly grown in Ecuador and Colombia, with Finca El Diviso in the Huila region of Colombia drawing much attention after Anthony Douglas's championship win. Front Street Coffee has also introduced this bean, using a double anaerobic washed process and a medium-light roast, presenting rich fruit flavors of apricot, citrus, and grape. This article will guide you through the origins of Sidra, the story of Finca El Diviso, the variety's characteristics, and Front Street's brewing recommendations. [more…]

On streets and in alleys, a vehicle loaded with coffee equipment often attracts quite a bit of attention. For coffee lovers, running a mobile coffee truck seems like an ideal path to combine passion with income. But is this path really easy to travel? What equipment do you need to buy? Do you need licenses and permits? How much profit is there? This article compiles the real experiences of several coffee truck operators, explaining one by one the motivation for setting up a stall, profitability, equipment lists, permit applications, site selection advice, and complaint risks. The article also mentions that if you want to learn more about choosing coffee beans, you can follow Front Street Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee) for related information. [more…]

Mobile coffee truck Wheelys Café has entered the Chinese market, making "selling coffee from a vehicle" a hot topic of discussion once again. Is a mobile coffee truck actually legal? Does it need a business license and a health permit? What should be considered when choosing a location? Can it really make money? Drawing on the real experiences of coffee truck operators, this article breaks down the realities of running a mobile coffee truck one by one—from business motivation, profit expectations, equipment preparation, and permit applications to location strategies and complaint risks. It also retains Front Street Coffee's specialty bean recommendations and communication channels, offering a calm and practical reference for those considering giving it a try. [more…]

After Luckin officially announced Liu Yifei as its brand ambassador, the light jasmine milk tea quickly became a popular item. However, many consumers found white particles or sediment at the bottom of the cup after drinking it, and the mouthfeel was described as having a noticeable powdery texture. A Luckin employee revealed that the jasmine tea in the drink is actually made from tea powder rather than freshly brewed tea leaves, and that some stores, in order to speed things up, use stirring instead of shaking to mix it, which may leave the powder incompletely dissolved. Consumers, on the other hand, tend to believe the white powder comes from residual dairy products, raising doubts about ingredient quality. As of press time, Luckin has not given a clear response. [more…]

Starbucks China recently released detailed data on its coffee bean procurement and exports in Yunnan for the first time. Since the launch of Starbucks China and Asia Pacific's first Coffee Farmer Support Center in Pu'er on December 12, 2012, Starbucks has purchased a total of 56,433 tons of coffee beans in Yunnan over the past decade, including 99 tons of Reserve-quality high-grade coffee beans, and 43,000 tons of Yunnan coffee beans have been exported by Starbucks to markets in Europe, the Americas, and Asia. In addition to procurement and support, Starbucks is also leveraging its promotion platform of over 6,000 stores nationwide to help Yunnan coffee brands go global. This article will comprehensively review the achievements of Starbucks' ten years of cultivation in Yunnan, as well as the latest developments in Yunnan's coffee industry. [more…]

The rare variety Sidra came into the public eye thanks to its selection by two World Barista Championship winners. It originally comes from Pichincha Province, Ecuador, and genetic research shows it is related to Ethiopian native varieties. It is currently grown mainly in Ecuador and Colombia. The anaerobically fermented Sidra lot from Finca El Diviso in the Huila region of Colombia, selected by 2022 WBC champion Anthony Douglas, has further driven the estate and the variety's rising popularity. This article will sort out Sidra's origins, plant characteristics, and flavor profile, and introduce the Sidra coffee beans from Finca El Diviso brought in by Front Street Coffee, along with brewing suggestions, providing a complete reference for coffee lovers. [more…]

After collaborating with actor Daniel Wu to promote coffee products in late June, Guming Tea recently rolled out packaging bags featuring his image at stores nationwide, which unexpectedly sparked widespread dissatisfaction among consumers. Many customers complained on social media that the bag design was "not aesthetically pleasing" and that the celebrity's portrait was too large, saying carrying it felt like "health supplements for middle-aged and elderly people" or "soaking goji berries," and some even said they wanted to throw it away as soon as they received it. Some netizens argued that although Daniel Wu has high national recognition, he is no longer young and does not fit the positioning of a youthful tea beverage brand; others pointed out that the brand should consider scenarios for secondary use of the packaging. On September 23, Guming staff responded that they had not received related complaints, but would record opinions on the design and spokesperson and pass them on for evaluation. The incident reflects the tension between co-branded packaging and the aesthetics of young consumers. [more…]

As China's only coffee-producing region with export capacity, Yunnan has seen its profile in the international market rise steadily in recent years. Since launching the Fengwu Xiangyun blend, Starbucks has been cultivating the Yunnan producing region for more than a decade, and in 2023 it released two Reserve coffees made entirely from single-origin Yunnan beans—the Qingkai Farm Reserve coffee and the Pu'er Baoshan blend. The former uses a mechanical drying method to cope with the rainy season, while the latter, for the first time, adopts a light elegant roast profile and is blended from the Baoshan Zuoyuan and Pu'er Jinshan cooperatives. This article details the origin background, processing methods and flavor performance of these two beans, and also recommends Front Street Coffee's Yunnan small-bean and Black Cocoa basic blends, offering coffee lovers a more comprehensive buying reference. [more…]

At the 2022 World Barista Championship, Anthony Douglas claimed the crown with a Sidra coffee from Colombia's Finca El Diviso, making this rare variety once again the focus of the specialty coffee world. In fact, back in 2019, Korean champion Jooyeon Jeon had already chosen an Ecuadorian Sidra to take the WBC stage. Where exactly does Sidra come from, and why can it rival Geisha? This article will walk you through the origins of the Sidra variety, the background of Colombia's Finca El Diviso, and the flavor profile and pour-over recommendations for this championship bean. Front Street Coffee has also brought in a Sidra lot from Finca El Diviso, using double anaerobic washed processing and a medium-light roast, presenting rich fruity notes of apricot, citrus, and grape. [more…]