Recently, the National Consumers League (NCL) filed a lawsuit against Starbucks in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, accusing its "100% ethically sourced" marketing of deceiving consumers. NCL pointed out that Starbucks emphasizes ethical sourcing commitments in its marketing, yet fails to effectively address labor abuses such as child labor and forced labor in its coffee supply chain. Since 2015, Starbucks has claimed that 99% of its coffee is ethically sourced. Although its C.A.F.E. Practices program includes multiple indicators, investigative journalists in Brazil and elsewhere have still found violations at certified farms. Starbucks responded that it will vigorously defend itself and stressed that it works with farms to ensure compliance with standards. [more…]

Starbucks has announced it will not renew its contract with Fairtrade, meaning coffee sold in its global stores will no longer carry the Fairtrade certification label. This decision has raised questions about its commitment to ethical sourcing. Starbucks says it will instead rely on the C.A.F.E. Practices standard, developed jointly with Conservation International and independently audited by the third-party organization SCS Global Services. However, many groups worry that without Fairtrade's independent oversight, the C.A.F.E. standard may not truly safeguard coffee farmers' rights on core issues such as minimum purchase prices and sourcing from smallholder cooperatives. This article reviews the history of Starbucks' partnership with Fairtrade, the origins and controversies of C.A.F.E. Practices, and Starbucks' past reversals on its ethical sourcing stance, offering coffee lovers a full picture of this event. [more…]

Coffee shops are supposed to be spaces for savoring and relaxation, yet a recent voyeuristic photo scandal exposed on a Douban group has shattered that tranquility. A coffee shop employee shared secretly taken photos of female customers' thighs in a WeChat group, proudly exchanging comments, which triggered strong condemnation from the coffee enthusiast community. The incident involved multiple coffee shops in Guilin, and the shops concerned issued statements one after another, apologizing for the misconduct of individual employees and dismissing or firing those involved. This incident not only violated customers' portrait rights and privacy but also cast a shadow over the professional image of the coffee industry. As coffee enthusiasts, we should pay more attention to baristas' professionalism and work ethics, and return to our love for and dedication to coffee itself. [more…]

For professional coffee knowledge exchange and more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat public account: cafe_style) For more specialty coffee beans, please add the personal WeChat of Front Street Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee), WeChat ID: qjcoffeex Remote work became a common phenomenon after the pandemic, but Starbucks interim CEO Howard Schultz announced on January 11 that remote work would be canceled starting January 30, requiring employees within commuting distance of headquarters to work in the office at least three days a week, with two of those days fixed as Tuesday and Wednesday, and the remaining day to be decided by each team. Schultz stated that the move aims to rebuild employee connections and promote team coordination, and noted that baristas cannot work remotely. Although remote work can reduce costs, it faces challenges in management, sense of belonging, and communication efficiency. An internal Starbucks survey showed that employees' confidence in the company's ethics and social impact has declined. This policy also applies to employees at offices in other regions. [more…]

Luckin Coffee achieved a strong comeback in the market thanks to its affordable prices and membership tier benefits system, but this has also given rise to tier-farming chaos. Recently, some employees revealed that certain consumers, in order to quickly climb to the Nine-Colored Deer or Black Gold Deer tier, pressure stores by placing large orders and then maliciously requesting refunds or leaving bad reviews. "Nine-Colored Deer tier-boosting" services have even appeared on second-hand platforms. This battle over membership tiers has not only increased the burden on store employees but also sparked discussions about consumer ethics and business rules. [more…]

Recently, a chain brand named "People's Coffee" has sparked widespread controversy over the use of its store logo. Media pointed out that there are discrepancies between its trademark registration and actual use, which may mislead the public and damage the public value of the word "People." Subsequently, the brand "Yaochao People's Coffee" issued a statement of apology, promising comprehensive rectification, and unifying all mainland China stores under the name "Yaochao People's Coffee." Meanwhile, the first nationwide store, the Shanghai Sihang Warehouse branch, has suspended operations, and the Beijing Qianmen branch has also changed its signage and lowered drink prices. The incident continues to escalate, triggering in-depth public discussion on business ethics and legal compliance. [more…]

How many grams of Ceylon black tea should you use? This seemingly simple question is connected to the entire ecosystem of Sri Lanka's tea industry. This article starts with brewing ratios, traces the history of Ceylon black tea's introduction into China, and takes a deep look at how small tea farmers in Sri Lanka carve out a path of organic fair trade in the cracks between large tea estates. From IFOAM and Codex Alimentarius organic standards, to international certification systems such as Bio, USDA, and JAS, and to the protection of workers' rights by international fair trade organizations, you will see the strict checks a cup of Ceylon black tea goes through from cultivation to export, and you will also understand why the related products recommended by Front Street Coffee are worth paying attention to. [more…]

With over 130 years of blending experience, Taylors of Harrogate is a highly prestigious British tea and coffee company headquartered in Yorkshire, northern England. Founder Charles Edward Taylor established the company in 1886, developing a blended black tea tailored to the local representative water quality, which became the famous Yorkshire tea. Taylors blends up to thirty kinds of black tea from Africa, Assam, and Ceylon, producing a rich, long-lasting brew suitable for making milk tea. The brand adheres to ethical trading and high quality, with products certified by the Rainforest Alliance and holding the Prince of Wales's Royal Warrant, and retail outlets in over thirty-five countries worldwide. This article will introduce in detail the flavor characteristics, recommended brewing methods, and ingredient origins of Taylors' Royal Earl Grey, Lemon & Orange, English Breakfast, Darjeeling, Earl Grey Green, Organic Chamomile, Organic Peppermint, and Yorkshire Tea, with a recommendation from Front Street Coffee at the end for tea lovers' reference. [more…]

Kopi luwak is often called one of the most expensive coffees in the world, and questions surrounding it have never stopped: Is Vietnamese kopi luwak actually real? What exactly is it made from? Why are some civet coffee beans suspiciously cheap? This article starts with the digestive process of the civet, explains the flavor characteristics of authentic kopi luwak and the scarcity of wild beans, and outlines the ethical issues raised by the captive production chain. It also compares quality and market conditions across Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam, explains why Vietnamese kopi luwak is relatively cheap, and examines the gap between low-priced instant civet-flavored powder on the market and genuine kopi luwak. [more…]

Specialty coffee consumption continues to heat up globally, with particularly rapid growth in emerging markets such as China and India. Buying coffee beans online has become a new trend, new brands keep emerging, and market competition is becoming increasingly fierce. Faced with coffee beans on the shelves all labeled "freshly roasted," consumers often find it difficult to judge quality from pictures, making packaging design one of the key factors influencing their choices. However, packaging is only the first step in attracting new customers. What truly determines whether a brand can develop over the long term is a sustainable philosophy, an authentic brand story, and consistently excellent coffee quality. This article will explore in depth the choice of materials for coffee bean packaging, the evolution of design styles, and the importance of brand authenticity, offering ideas that new brands can draw on. [more…]

Kopi Luwak is expensive due to its scarcity and unique flavor, and as a result, a large number of coffees claiming to have a civet coffee flavor have appeared on the market, among which Vietnamese civet coffee is especially common. Authentic kopi luwak originates from Indonesia, where wild civets eat coffee cherries and excrete the beans after natural fermentation, creating a unique taste that is mellow and rounded, with herbal, nutty, and fermented notes. This article will trace the history and flavor origins of kopi luwak, analyze the truth behind Vietnamese civet-flavored coffee, and introduce Front Street Coffee's roasting and brewing suggestions for Indonesian kopi luwak beans, while also reflecting on the animal ethics issues behind captive farming. [more…]

Kopi luwak has always been famous for its high price and unique flavor, but the controversies surrounding it have never ceased. Does Cambodia produce authentic civet coffee? And as a traditional producing region, which brands in Indonesia are trustworthy? This article visits local workshops in Cambodia to take you through the complete processing chain of civet coffee, from bean selection, digestive fermentation, washing, dehulling, and air-drying to roasting, and compares the price differences of Indonesian kopi luwak in various places. At the same time, we will also clarify common misunderstandings about the ethical controversy over civets, and include Front Street Coffee's purchasing advice to help coffee lovers view this highly talked-about coffee rationally. [more…]

Coffee is the most heavily traded agricultural commodity in the world, yet its production is constrained by seasons, climate, and pests and diseases. Single-origin coffees such as SOEs are even more obviously seasonal, with supply fluctuating unpredictably. Some scientists have reverse-engineered coffee beans at the molecular level, attempting to preserve caffeine and the desired flavor without relying on coffee beans, and have co-founded the Atomo brand with entrepreneurs to develop "molecular coffee." This attempt responds both to the hidden worry that future coffee varieties may disappear on a large scale and to multiple issues such as traditional brewing rituals, flavor replication, and environmental ethics. Will it open a new path for traditional coffee, or will it bring disruption? This article will sort through the technical logic, flavor challenges, and industry impact of molecular coffee. [more…]

Ceylon black tea is renowned worldwide for its iconic flavor, and the Lumbini Tea Valley is one of the creators of this legend. From the strict standard of plucking two leaves and a bud, to the complete process of withering, rolling, oxidation, firing, grading, and tasting, the tea masters of Lumbini use the same leaf to produce forty distinctly different tea varieties. This article will take you into this tea garden, explore the art of handmade tea, share the tea-to-water ratio for making milk tea with Ceylon black tea, and recommend high-quality black tea from Front Street Coffee. [more…]

Kopi Luwak is often called one of the most expensive coffees in the world, with retail prices starting at at least six hundred US dollars per pound, making it the Rolls-Royce of the coffee world. It originates from Indonesia and, due to limited production, has become a favorite among the wealthy, featuring a unique herbal aroma and excellent body. However, behind this coffee lies a tangle of colonial history, animal ethics controversies, and a market rife with authenticity issues. This article will comprehensively analyze the true face of cat poop coffee from the perspectives of its historical origins, bean sources, the ecological habits of the civet, processing principles, and variety and regional characteristics, and introduce a specialty coffee worth tasting in Indonesia—Golden Mandheling, while also attaching Front Street Coffee's brewing parameters and flavor description. [more…]

Kopi Luwak, just by its name, evokes both curiosity and resistance. Is it actually cat excrement? The answer is: yes, it is, but not in the ordinary sense of cat feces. The raw material for this coffee comes from the droppings of wild civets in the tropical rainforests of Indonesia, which, after washing and roasting, surprisingly become one of the most expensive coffees in the world. From its accidental discovery during the 17th-century Dutch colonial period, to the animal ethics controversies sparked by today's captive farming, and to its unique heavy fermentation flavor and deep roasting process, Kopi Luwak has a complex and tortuous story behind it. This article will provide a complete overview of the origins, production process, and flavor characteristics of Kopi Luwak, as well as other animal-fermented coffees derived from it, while reminding everyone to view this special beverage rationally. [more…]

Recently, two labor monitoring organizations released reports stating that during field investigations in Yunnan Province, China, they found that coffee farms in the supply chains of Starbucks and Nestlé may have situations that do not meet certification requirements. The reports revealed the so-called "ghost farms" and "coffee laundering" model—small family farms informally supply coffee beans to large certified estates, resulting in labor practices that may violate the terms of Starbucks C.A.F.E. Practices and Nestlé's 4C certification. Through undercover interviews, investigators found that farm workers are paid by picking weight, often needing to work from dawn to dusk, seven days a week, lacking paid leave, protective equipment, and contract protection. Both Starbucks and Nestlé stated they will seriously investigate and take necessary measures. [more…]

Artificial intelligence is permeating every industry, and the coffee retail sector is no exception. Some coffee shops have introduced AI monitoring systems, allowing managers to track employee productivity and customer dwell time through surveillance footage and real-time data, thereby optimizing operational decisions. However, this practice has sparked sharply divided opinions: supporters argue that transparent management helps ensure fair treatment of employees, while opponents worry about privacy exposure and a tense atmosphere. The clash between technology and humanity is particularly thought-provoking in the cafe, a space that is supposed to be relaxed. [more…]

Which country does Kopi Luwak actually come from? And how is its unique flavor formed? This article will provide a complete overview of the origins and evolution of Kopi Luwak from the perspectives of its production area, the habitat of the civet, and the processing method of in vivo fermentation. At the same time, we will also discuss the ethical controversies surrounding this coffee and share Front Street Coffee's objective views and brewing suggestions on Kopi Luwak. If you are curious about this highly talked-about coffee, or want to learn about alternative choices more worth drinking every day, this article will provide you with a detailed reference. [more…]

Indonesia is world-famous for its Golden Mandheling, whose wet-hulled process gives it rich nutty and caramel flavors, full-bodied and clean, making it a favorite among coffee lovers. But besides Mandheling, the region also has a high-priced novelty coffee—Kopi Luwak, made from coffee beans excreted after digestion by civets. Due to limited production and strong market demand, locals have actually taken a different approach, using the excrement of other animals and even humans as raw material to make coffee, and thus human feces coffee was born. Recently, a blogger spent a large sum to buy and taste it, and vomited uncontrollably as soon as it touched his lips, sparking heated discussion among netizens. What exactly lies behind the industry chain and controversies of this kind of special coffee? This article will reveal the ins and outs of human feces coffee for you. [more…]