The 2023 World Latte Art Championship (WLAC) concluded successfully in Taiwan, China, with Chinese competitor Liang Fan taking the championship in one fell swoop, becoming the first Chinese world champion in the history of the event. Lu Daoqiang and Lin Shaoxing won second and third places respectively, marking the first time Chinese competitors have swept the top three. Liang Fan integrated mathematical Boolean operations and photographic composition into his latte art creations, conquering the judges with three works featuring a rooster, a dinosaur, and a kangaroo. This article takes you through a review of this peak showdown, letting you feel the rise of China's latte art power, and includes an appreciation of the champion's daily works along with Front Street brand recommendations. [more…]

Recently, StayReal, the streetwear brand founded by Mayday's Ashin and artist No2Good, held a limited-time art exhibition in Shanghai, drawing a large number of fans to visit and take photos. Surprisingly, however, a Starbucks store next door to the exhibition unexpectedly went viral thanks to its employees' playful cheering. Staff held up creative signs incorporating Mayday lyrics, prepared limited-edition cup stickers and merchandise perks for fans, and even offered a cheerful "call-out service," keeping the fans waiting in line laughing nonstop. This mutual embrace between fans and Starbucks employees not only eased the boredom of waiting in line, but also won the brand a great deal of goodwill. [more…]

The 2024 China Open kicked off in Beijing, with Paris Olympic women's singles champion Zheng Qinwen competing as the tournament's No. 5 seed, igniting a nationwide tennis craze. Meanwhile, a cafe owner in Chengdu went viral online for creating a "Queen Ka" Zheng Qinwen latte art coffee, making over a hundred cups a day at peak times and drawing numerous tennis fans and coffee lovers to visit. This creative latte art not only became a hot topic on social media but also showed people the sparks flying when coffee meets sports passion. [more…]

Manner has once again teamed up with the Museum of Art Pudong to launch a limited-edition canvas tote bag and a burnt caramel-flavored latte inspired by Turner's masterpiece "The Blue Rigi, Sunrise," drawing crowds of fans eager to snap them up. However, the new product has sparked a different kind of discussion on social media: many consumers report experiencing diarrhea, vomiting, and other gastrointestinal discomfort after drinking it, with some suspecting the thick milk and other ingredients or the icy drink's stimulation are to blame. Pretty as the merchandise may be, the coffee-drinking experience has put some people off—some even jokingly call it a "laxative miracle." This article sorts through how the incident unfolded and presents feedback from multiple sides. [more…]

Manner Coffee has continuously gained a following in the coffee community thanks to its reputation for being tasty, affordable, and highly cost-effective. Recently, baristas' fancy latte art skills have sparked heated discussions online. From basic hearts and tulips to animals like rabbits, squirrels, and unicorns, customers' custom requests are being fulfilled one by one, and some even bring their own bowls to "make" coffee and request latte art. This model, combining approachable prices with specialty quality, along with baristas' considerate and adorable service, has quickly made Manner popular among young consumers and white-collar workers. This article takes you to appreciate those highly recognizable exclusive latte art creations and explains how Manner influences the domestic coffee market with its "affordable specialty" philosophy. [more…]

Recently, a "I Want to Soak" latte series launched by a coffee shop in Beijing has drawn attention on social media. The series features marshmallows printed with the faces of male celebrities, priced at 38 yuan each, with the option to add more marshmallows for an extra charge, and even offers a 48-yuan two-person option and an 88-yuan five-person option. This novel format has attracted many fans to visit and post about it, but it has also sparked controversy: some consumers find the face-printed marshmallows unappetizing, and more people question whether the shop's use of celebrity likenesses as a promotional selling point without authorization may constitute infringement. Innovation in the coffee industry is worth encouraging, but it must be done within the legal framework. [more…]

Mstand has collaborated with streetwear brand AMAZING PANDA to launch a bamboo latte and panda-themed limited-edition merchandise, among which a "Panda Hug Cup" has sparked heated discussion due to its design. Many consumers said after receiving the actual product that it differs noticeably from the promotional images, with the all-black version described as looking like a "black-skinned muscular man," while the light-colored version was jokingly said to look like "feet holding up a cup." Besides the appearance controversy, practical complaints were also frequently mentioned, such as the arms on the cup being positioned too low and hard to grip, and the cup opening being too small, which is unfriendly to latte art beginners. At the same time, a cup enthusiast posted a handmade ceramic cup from another online shop, suspecting it was the inspiration source for Mstand's collaborative design, triggering discussion about "creative plagiarism." Fans, however, believe the details of the two cups are clearly different, and given that Mstand's previous "vegetable basket" woven bag also had precedent of borrowing from luxury brands, it can only be considered similar creativity. [more…]

Recently, Luckin Coffee's co-branding campaign with *JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean* sparked widespread discussion among netizens, especially JoJo fans, before its official launch due to an internal "spoiler" of the packaging design. The collaboration, which had been highly anticipated, left some netizens disappointed because the design style fell short of fans' expectations. However, some netizens found the design acceptable and spontaneously created their own fan art, showcasing more popular DIY versions. This article will provide a detailed recap of the incident and present the diverse reactions and creative designs from netizens. [more…]

The recent collaboration between Heytea and Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama has sparked widespread attention, with the two parties combining polka dot art with the boba tea series under the theme "Add Some Boba to the World." This marks the first cross-industry collaboration between the 95-year-old Yayoi Kusama and a Chinese new-style tea beverage brand. Limited-edition merchandise such as mugs and metal keychains sold out quickly after launch, driving up prices in the secondary market. Some consumers turned to scalpers for proxy purchases, but questioned the contradiction between order times and store sold-out notices. Heytea employees responded to this, and the incident also reflects the scalper chaos behind the rush for tea beverage collaboration merchandise. [more…]

As the Spring Festival approaches, the chain coffee brand %Arabica announced the opening of its first store in Henan, but unexpectedly, this new store did not land in a shopping mall in the provincial capital Zhengzhou, but instead established itself in a Qing Dynasty ancient residential courtyard near Weipo Village near Luoyang. The strong contrast between the ancient architecture and the modern minimalist decor quickly attracted a large number of coffee enthusiasts to drive over and visit, with foot traffic packed to capacity during the Spring Festival. However, the ensuing issues of excessively long wait times, chaotic order inside the store, and lattes not being made with latte art also sparked controversy. Some netizens pointed out that the store is actually a pop-up shop and is expected to close in May this year, suggesting that people visit during off-peak times. [more…]

Coffee lovers who frequently visit Front Street Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee) know that Front Street Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee) not only offers pour-over coffee but also espresso-based drinks, such as mocha, cappuccino, latte, and more, which are often available. [more…]

For professional coffee knowledge exchange and more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat official account: cafe_style). For more specialty coffee beans, please add our private WeChat: Front Street Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee), WeChat ID: qjcoffeexFlat wh [more…]

Latte art is a craft many baristas take great pride in. Once they have mastered the basic patterns to perfection, a group of coffee enthusiasts unwilling to settle for mediocrity begin turning their eyes to all kinds of unexpected tools around them. Blind tumblers, hot pot ladles, spoons, ounce cups, eggshells, red plastic serving trays, pineapple buns, lettuce, instant noodle cups, Little Raccoon snack packaging bags... all have become new stages for them to show off their latte art skills. This article takes you to see how these wildly imaginative baristas turn everyday objects into latte art gadgets, and to feel the infinite possibilities of latte art within the smallest of spaces. [more…]

Heytea recently launched a limited winter warming campaign. In addition to themed merchandise, its offline stores also set up a free Easter egg—sprinkling the Heytea pet pattern onto the milk cap of designated drinks. Many fans made special trips to pick up this cup with the "limited-edition pattern," but the products they actually received frequently turned out to have the pattern blurred into a mess, with no recognizable shape at all. Some consumers complained that the product did not match the description and questioned whether the staff were just going through the motions; store employees, meanwhile, complained bitterly, saying whether the pattern takes shape depends heavily on powder-sprinkling skill, and that pet patterns are much harder to execute than the usual Heytea character, with a shaky hand or a slight angle deviation potentially causing a fail. In this controversy over sprinkling powder on a cup of milk cap, who exactly should take the blame? [more…]

In today's world, where specialty coffee culture is increasingly widespread, latte art has become almost a standard feature of hot lattes. However, when a latte without latte art was served to a customer, the ensuing complaint actually led to a barista losing their job—an incident at a Manner store that quickly went viral on social media. Some spoke up for the barista, arguing that latte art is merely decorative and inconsequential; others pointed out that since the brand has clear regulations, an employee who responds perfunctorily to customer feedback is indeed hard to exonerate. Behind this lies not only the relationship between latte art and coffee quality, but also the deeper conflicts faced by chain coffee brands amid rapid expansion—between staffing shortages, service standards, and consumer rights. [more…]

After the opening of the Beijing Winter Olympics, the mascot Bing Dwen Dwen quickly went viral, even becoming so sought-after that it was hard to get one. Many coffee enthusiasts began making their own Bing Dwen Dwen latte art, and some coffee shops seized the opportunity to launch lattes featuring Bing Dwen Dwen designs to attract customers. However, Bing Dwen Dwen and Shuey Rhon Rhon are trademarks registered by the Beijing Winter Olympics Organizing Committee, and commercial use may involve infringement. So, is it illegal for a barista to make latte art for their own entertainment? Does a coffee shop selling Bing Dwen Dwen latte art coffee constitute infringement? This article will clarify the relevant legal boundaries and retain Front Street Coffee's professional information for coffee enthusiasts' reference. [more…]

Manner, which once went viral on social media with a Christmas tree latte art on a hot latte, is now frequently criticized by customers for declining latte art quality or even outright refusal. From the latte art surprises that were readily available last year to many customers being turned away with their mugs this year, what exactly has happened to Manner's latte art service? Some employees have revealed that severe understaffing at stores has led to a lack of training for new hires, with some new employees starting work just three days after joining, unable to steam milk or pour latte art. Faced with such changes, how should coffee lovers adjust their expectations? This article walks you through the whole story and the reasons behind it, and you are also welcome to check out Front Street Coffee's related product recommendations to find your own perfect cup of coffee. [more…]

What exactly does over-extraction mean in pour-over coffee? And can pulse pouring make coffee taste better? This article starts from two classic Ethiopian regions, first introducing the clean floral notes of washed Yirgacheffe and the berry-cream profile of natural Sidamo, then delving into the naming origins of Huakui coffee, its version evolution, and the independent story of Small-Bean Huakui. The article also includes Front Street Coffee's bean list information and specific brewing parameters, including practical suggestions such as the V60 dripper, 91°C water temperature, and three-pour technique, helping coffee enthusiasts understand regional flavors while mastering a more consistent pour-over approach. [more…]

Halloween has just passed, and the Christmas season has arrived right on its heels. Christmas topics are trending on social media, and a Christmas tree latte art craze has swept through the coffee community. Because the design is simple to learn and visually striking, many netizens have been flocking to Manner stores to ask baristas for custom versions. However, not every barista is skilled at this design, so some have quietly picked up thermometers and practiced hard in their spare time. This article will walk you through the origins and development of this Christmas latte art trend, and the efforts baristas make to fulfill their customers' wishes. [more…]

Competition in the coffee market is becoming increasingly fierce. The traffic-driving effects of price wars and co-branding campaigns are gradually weakening, and brands are beginning to shift their attention to fan groups willing to spend money on their idols. Recently, Cotti's official announcement of a new spokesperson triggered a surge in store orders, while a group-buy link in Luckin's livestream with a fan nickname prefix once again set public opinion abuzz. Is this a carefully planned business war or fans spontaneously generating momentum? Can celebrity endorsements bring sustained purchasing power to brands, and will they blur consumers' focus on coffee products themselves? This article will guide you through the business logic and hidden concerns behind this traffic marketing. [more…]