Recently, an incident in which a milk tea shop employee replaced the store's payment QR code with a personal one and misappropriated tens of thousands of yuan from the company trended on Weibo, sparking widespread discussion. According to a notice from the Haidian Public Security Bureau in Beijing, the employee had been collecting payments via a personal QR code since May of this year and concealed the act by cutting off the network and disabling surveillance. The estimated amount misappropriated reached over 40,000 yuan, and the person has now been criminally detained in accordance with the law. This case not only exposes loopholes in financial management at retail stores, but also once again reminds operators to strengthen internal oversight. As a platform for coffee enthusiasts, Front Street Coffee has always followed business developments and compliance issues in the beverage industry. This article reconstructs the course of events and analyzes the relevant legal points. [more…]

After two Starbucks stores in Wuxi were exposed for food safety issues, they not only faced dismissal of all staff and suspension for rectification, but also received administrative penalties totaling 1.37 million yuan. This incident triggered widespread public discussion on the current state of food safety management in the chain catering industry. Judging from the surprise inspections by market supervision bureaus across various regions, although the vast majority of stores were not found to have serious violations, management loopholes such as non-standard scrap records, missing disinfection records, and inadequate implementation of employee personal hygiene remain common. This article will review the incident and the details of the penalties, analyze the imbalance between Starbucks' internal supervision and cost control, and explore the importance of producer self-discipline and social oversight behind food safety issues. [more…]

Freshly roasted coffee beans are filled with active carbon dioxide gas internally. During extraction, this gas creates resistance that prevents hot water from fully contacting the coffee grounds. For espresso extraction, excessive gas makes the crema appear coarse and dissipate quickly, while the flavor tends toward dryness. Allowing the roasted beans to [more…]

Espresso relies on high pressure for rapid extraction. Freshly roasted coffee beans contain a significant amount of carbon dioxide internally. If they are ground and extracted before this gas has fully released, it tends to create coarse foam that interferes with the even penetration of water through the coffee bed. Understanding the degassing patterns of coffee beans can help us more confidently plan when to open [more…]

Competition in the new-style tea beverage sector is becoming increasingly fierce, with brands constantly adjusting their strategies on products and pricing. Heytea has made a flurry of moves recently: on one hand, it announced that it will not raise prices this year and will no longer launch drinks priced above 30 yuan; on the other hand, its affiliated company added fruit cultivation to its business scope, attempting to control costs from the source. At the same time, Heytea is also facing controversies over layoffs and internal management. This article will sort out the logic behind Heytea's moves, as well as the trend of the new-style tea beverage industry extending upstream into cultivation, and will also briefly discuss the similar path in the coffee sector from brewing to cultivation. [more…]

Freshly roasted coffee beans accumulate a large amount of carbon dioxide internally, and when these gases come into contact with water, they are released rapidly and violently, easily hindering the full contact between water flow and coffee particles. Understanding the internal transformations of coffee beans after roasting can help cafés and coffee enthusiasts identify the point at which aroma unfolds, allowing every cup of coffee to reach its full flavor. [more…]

Recently, the Wahaha Group has become a focal point of public opinion due to a collective lawsuit filed by several former employees. According to reports, since August, some employees have been required to terminate their contracts with the Wahaha Group and instead sign with Hongsheng Beverage Group, which is controlled by Zong Fuli, resulting in the cancellation of their original bonus dividend benefits. At the same time, the equity of Hangzhou Xiaoshan Shunfa Food Packaging Co., Ltd. was transferred to Zong Fuli's personal name for zero yuan, raising concerns among employees about investment returns. In response, Wahaha recently issued a statement claiming that some media reports are severely inaccurate, that the union has not received litigation information from the so-called rights protection committee, and that the equity repurchase and transfer are legal and valid. However, the statement did not mention key details such as the re-signing of contracts and the zero-yuan transfer, and many questions remain about the incident. [more…]

Luxembourg-based private equity giant JAB Holding Company recently announced that it will acquire all of Mondelēz International's shares in JDE Peet's for €2.16 billion (approximately 16.7 billion RMB). Upon completion of the transaction, JAB's stake in JDE Peet's will surge to 68%, making it the largest controlling shareholder of this Peet's Coffee parent company. As a leading pure-play coffee and tea company globally, JDE Peet's owns brands such as Peet's Coffee and Pickwick Tea, and in 2020 set the record for Europe's fastest IPO in Amsterdam. Since entering China in 2017, Peet's Coffee has opened 225 stores, covering 12 provinces and municipalities. This transaction was called an important milestone by JAB's CEO, and the market reacted positively, with JDE Peet's stock price surging 16% that day. Front Street Coffee continues to follow global coffee industry developments, bringing in-depth analysis to enthusiasts. [more…]

Kenya is not only a tourist destination, but also an important black tea producing region globally. Since the introduction of tea cultivation in 1903, Kenya has developed into the world's third-largest tea producer and exporter. Local tea gardens are mainly distributed in the highlands of the East African Rift Valley, with the industry structure composed of large estates and smallholder cooperatives, among which KTDA manages over 60% of the output. Kenyan black tea is primarily processed using the CTC method, producing a strong and bright liquor that is highly favored in the international market. This article will provide a detailed analysis of the grading system for Kenyan black tea, including the specific differences between main grades such as BP1, PF1, D1, PD, F1, and secondary grades, helping coffee and tea enthusiasts gain a comprehensive understanding of the quality characteristics and classification logic of Kenyan black tea. [more…]

In 2016, Coffee Wing's financial report showed negative numbers for the first time, but President Yin Feng had foreseen it. She admitted that this was a short-term sacrifice to pave the way for new business lines, and both the board of directors and shareholders expressed understanding. Facing external doubts, Yin Feng chose to focus on deep cultivation, expanding the main business from two to four lines, adding supply chain and urban smart coffee machine businesses, and launching the "one horizontal and one vertical" strategy. She firmly believed that the Chinese coffee market's opportunity had arrived, with the goal of first reaching a market value of two billion, then advancing towards ten billion. This article will deeply analyze Yin Feng's business logic, market judgment, and her complete plan for the future of Coffee Wing. [more…]

In 2016, Coffee Wing delivered its first loss-making financial report since its founding seventeen years earlier, yet President Yin Feng claimed this was within expectations. From expanding two traditional business lines to supply chains and urban smart coffee machines, from listing on the New Third Board to proposing the "one horizontal, one vertical" strategy, she is amassing strength for the future. Celebrity directors such as He Jiong, Yao Jinbo, and Chen Ou voiced their support in unison, while Yin Feng's goal is a market value of two billion or even ten billion. Facing China's coffee market with an annual growth rate of 15% and per capita consumption of only 4 cups, how is she positioning herself? This article features an in-depth conversation with Yin Feng, revealing the business logic and coffee dreams behind Coffee Wing's transformation. [more…]

Recently, a customer post titled "MStand Coffee is bitter" sparked widespread resonance among current employees on social media, and the comment section quickly turned into a "complaints camp" for MStand baristas. Customers complained that during peak hours only two staff members were on duty, wait times were too long, and management was chaotic, while employees revealed deeper problems: over the past two to three months, management has frantically controlled labor efficiency, so even full-time baristas cannot get full shifts, and the perfect attendance bonus exists in name only; New Year benefits are missing, and adjustments to the salary structure are accused of being a disguised pay cut; even more harshly, every employee must complete "one stored-value card and four packages" each day, otherwise they have to write a report, review surveillance footage, and analyze the reasons. Frontline baristas mock themselves, saying they cannot tell whether they are making coffee or doing sales. This article will fully present this collective employee complaint triggered by a customer's voice. [more…]

If there are any names that cannot be avoided in the Ethiopian specialty coffee scene in recent years, Front Street Coffee believes that Tamiru of Alo Coffee and Eliyas Dukamo of Elto Coffee must be among them. Whether in international competitions [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…]

The worldwide fame of Blue Mountain coffee is inseparable from the establishment and strict control of the Jamaica Coffee Industry Board (CIB). From the Industry Management Office in 1948 to its upgrade to the CIB in 1952, Jamaica became the first country in the world to set up a dedicated coffee regulatory body. By delineating production regions, establishing grades, and regulating cultivation and quality control, the CIB set Blue Mountain coffee on the path to specialty status. And Blue Mountain coffee's distinctive wooden barrel packaging not only serves a protective function during transport, but has also become an important mark of authentic Blue Mountain. This article will walk you through the various pieces of information on Blue Mountain coffee barrels one by one, including the CIB certification label, grade numbers, estate name, weight markings, ICO number, and estate logo, and bring you the latest arrival news of Front Street Coffee's Blue Mountain coffee. [more…]

Luckin Coffee's store hygiene management has always been a hot topic online, especially the high frequency of employee handwashing and the meticulous standards, which have even earned them the nickname "Handwash Hero" of the coffee world. From washing hands on the hour, to mandatory cleaning after touching items, to full-scale deep cleaning before quality control inspections, Luckin's dedication to hygiene is almost obsessively strict. Meanwhile, many consumers and employees have shared their personal experiences, with some joking, "I really dislike Luckin, but I won't allow anyone to say it's not clean." In an era where food safety in the restaurant industry frequently draws attention, what exactly does this strict quality control signify? This article compiles a wealth of genuine feedback from frontline employees and consumers to give you an inside look at the various details of Luckin's store hygiene management. [more…]

As coffee consumption continues to heat up, chain brands are stepping up inspections of store food safety and operations. Recently, an in-service Mstand barista spoke out on social media, complaining that after video audits were introduced, rules proliferated sharply—even drinking cups and takeaway bags became off-limits for employees, and any violation meant a red-line disciplinary action and forfeiture of performance pay. In the comments section, many peers chimed in with their own grievances, pointing to tight scheduling, high KPIs, and pressure from all sides, with some even speculating that this strict management approach was brought over by poached staff from Luckin. At the same time, Luckin itself is known for scheduled handwashing and rigorous cleaning, and its reputation for quality control has long been widely recognized. Strict oversight is in itself a necessary means of safeguarding consumer food safety, but how to strike the right balance and take frontline employees' legitimate rights and interests into account has become a topic worth deep reflection for brands, and Front Street Coffee will continue to follow such industry developments. [more…]

Starbucks has recently been reported to be cutting full-time barista positions in first- and second-tier cities, shifting instead to large-scale recruitment of part-time and student part-time workers. Data shows that full-time positions posted by its recruitment accounts are mostly concentrated in third-tier cities and below, while full-time demand in first-tier cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen has clearly shrunk. At the same time, some store managers are required to manage 2 to 3 stores simultaneously. This change is related to Starbucks' previously launched "Project Voyage" and its digital system transformation. Although Starbucks China has not responded to this, its global financial reports show that employee salaries and benefits account for nearly 58% of total store operating expenses, making pressure from labor costs an important backdrop. Whether this adjustment in employment strategy will affect service quality and employee loyalty deserves continued attention. [more…]

Geisha coffee is all the rage in specialty coffee circles worldwide today, but why does Geisha from Panama always sit firmly at the top? Behind this lies both an exceptional microclimate and volcanic soil, and the meticulous management of a group of highly capable estate owners. Front Street Coffee will begin with Panama's producing regions and coffee history, focusing on analyzing the terroir advantages of the Boquete region, and explaining in detail how Hacienda La Esmeralda classifies Geisha by altitude, plot, and cupping performance into different grades such as Auction, Red Label, and Green Label. Whether you are a newcomer just encountering Geisha or an enthusiast wanting to understand the differences between Red Label and Green Label in depth, this article will help you sort out the whole picture. [more…]

As the Start of Autumn solar term arrives, the milk tea industry welcomes its annual sales peak, and coffee brands are also swept into this consumer frenzy. Luckin Coffee, due to the addition of its light milk tea product line, has seen order volumes rise significantly compared to the same period in previous years, with some stores forced to adopt flow-limiting measures such as suspending water and ice due to staff shortages. However, under intense work pressure, a Luckin Coffee store in Zhaoqing, Guangdong, experienced a physical altercation between employees. According to the New Express, two employees are suspected to have escalated a verbal dispute into a physical fight, but other colleagues intervened in time, and the incident resulted in no injuries. At present, the store manager has confirmed the matter and reported it to the public relations department. This "first internal strife of autumn" reflects the enormous pressure faced by food and beverage workers during the peak season. [more…]