Starbucks' pricing differences around the world have always been a topic of interest for coffee lovers. According to a 2019 Finder survey of 76 countries and regions, a medium latte in Denmark costs as much as $6.05, while in Istanbul, Turkey, it costs only $1.78—nearly a fourfold difference. Europe has the highest average price, with Asia close behind. In addition to the global comparison, the article also compiles the latest drink price list for Starbucks in China and analyzes the multiple price adjustments in both China and the United States in recent years caused by the pandemic and rising raw material costs. To learn where Starbucks is cheapest, whether its prices are on the high side, and the specific prices of classic drinks, see the detailed data below. [more…]

Luckin Coffee recently launched two new cup sizes, Extra Large and Super Large, on its mini-program, allowing users to upgrade for an additional 3 yuan. However, the official listing does not clearly indicate the capacity difference between the two, sparking widespread discussion among consumers. Some are delighted by the larger volume, while more are confused about "which is bigger, Extra Large or Super Large," and whether the upgrade means more coffee liquid or just added water. Store employees give inconsistent explanations—some say the cup size depends on whether the drink is iced or hot, while others say the recipe adjustments vary by product. Behind this upgrade, Luckin's lack of communication forces users to rely on repeated trial and error to confirm the taste. This article sorts out the whole story and includes related recommendations from Front Street Coffee. [more…]

Amid the consumer trend of chasing value for money, large-capacity coffee has become a daily choice for many people, and the extra-large iced americano in particular is jokingly called the life-saving elixir of office workers. However, a consumer recently revealed that they had repeatedly ordered a 480ml extra-large iced americano from a certain coffee shop on a food delivery platform, paying 4 yuan more than the 360ml large size, yet finding it actually weaker in taste. Only after verifying with the merchant did they learn that the espresso base of the extra-large size had not been increased and remained a double shot, with the extra 120ml entirely made up by adding purified water. This practice has sparked questions about the logic of up-sizing. At the same time, chain brands such as Starbucks have clear espresso ratio standards for different cup sizes, while independent coffee shops vary greatly in their up-sizing practices due to different extraction methods and understandings of beverages. Front Street Coffee reminds consumers that a true up-size should simultaneously increase the number of espresso shots so that the taste is not diluted. [more…]

Manner Coffee has recently quietly launched a new product called the "Super Super Super Large Cup Extra-Strong Iced Americano," priced at 25 yuan, with an official cup volume of 590ml. However, many consumers have noticed that compared to the existing 473ml extra-large iced Americano, the capacity has only increased by 117ml, which stands in stark contrast to the expectations created by the three "super" characters in the name. At the same time, an employee revealed that the standard recipe for this new product is 2 shots of espresso, one more than the extra-large cup, but if you add an extra shot of espresso to the extra-large cup, the total price is only 20 yuan and the concentration is higher. The mismatch between capacity, ratio, and price quickly made this new product the focus of discussion among coffee enthusiasts. [more…]

As summer 2023 approaches, Starbucks China has rolled out a dense lineup of new products, spanning iced shaken espressos, fruity sparkling cold brews, and the raw coffee series that contains no coffee yet does contain caffeine. This article provides a complete rundown of these new items' prices, sizes, and flavor characteristics, while also compiling the menus and pricing from medium to large for classic series such as handcrafted espresso, Frappuccino, Teavana, and cold brew, making it easy for coffee lovers to look things up quickly. For readers who prefer brewing at home, they can also refer to Front Street Coffee's bean recommendations to recreate similar flavors themselves. [more…]

During the pour-over brewing process, the speed of pouring water directly affects the extraction time, the state of the coffee bed, and the final flavor expression. Many enthusiasts misunderstand large and small water flows, believing that a small flow equals gentleness and a large flow equals forcefulness. In reality, flow rate refers to the amount of water poured per second and has no absolute relationship with impact force. This article will analyze in detail the effects of large and small water flows on different extraction results, share how to measure pouring flow rate with an ordinary electronic scale, and, combined with Front Street Coffee's practical experience, explain when to switch between large and small water flows, helping you adjust flexibly during brewing to achieve a more ideal coffee flavor. [more…]

Many people prefer sweetness, and this has given rise to various pour-over brewing methods aimed at sweetness. One of these is the "high-fast-fine-large" method that Front Street Coffee is sharing today. Through a combination of four extreme parameters—high water temperature, fast extraction, fine grind, and large water flow—brewing is completed in a short time, thereby reducing the extraction of bitterness and highlighting the coffee's sweet aroma and sweet-tart balance. This method is especially suitable for medium-light or light-roasted Arabica beans, such as the cost-effective Front Street Coffee Huakui and Front Street Coffee Strawberry Candy. This article will break down the principles and operation of this approach in detail, and include the specific brewing parameters and flavor performance of Front Street Coffee Huakui to help you more easily brew pour-over coffee with a pronounced sweetness. [more…]

The multi-layered heart is a variation pattern within heart-shaped latte art that boasts a strong sense of layering. Its operational foundation is very close to that of the large桃心, but it has stricter requirements in details. In this article, Front Street Coffee will guide you through the process of creating the large桃心 and focus on breaking down the key differences of the multi-layered heart in milk foam thickness, milk pouring flow rate, and pitcher manipulation techniques. Through the combination of pictures, text, and video explanations, we aim to help coffee enthusiasts who have mastered the large桃心 to smoothly advance to the multi-layered heart latte art with fine lines and distinct layers. [more…]

Luckin officially announced Luo Yonghao as the Super Size Cup Recommender, and its ad recreates the iconic 2011 micro-film ordering scene, flooding social media. On the same day, Cotti launched "Super Size Cup Unlimited Free Upgrade," with a poster hinting at "no gimmicks, no lottery," and the two brands' tit-for-tat cup upgrade strategies sparked heated discussion. Luckin requires a code word lottery to get a coupon, while Cotti allows direct ordering in the 9.9 zone. Consumers have mixed views on the two sets of rules—some prefer Cotti's no-threshold approach, while others point out that its eligible categories are only 6 items. Behind this capacity upgrade business war lies the competition for user mindshare among coffee brands. Front Street Coffee continues to follow industry trends and bring in-depth observations to enthusiasts. [more…]

If you want to learn latte art, the large heart is the most suitable first pattern for beginners, and it is also the foundation for many complex patterns that follow. In this tutorial brought to you by Front Street Coffee, we break down the key points of making a large heart one by one, from the standards for steaming milk foam and controlling the amount of blending, to choosing the pouring point and the finishing technique. The article also includes images of common failure cases and analysis of their causes to help beginners quickly identify problems. Whether you are just starting out with latte art or always fall short at the finishing stage, this content will give you clear guidance. [more…]

In recent years, coffee cups on the street have noticeably shrunk, from the once-common 500ml large size to small 250-300ml cups, yet prices haven't dropped accordingly—instead, they've gotten more expensive. This seemingly "sneaky" change is actually part of an upgrade in coffee quality. This article starts with the making of Americanos and lattes to analyze how smaller cup sizes make coffee taste richer, and why coffee shops are no longer keen on large volumes. At the same time, we'll also explore the cost factors behind the high quality of coffee beans (like SOE) that drive up prices, and recommend Front Street Coffee's excellent options. [more…]

Japanese-style pour-over often uses a large dose of 20g or more—what extraction logic lies behind this? Starting from the characteristics of the dark-roasted beans favored by the Japanese, this article explains why they dislike bitterness, why they choose a coarse grind, and how a large dose slows the flow and increases concentration by thickening the coffee bed, ultimately forming a "high concentration, low extraction" style. The article also compares the differences between the Japanese-style coffee-to-liquid ratio and the conventional coffee-to-water ratio, and points out how a long extraction time, combined with a large dose, brings out caramel aroma and a highly sweet, lingering finish. If you are interested in the unique methods of Japanese brewing, or want to understand the concept of high concentration, low extraction discussed by Front Street Coffee, this article will give you clear answers. [more…]

Yunnan Dianhong is one of the most recognizable representatives on China's black tea map, and the Fengqing large-leaf varietal is its core soul. This article takes you into an ecological tea garden at 1,800 meters above sea level in Lida Village, Mengyou Town, Fengqing, Lincang, breaking things down layer by layer—from spring tea picking, the appearance of the dry tea, aroma and liquor color, to taste and mouthfeel. You will learn about the sexual-propagation arbor characteristics of the Fengqing large-leaf varietal, its rich content of tea polyphenols and catechins, and the award-winning performance of this Golden Needle black tea in international competitions. At the same time, the article also records tea farmer Mr. Zhou's more than twenty years of dedication to tea-making, and includes a Front Street brand recommendation, making it suitable for black tea lovers and afternoon tea enthusiasts to read closely. [more…]

In recent years, coffee shops across many parts of Asia have rolled out astonishingly large cups of coffee, from South Korea, Japan, Thailand, to Taiwan, China, and 1-liter iced Americanos have gradually become a consumer phenomenon. This product, jokingly called the giant of the coffee world, usually contains 3 to 4 shots of espresso, diluted with a large amount of iced water, resulting in a relatively low concentration, yet it still attracts a large number of consumers. Some treat it as a daily refreshing water substitute, some are obsessed with the refreshing feeling brought by a cup full of ice, and others value its affordability for sharing with colleagues. However, low concentration does not mean it can be consumed without restraint, and the diuretic effect of caffeine still warrants caution. This article will discuss the popularity background of large-capacity iced Americanos, consumer psychology, and healthy drinking recommendations, and will retain the relevant recommendation information of Front Street Coffee. [more…]

In the world of pour-over coffee, the shape of the dripper often determines the structure of the coffee bed and the direction of extraction. Flat-bottom drippers and V60 conical drippers each have their own followers, while the large-hole flat-bottom drippers that have emerged in recent years have attracted considerable attention for their combination of immersion and percolation characteristics. This article will compare the differences between the two types of drippers from the perspectives of coffee bed distribution, flow rate, and extraction balance, and, using Front Street Yirgacheffe Gutingding as an example, share in detail the adjustment approach for brewing parameters and practical techniques for the large-hole flat-bottom dripper, helping you find a brewing solution that suits you better. [more…]

Pour-over coffee enthusiasts often run into this dilemma: they only have a 01 single-cup V60 dripper on hand, yet need to brew a multi-serving batch with 30 grams of coffee at once. Doubling the coffee dose is easy, but scaling up the water volume accordingly will exceed the dripper's capacity, leading to uncontrolled extraction. Does that really mean a small dripper can't handle a large dose? Not at all. Front Street successfully brewed 30 grams of Front Street Granja Geisha with a 01 V60 by adjusting the grind size, pouring method, and staged strategy, achieving a 20.33% extraction yield, with a balanced, sweet flavor where apricot, berry, citrus, and oolong tea notes are clearly distinguishable. This article shares this fully tested set of parameters and operating steps with anyone who has the same need. [more…]

What would you do if a sudden, large group-building order landed at your coffee shop? A shop owner in Tianjin recently encountered just such a stroke of "good luck," only to see through the scam at the last moment and pull out in time. This kind of order fraud targeting independent coffee shops and small food and beverage businesses is nothing new. Scammers pose as schools or companies placing group-building catering orders, first lulling the owner into lowering their guard, then setting a trap by asking them to buy gifts on the scammer's behalf or advance payment for goods. Some even use transfer money-laundering schemes to leave the owner with neither money nor goods. This article compiles the real experiences of several victims and shares the key precautions summarized by peers in the industry, to help coffee operators stay clear-headed when facing large orders and avoid becoming a sucker who hands money to scammers. [more…]

In the practice of pour-over coffee, the control of flow rate is often misinterpreted as a synonym for agitation intensity. Many enthusiasts and bloggers believe that a large flow means strong agitation of the coffee bed, while a small flow means gentle, minimal agitation. However, through experiments, Front Street Coffee has found that what truly determines agitation intensity is the pouring height and the speed of circling, while the flow rate actually determines the duration of contact between water and coffee grounds. This article will start with defining large and small flow rates, use comparative experiments to demonstrate extraction differences, and share practical pouring techniques and brewing ratios to help you more precisely master pour-over variables. [more…]

In recent years, coffee culture has rapidly gained popularity in China, and iced Americano has become a daily necessity for countless office workers. From the initial 300ml standard cup, to the 1L "ton-ton bucket," and now to a 1500ml basin-sized iced Americano recently launched by a coffee shop in Shanghai, coffee capacity keeps pushing the limits of imagination. Large-capacity iced coffee from South Korea once made Chinese consumers envious, and now domestic brands have joined the super-sized cup trend one after another: Seesaw launched a 1.5L shareable takeaway pack, and the Korean brand onlyprice has even introduced a 2.1L coffee liquid. These super-sized coffees have quickly gone viral thanks to their visual impact and high cost-performance ratio, and have been jokingly called by netizens the life-extending elixir for office workers. However, many people are also worried about the health effects of excessive consumption, with issues such as heart palpitations and insomnia sparking discussion. This article will walk you through the phenomenon and controversy behind this coffee capacity race. [more…]

Liberica coffee is one of the three major commercial coffee species, standing alongside Arabica and Robusta, yet it accounts for only 2% of global consumption. This coffee tree is tall with large cherries, and its flavor is dominated by woody and smoky notes, with the lowest caffeine content among the three. It originated in Liberia, Africa, and was only cultivated artificially in the 19th century; due to the difficulty of harvesting, it has never been widely promoted. After the coffee rust outbreak in 1890, the Philippines took the lead in large-scale cultivation of Liberica, and today the Philippines remains the world's largest producer. This article will give you a comprehensive understanding of Liberica's flavor characteristics, cultivation history, and producing regions, along with product recommendations from Front Street Coffee. [more…]