Starbucks has once again ventured into a cross-industry collaboration, this time targeting League of Legends: Wild Rift! Starting January 10, mobile game gift boxes themed around the hero Seraphine will be available in stores nationwide, with purchasers having a chance to win a 2023 Chinese New Year limited-edition skin. This marks another new attempt by Starbucks in the realm of collaborations, continuing its long-standing strategy of partnering with various brands and IPs. As a trendsetter for collaborations in the coffee industry, Starbucks launches different series of collaborative merchandise almost every year, covering categories such as mugs, thermoses, stored-value cards, and apparel, each time sparking a buying frenzy among fans. This article outlines the specific details of this collaboration, the development history of League of Legends, and the current status and trends of collaborative marketing in the coffee industry. For more specialty coffee bean news, follow Front Street Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee). [more…]

Luckin Coffee has recently teamed up again with the popular IP Line Dog to launch a limited-edition drink, "Good Persimmon Comes in Pairs Fruit Tea," featuring seasonal fire gourd persimmons paired with jasmine tea as its selling point. As soon as the new product launched, it attracted a large number of fans to snap it up. However, feedback from the first wave of consumers has been mixed, with many complaining that it tastes astringent and hard to swallow, and some even discouraging their friends from buying it. Why exactly has this co-branded fruit tea triggered such polarized reviews? Is it because the persimmon skin was not removed cleanly, or because of batch differences? This article compiles views from all sides to help you understand the real performance of this much-discussed new product. [more…]

Recently, a red guava trend has swept through the tea beverage scene, with brands such as Heytea, Jasmine Milk White, LELECHA, Quchashan, and Grandma Handmade launching seasonal limited-edition guava drinks. Among them, Jasmine Milk White's "Jasmine Pink Guava" and "Matcha Pink Guava," made with fresh-squeezed red guava juice in specialty fruit milk, quickly went viral, with orders flooding in. However, behind these highly photogenic drinks, store employees are crying out in distress—unripe guava flesh is rock hard, and manually scooping out the core and seeds is time-consuming and labor-intensive, leaving many with hand cramps or even carpal tunnel syndrome. To deal with the rock-hard guavas, staff tried ripening methods such as sealing them in plastic bags and placing them alongside bananas, but demand still outstripped supply. Compared with Heytea's approach of blending the fruit directly into smoothies—skin and seeds included—Jasmine Milk White employees, while envious, would rather the brand just discontinue the new products. This article takes you behind the scenes of the guava craze to reveal the hardships of making these drinks and the voices of the employees. [more…]

In the scorching summer, iced drinks are back in the consumer spotlight. To stand out in fierce competition, new tea beverage brands keep reinventing their marketing tactics—from early niche fruits and co-branded limited editions to today's popular milk tea scratch cards, blind box draws, and even giveaways of gold, lottery tickets, and cars. Suguo Fresh Fruit Tea uses its new yellow skin (wampee) product to promote "scratch for real gold," Heytea and Nayuki use puns plus tear-open cards and lottery tickets to grab attention, while Chagee uses high-end lipstick blind boxes to precisely target female customers. Behind these gimmicks is the thrill and sense of participation brought by "eliminating uncertainty." Of course, for those who just want to quietly enjoy a good coffee or milk tea, returning to the product itself may be the lasting way forward, and Front Street Coffee has always advocated focusing on flavor and quality. [more…]

Luckin Coffee's annual October collaboration with "Tom and Jerry" has become a regular fixture, and this year is no exception. Two new drinks, "Milk Skin Latte" and "Raw Coconut Mango Pomelo Sago," launched alongside limited-edition merchandise, and stores nationwide switched to Tom and Jerry-themed packaging. However, some customers discovered upon receiving the actual products that the Tom and Jerry printed on the cups actually had three eyes. This abnormal design quickly sparked discussion: was it a printing error, or was it intentional by the brand? Some fans dug up animation screenshots to prove it was a faithful reproduction of exaggerated expressions, while others suspected it was a mistake made by AI design. More critically, the three-eyed design was not the first of its kind—Soap Studio's collaboration with artist Greg Mike and Uniqlo's collaborative T-shirts had both used similar designs. This debate over the cups reflects the subtle tension between artistic expression and public perception in IP collaboration design. [more…]

Molly Tea recently launched its seasonal limited-edition "Exotic Guava Series," and the two new drinks—"Jasmine Cream Guava" and "Jasmine Guava Milk Skin"—quickly attracted a large number of consumers eager to try them, thanks to the pretty pink appeal of red-fleshed guava. However, not long after they hit the shelves, feedback flooding social platforms unexpectedly converged on one focal point—too much ice. Many customers found that even when they chose "less ice," the drink shrank by more than half after the ice was scooped out; some even fished thirty-five ice cubes out of a single less-ice drink. What exactly is going on here? And what secrets lie behind the ice standards at tea beverage shops? As an observer deeply engaged in coffee and beverage culture, Front Street Coffee is also paying attention to this phenomenon. [more…]

Last winter, the Northeastern specialty frozen pear unexpectedly went viral, and Luckin seized the moment to launch its "Big Frozen Pear Americano," which won over a large batch of loyal fans with its refreshing taste. As this year's cold winter arrives, many "frozen pear heads" have been calling for its return in the official comment section, and Luckin, ever responsive to feedback, promptly rolled out the winter-limited "Big Winter Pear Americano." However, delighted fans who placed orders soon noticed the taste didn't match the white moonlight in their memories. A closer look at the description revealed the new version uses seasonal fresh pear juices such as Akizuki pear and Dangshan pear, completely different from last year's pear-flavored concentrated fruit pulp formula. Longtime fans declared it hard to accept and clamored for the official to bring back the original; new users felt the fresh pear juice greatly weakened the coffee's presence, making it taste more like rock sugar snow pear. Is this winter limited edition a pleasant surprise or a disappointment? Let's take a look. [more…]

In recent years, Heytea has continuously pushed the boundaries of tea drinks, from cross-brand collaborations to incorporating each city's signature foods into beverages and baked goods, launching a series of unexpectedly creative limited-edition products. Shenzhen's coconut chicken hot pot, Guangzhou's rice roll cake, Changsha's mini clay pot bubble rice wine, Chengdu's Sichuan spicy fairy dew… each one precisely captures the taste memories of local people. These products are not only wildly imaginative but also build emotional resonance by awakening shared city memories. This article will comprehensively review the limited-edition items Heytea has launched in various cities and explore the communication logic and secrets behind its "neglecting its proper business." [more…]

Starbucks has recently officially launched the Pink Drink in the mainland China market, along with three new items: Pink Berry Lemonade Refresher, Dragon Drink, and Mango Dragonfruit Lemonade Refresher, priced between 34 and 40 yuan. To tie in with its summer beverage promotion, Starbucks baristas have put on limited-edition rose-red aprons, a bold and eye-catching choice that netizens have jokingly dubbed the "dopamine apron." At the same time, the brand has changed the mermaid logo on its takeaway cold cups to the silver-white version used in North America, making the look more in keeping with the pink tones of the Pink Drink. This article will explain the ranking significance behind the pink apron and answer the consumer question of whether the Pink Drink contains caffeine, while also retaining relevant recommendations from Front Street Coffee. [more…]

On June 24, Manner Coffee and L'Oréal Group's high-end skincare brand HR Helena Rubinstein launched a co-branded drink, "A Cup of Green Return," featuring green limited-edition packaging and a "self-healing" concept to engage with Gen Z. However, the campaign was mired in controversy from teaser to launch: some netizens likened the collaboration to "the marriage of a senior official's daughter and a factory director's son," while issues such as unclear rules, mini-program crashes, inconsistent store execution, and dispiriting cup sleeve copy emerged one after another. Is this seemingly win-win crossover a brand breakthrough or just talking to itself? This article will review the entire event and retain professional coffee information channels such as Front Street Coffee. [more…]

Recently, a coffee with a unique design has gone viral on social media: perched atop the drink in the cup is a lifelike "white cut chicken" decoration, with chicken skin texture so detailed it's astonishing. When espresso is poured over it, the visual effect instantly transforms from white cut chicken to soy sauce chicken, sparking lively discussion among netizens. This is actually a creative decoration made by the coffee shop using corn panna cotta, available to customers for just 5 yuan with any drink purchase. Due to the large number of people wanting to take photos, it often sells out during the afternoon rush. Is this drink just a gimmick or a creative highlight? Let's find out. [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…]

Starbucks has recently been ramping up its co-branding activities, teasing a limited-edition extendable straw shaped like the Golden Cudgel that plays the Monkey King's voice lines, while also launching a new delivery-exclusive drink, the "Flow Frozen Latte," on its Starbuck Delivery service. This creative coffee, said to be inspired by ginger milk curd, claims that the liquid naturally congeals and separates into layers during delivery, arriving as a latte with distinctly defined layers. However, consumer reviews since its launch have been mixed: some have posted photos showing obvious congealing and layering, describing the texture as similar to double-skin milk or coffee pudding; others question whether the product matches its description, saying what they received was no different from an ordinary latte. Is the "flow frozen" effect real or just a gimmick? And is the new recipe simply an old product with a new name? This article will compile netizens' hands-on feedback to take a look at the true face of this talked-about beverage. [more…]

Luckin Coffee recently issued a notice regarding an adjustment to handwashing frequency standards, changing the previous requirement of washing hands once per hour to once every two hours. This change has delighted many Luckin employees, as last year's "pain of Luckin baristas' ruined hands" drew widespread attention. Frequent handwashing caused skin allergies and other problems that long plagued frontline baristas, with some even leaving their jobs because of it. The new rule will take effect on January 8. However, some employees believe the adjustment is limited in scope, as the actual number of handwashes during work remains relatively high. While maintaining high food safety standards, Luckin has begun to pay attention to employees' actual experiences. [more…]

Recently, a café in Shunde, Guangzhou, placed deep-fried cicada sloughs on iced Americano, launching a special drink that has sparked heated discussion among netizens. Cicada sloughs, commonly known as golden cicadas, have a tradition of being eaten in some regions, and early summer is the peak season for catching them. The shop owner claims that pairing them with cold brew offers a unique flavor, but many netizens say the visual impact is too strong and hard to accept. At the same time, cicada sloughs, as a heterologous protein, carry an allergy risk, and parts such as the legs may also carry bacteria and parasites, so caution is needed when trying them. This article takes you through the story behind this explosive drink and the precautions to note. [more…]

Can you imagine cockroach bits and barley worms floating on the surface of a cup of coffee? The "Bug Special" series of drinks recently launched by Beijing's All Things Museum has sparked heated discussion on social platforms. One product, which sprinkles processed dried insects directly onto the surface of the coffee, has prompted netizens to say they dare not try it due to its strong visual impact. The museum said that all insect ingredients are purchased from traditional Chinese medicine pharmacies and meet food safety standards. The core purpose of developing this 45-yuan drink is to break the public's stereotype of cockroaches. Staff revealed that current daily sales are about a dozen cups, with consumers mainly curious young people, while many parents with children find it hard to try because of psychological acceptance issues. [more…]

Manner's limited SOE series is known for its frequent new releases, and recently it launched a new "Cream Raisin Coffee," with an official flavor description that is highly enticing, attracting many coffee enthusiasts to try it. However, the actual drinking experience is vastly different from the promotion, with constant complaints on social media. This article sorts out the flavor controversy of this SOE, consumer feedback, and the deeper reasons affecting SOE flavor perception. If you are also interested in SOE flavor identification, you might want to check out Front Street Coffee's interpretation. [more…]

Luckin Coffee's collaboration with the mobile game Honor of Kings has not yet officially launched, but a new product called "Tamarind Americano" has already sparked discussions on social platforms ahead of time. Many netizens, upon first hearing the name, mistook it for pickled string beans added to coffee and blurted out "dark cuisine"; later, a Yunnan netizen clarified that tamarind is actually a common local fruit, often used to make beverages, and has long been paired with coffee. However, after the full name "Pain Mask · Tamarind Americano" was revealed, it triggered consumer worries about the taste. Whether this collaboration drink is a pleasant surprise or a flop will only be known after it hits the market. [more…]

Coffee is a drink many people can't do without every day, but what exactly are its positive and negative effects on the body? This article starts with coffee's main components, systematically sorting out the effects of substances such as caffeine, tannic acid, fat, and sugar, then separately explains the benefits of drinking coffee in moderation, including refreshing the mind, protecting the skin, sobering up, and preventing gallstones, while also discussing problems that may be caused by excessive intake, such as caffeine poisoning, insomnia, and anxiety. The article also specifically lists six groups of people who should not drink much coffee, and gives reminders about drinking on an empty stomach and for people with high blood pressure. If you care about the relationship between coffee and health, this content can serve as a fairly complete reference. [more…]

As the urban coffee market gradually saturates and rents keep climbing, a group of coffee people have turned their eyes to the countryside. Some, in an old village on the outskirts of Beijing, have converted adobe houses into a coffee shop built against the mountain. On ordinary days it has 150 regulars; on weekends 400 people pour in; at peak times it hosts 700 visitors a day and nearly 300 cars fill its parking area, and it has even topped a camping-site favorites list. Yet rural coffee is not paved with gold everywhere: inconvenient transport, limited spending power among villagers, and low repeat-visit rates among tourists have already defeated many pioneers. Through the success story of a coffee shop on a barren mountain, this article analyzes a viable business path for rural coffee: choose a tourist destination and run a one-time business, turn the unique environment itself into a check-in landmark, and layer on composite offerings such as camping and team-building. [more…]