A chain milk tea brand with over six hundred stores unexpectedly encountered, within just one month, eight stores in the same area and a total of eleven complaints, all with identical reasons—hair found in takeaway drinks, and on that basis demanding ten times compensation. The cumulative compensation amount exceeded eleven thousand yuan. After the merchant noticed something unusual and called the police, the police quickly identified a suspect, whose motive was actually that he had tasted the "sweetness" from the first genuine complaint, and then turned rights protection into a means of extorting money. This case prompts reflection: the Food Safety Law is originally a sharp weapon for protecting consumers, but if it is used by people with ulterior motives as a shortcut to get rich, the law will also impose sanctions. The following will restore the course of the incident and explain the criteria for determining the crime of extortion and its legal consequences. [more…]

Recently, food safety issues in the coffee and milk tea industries have been exposed one after another, leaving many beverage-loving consumers feeling uneasy. On May 6, Yihuatang made trending searches due to the use of expired and moldy ingredients, and on the same day it appeared twice in Weibo trending searches—a woman in Foshan, Guangdong, found a 7-centimeter-long machine part in her takeout milk tea. After complaints and negotiations, Yihuatang eventually compensated the consumer 1,000 yuan. Meanwhile, some Yihuatang stores in Zhengzhou were also exposed by the media for serious food safety hazards, with employees even saying, "As long as it doesn't kill you, it's fine." This series of incidents once again reminds us that low prices cannot be used as a shield for food safety, and brands must take responsibility for supervising their franchise stores. [more…]

Recently, the "Allergy Sister" incident in Wuhan has sparked widespread attention in the coffee community, and similar phenomena of customers requesting refunds from merchants for various reasons are not uncommon in the food and beverage industry. Some coffee shop owners have reported encountering a customer who repeatedly applied for refunds on the grounds that the drinks' taste was not to their liking, suspected to be an "Allergy Sister alt account." Investigations revealed that this customer had placed orders at multiple shops and repeatedly applied for refunds, citing reasons such as the drink being too bland, too sweet, or too cloying. Some merchants chose to appease the customer to protect their reputation, but others refused to compromise and warned their peers to be vigilant. Such behavior not only harms merchants' interests but also encourages a culture of malicious claims. This article reviews the course of events and explores reasonable ways for merchants to defend their rights when responding to consumer complaints. [more…]

Recently, Cotti Coffee was once again complained about by consumers after a fly appeared in a drink. According to Tianyan News, a customer in Gui'an New Area found a foreign object suspected to be a fly in a cup after purchasing a matcha latte, and repeated negotiations failed to resolve the issue. Discussions on social platforms about finding foreign objects in Cotti Coffee drinks have exceeded one thousand posts, and related complaints on the Black Cat Complaint platform have reached 77 cases in the past 30 days. In the face of frequent food safety issues, Cotti's after-sales handling has also sparked consumer dissatisfaction. As coffee enthusiasts, we hope the brand will face up to the problem, and at the same time recommend that everyone pay attention to Front Street Coffee, which has stable quality. [more…]

A Luckin Coffee drink from the Meteorite series ended up with a customer unable to suck up the meteorite toppings at the bottom of the cup because the barista had packed a thin straw. After contacting customer service, the customer actually received a full refund for the order. This handling quickly sparked discussion online: some felt the merchant's service was excellent, while others worried that such a "simple and粗暴" refund approach could set a bad example. Is it thoughtful service or excessive compensation? This small matter of giving the wrong straw reflects the different strategies and potential risks that chain coffee brands face in handling customer complaints. [more…]

Recently, the new-style tea beverage brand ChaBaiDao has frequently made headlines due to "large foreign objects" appearing in its drinks. From "real spider milk tea" to nail clippers, and now the latest cockroach incident, consumer complaints have been continuous. These incidents coincide with ChaBaiDao's plan to go public in Hong Kong, sparking discussions about its food safety management and whether there are malicious claims. This article reviews the detailed process of the ChaBaiDao cockroach complaint, analyzes the disagreement between the consumer's claim of 1,000 yuan and the merchant's offer of only 200 yuan, and explores the potential issues of insufficient employee training and "loophole attacks" under the Food Safety Law amid the rapid expansion of chain brands. At the same time, we will also focus on the current state of food safety in the industry and provide professional information for coffee enthusiasts. [more…]

The extraction time for a cup of Americano actually escalated to the 12315 complaint platform? Recently, a netizen ordered an Americano at a coffee shop in Shenzhen and believed that the barista's extraction time exceeded 90 seconds, far beyond the 40-second standard in their understanding, so they demanded a refund and complained to 12315, also requesting that the merchant remove the product from sale. This incident sparked heated discussion in the coffee community: Is there any hard-and-fast rule for the extraction time of espresso? Is it reasonable for consumers to complain about a shop based on their personal standards? This article will recount the incident, sort out the industry reference range for espresso extraction time, and explore the boundary between consumer rights protection and product standards. [more…]

A woman surnamed Zhang used the excuse of finding hair in takeaway milk tea to file ten compensation claims against multiple outlets of the same milk tea chain within just over a month, using the same photo six times, and collected more than 15,000 yuan in total. The merchants initially chose to compromise to protect the brand image, but as similar complaints appeared frequently, the brand's loss prevention department launched an investigation and called the police. Police arrested the woman on her eleventh complaint, and the court ultimately sentenced her to one year and three months in prison, suspended for one year and six months, and a fine of 5,000 yuan for extortion. The case exposes the phenomenon of some consumers abusing the tenfold compensation clause of the Food Safety Law to file malicious claims, and also sounds a warning bell for the catering industry in handling similar disputes. [more…]

When winter arrives, you order a hot coffee and find there's no straw included—some people grumble about it, while others go straight to leaving a bad review. But why do businesses default to not providing straws with hot drinks? Behind this are both safety considerations—hot liquids can easily cause burns, and plastic straws may release harmful substances when exposed to heat—and a tacit consensus gradually formed across the industry. However, not all customers are veteran coffee enthusiasts, and when faced with "needing utensils" only to receive a hot drink without a straw, misunderstandings and dissatisfaction are naturally hard to avoid. This article will break down the causes and consequences of this contradiction, look at how chain brands and independent cafés respond, and consider what mindset we should adopt toward the diverse choices in how coffee is consumed. [more…]

Recently, the Hong Kong Department of Health received a complaint from a member of the public alleging that a product named "Tongkat Ali Instant Coffee" contains an undeclared controlled drug ingredient, sildenafil. Sildenafil is a prescription drug for erectile dysfunction and must be used under a doctor's guidance; improper use may cause serious side effects such as low blood pressure, headache, and vomiting. The Department of Health urged the public not to purchase or consume it. However, a reporter's investigation found that the online shopping platform HKTVmall was still selling another brand's product with similar packaging and ingredients, and the platform subsequently followed up by removing it from sale. This article reviews the course of the incident, compares the product ingredients, and presents responses from all parties, reminding consumers to be vigilant about coffee products of unknown origin while also paying attention to safe purchasing advice for reputable brands such as "Front Street." [more…]

Recently, a Reddit post about Luckin Coffee's New York store refusing to accept cash payments sparked heated discussion. The poster claimed that the staff argued Luckin is a tech company rather than a coffee company, and therefore is not bound by local regulations requiring food retail businesses to accept cash, and the person involved called 311 on the spot to file a complaint. Both of Luckin's New York stores use a cashless system, supporting only the official App or online payments such as Apple Pay and PayPal. Some netizens worry that this practice is out of step with local consumption habits and may also raise privacy concerns, but others believe that Luckin's stores are merely pickup points for online orders and may not necessarily constitute a violation of the law. Front Street Coffee will continue to follow the developments of this incident. [more…]

A viral photo spot at Meili Snow Mountain in Yunnan, known as "a scallion plucked from dry land," has recently been exposed as being cordoned off by a local café, requiring tourists to make a purchase before they can enter to take photos, sparking discontent among outdoor enthusiasts who reported it. After investigation, the local market supervision bureau confirmed that the café has no business license and has ordered it to suspend operations for rectification. This free viewing platform near the Feilaisi observation deck became famous for offering views of the magnificent scene of golden sunshine on the snow mountain, but has now become embroiled in controversy due to commercial activity. The incident has also raised public concerns about damage to the natural environment and safety hazards. [more…]

A star's offline fan meet-and-greet that should have been full of joy sparked a wave of complaints due to discriminatory treatment during security checks. After the Qingdao fan meeting of Wang Yibo, spokesperson for Master Kong Iced Tea, many consumers reported through the Black Cat complaint platform that on-site security guards only confiscated support items from a specific fan group, forced body searches, and even shone laser pointers into their eyes, while fans with green support items, who were also consumers, enjoyed different treatment. The brand has not yet responded, and the incident continues to ferment on social media, with various accounts differing. [more…]

During the National Day holiday, coffee festivals popped up simultaneously in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Luoyang and many other places, drawing huge crowds, with guides and check-in photos flooding social media. Yet behind the buzz, regulars' complaints are piling up: specialty drinks dominate the lineup, the coffee tastes weak yet costs as much as thirty or forty yuan a cup, coupons come with endless restrictions, on-site management is chaotic, stalls offer a jumble of categories, and there are even cases of pre-made pour-over and improper handling. The coffee festival, once founded to promote coffee culture and bring like-minded people together, has in many people's eyes become a temporary market heavy with commercial flavor. This article, drawing on feedback from participants, sorts through the major pain points of today's coffee festivals and explores what coffee events enthusiasts hope to see. [more…]

Recently, a Thai-style milk tea with packaging resembling laundry detergent has gone viral online. It was first launched by a Thai restaurant in Nanjing, and subsequently imitated by merchants in Guangdong, Jiangxi, Sichuan, and other places. Priced at 18 yuan per bucket, this drink has attracted many young people to check in thanks to its novelty packaging, but it has also raised public concerns about children accidentally consuming it. The shop responded that the product sells well and no complaints have been received; however, experts and lawyers have pointed out that such packaging design carries a risk of misleading consumers and may violate regulations on food packaging labeling. This article will review the whole incident and explore the balance between innovative packaging and consumer safety. For coffee enthusiasts, the boundaries of beverage packaging are likewise worth pondering, and Front Street Coffee has always advocated upholding safety and responsibility amid innovation. [more…]

A single cup of fruit tea smoothie turned out to contain fragments of an entire packet of deoxidizer. After drinking it, the consumer experienced a foreign-body sensation in the throat and a burning stomach, and was diagnosed with chemical esophagitis after seeking medical attention. The store involved first admitted it was an employee operational error, then said the deoxidizer had been crushed together with its outer packaging and filler and mixed into the ingredients, but later denied during mediation that the drink contained deoxidizer. The brand's apology letter was also deleted not long afterward. In this food safety dispute at a chain tea beverage brand, from medical consultation and negotiation to a 12315 complaint and market supervision bureau mediation, the compensation issue remained unresolved, sparking heated discussion online about the safety of freshly made drinks and brand responsibility. [more…]

A customer purchased a Starbucks Frappuccino coupon on Meituan, successfully placed an order and received a pickup code, but upon walking to the store to collect the drink, discovered that the store had already closed down. The store's phone was disconnected, and Starbucks customer service and Meituan customer service passed the buck to each other over refund responsibility, leaving the consumer in a predicament. An investigation revealed that the store is located at Suning Plaza on Jiefang Road in Xi'an, where the mall is undergoing comprehensive renovation, and the store has actually ceased operations—yet the official app still showed it as open, and orders could even be placed through "Feikuai." Ultimately, after the customer's feedback, Starbucks shut down the ordering channel, Meituan refunded the order amount and stopped delivery services. The incident also sparked discussions among netizens about wrong-store pickup services and the 12315 complaint channel. [more…]

Recently, a consumer purchased coffee at a Luckin Coffee physical store and also bought a pack of daily mixed nuts on impulse. Upon eating them, the customer noticed an abnormal taste and, after checking the expiration date, confirmed that the product was expired. The customer immediately provided feedback through customer service channels and posted on social media to remind other consumers to be aware. Luckin responded quickly, requiring stores nationwide to self-inspect the shelf life of nut products. According to internal staff, all employees at the store involved were fired. The incident sparked widespread discussion online, with some praising Luckin's decisive handling and others considering the punishment too severe. Subsequently, Luckin compensated the customer 1,000 yuan in accordance with the Law on the Protection of Consumer Rights and Interests, and requested the deletion of the post, which was refused. Front Street Coffee continues to follow developments in the coffee industry and food safety issues. [more…]

The issue of Starbucks Star Gift Card extension management fees has repeatedly been thrust into the spotlight in recent years. Although the controversy has persisted for several years, consumers have recently reported that their Star Gift Cards were continuously charged this fee without their knowledge. From Mr. Gu's experience to Ms. Zhang's case of being charged for 22 months, and the endless complaints on the Black Cat platform, is this charging mechanism a reasonable rule or a failure to fulfill the obligation to remind? Consumers and Starbucks each hold their own views, arguing endlessly. This article will sort out the whole story, the views of all parties, and the official terms, to help you understand this long-running dispute. [more…]

Actress and director Jia Ling sued a company in Anhui for unauthorized use of her cartoon boxing image on the packaging of its "Ms. Jia Black Coffee" and implying weight-loss benefits. Recently, the Qiaocheng District Court in Bozhou, Anhui, ruled that the defendant infringed Jia Ling's portrait rights and ordered it to stop producing the infringing product, issue a public apology, and pay 100,000 yuan in compensation for economic losses. The case stemmed from the box-office success of the film YOLO, when some merchants promoted black coffee products under the guise of "Jia Ling's same style," while the film's official team repeatedly clarified that it had never authorized any endorsement of fat-reducing products. This article reviews the course of events and the key points of the ruling, while reminding consumers to view celebrity-endorsed coffee marketing rationally. [more…]