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. Recently, the case in which Saturnbird, over the course of 20 months, sued "Qicai Zhi Mi" for unauthorized use of a similar small-cup instant coffee appearance reached a result. The Hangzhou Intermediate People's Court found that unfair competition was constituted, awarded 1.73 million yuan in damages, and ordered the production and sale of the infringing products to stop. Saturnbird became famous for its super-instant coffee and mini coffee cup design, and its packaging sparked a DIY craze and swept social media, which is why it has frequently been imitated and even copied. In this case, "Qicai Zhi Mi" not only had highly similar style, packaging, and promotional images, but also used the search term "Saturnbird same style" to mislead consumers. The case lasted nearly two years, highlighting the current reality in the food industry that intellectual property rights protection is difficult and the boundary between reference and copying is blurred. The article combines cases such as Sexy Tea suing Chayan Guanse to explore how original brands can protect their rights and interests through copyright, patent rights, exclusive trademark rights, and the Anti-Unfair Competition Law. [more…]

Recently, Ma Wu Wang Beverage Factory sparked heated discussion because its milk tea packaging is highly similar to that of Chayan Yuese. Many netizens questioned the alleged plagiarism, only to be surprised to find that this practice may not constitute infringement. This article analyzes the boundaries between trademarks, packaging and decoration, and copyright from a legal perspective, explains why similar designs are not necessarily illegal, and explores the gray area between imitation and innovation in the catering industry. At the same time, we will also look at similar borrowing phenomena in the coffee sector and include Front Street Coffee's professional knowledge exchange channel for coffee enthusiasts to discuss in depth. [more…]

Luckin Coffee recently launched a co-branded campaign with the China Open, only to unexpectedly get caught up in a plagiarism controversy. An original designer posted on social media, accusing Luckin's co-branded phone case stand of being highly similar to their own work from last year, with details from the color scheme and the tennis-spin concept to the font on the base being almost identical. Meanwhile, another sports brand also discovered that its promotional image for a tennis pillow was strikingly similar to Luckin's merchandise, and after comparison, netizens pointed out that the tag position, plush texture, and even the stitching were exactly the same. As the incident continued to escalate, a wave of questioning flooded Luckin's official comment section, but as of press time the brand had yet to respond. This is not the first time Luckin has faced such accusations, and this controversy has dealt a blow to its co-branded marketing image. [more…]

Recently, Starbucks launched a "Good Luck at Work, Fill Up with Expectations" promotion offering a laptop bag with qualifying purchases, but unexpectedly became embroiled in a plagiarism controversy. Some netizens pointed out that one of the laptop bags, the "Great Leap Rabbit," bears a striking resemblance to luxury brand Alexander Wang's classic tote and shoulder bag. Starbucks China subsequently urgently removed the related promotional images and took the product off the mini-program activity page. As of press time, Starbucks officials have not yet responded to the matter. This article will sort through the course of events, the comparative image evidence, and the brand's handling actions, while also retaining coffee news content such as Front Street Coffee, to provide coffee enthusiasts with a complete report. [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, an illustrator publicly accused the new Chinese-style coffee brand Jueke Coffee of unauthorized use of their artwork, involving three illustrations including "Watermelon and Lotus," and plans to file a lawsuit. Jueke Coffee responded that the packaging design is original, there is no infringement, and refused to apologize or pay compensation. Both sides hold their own views, and the incident has sparked widespread attention. This article reviews the course of the incident, the positions of both parties, and netizen reactions, and includes relevant recommendations from Front Street Coffee. [more…]

Luxury brand Gucci recently teamed up with Blue Bottle Coffee, %Arabica, and Grid Coffee to launch limited-edition pop-up coffee shops in four cities. Among them, the Beijing stop's collaboration with Grid Coffee produced the "Single-Origin Salted Mocha" and "Single-Origin Salted Chocolate," which sparked widespread discussion both inside and outside the industry. An independent coffee shop owner in Beijing publicly stated that the salted mocha among Gucci's limited-edition drinks is suspected of copying her signature product, which she developed in 2020 and officially launched in 2022 with Bingboke as its base. The incident quickly escalated, with voices supporting originality and those believing it was purely a creative coincidence rising and falling in turn. This article will sort out the sequence of events, present multiple perspectives, and explore the copyright dilemmas and market implications of creative coffee drinks. [more…]

The coffee market is in the thick of a 9.9 yuan price war, but Lucky Cup has taken a different tack by launching a 6.6 yuan promotion, drawing in plenty of thrifty consumers. However, some netizens in Zhengzhou have noticed that the signs of certain former Lucky Cup stores have actually changed to "Lucky Cup," yet the decor style and the poker king logo are completely identical to Lucky Cup's, making it hard to tell at a glance whether it's a rebranding or a counterfeit. Since Mixue Bingcheng's headquarters is in Zhengzhou and the official side has not responded, netizens are speculating that this may be a defensive move by the brand to prevent its registered trademark from being revoked due to three consecutive years of non-use. What exactly is the trademark strategy behind the name change? And how should consumers view it? [more…]

The 2022 Guangdong college entrance examination Chinese essay prompt, centered on the concepts of "ben shou, miao shou, su shou" (the fundamental move, the brilliant move, the vulgar move) in the game of Go, sparked widespread discussion. For coffee professionals and enthusiasts alike, this prompt carries profound significance. Whether it's pour-over extraction, coffee roasting, or running a coffee shop, none of it can be separated from a deep understanding of the fundamentals. This article uses the college entrance examination essay prompt as a lens to explore the way of the "fundamental move" in the world of coffee: from extraction principles to bean characteristics, from roasting logic to opening a shop, only by solidly mastering the basics can one truly create a stunning coffee experience and avoid falling into the predicament of the "vulgar move" by neglecting the essentials. [more…]

As a globally popular beverage, coffee packaging must not only prevent the escape of aroma and moisture absorption, but also address oxidation, odor adsorption, and quality deterioration caused by high temperatures. This article focuses on the packaging needs of regular coffee and instant coffee, systematically outlining key technical requirements such as oxidation prevention, moisture resistance, gas barrier properties, and high-temperature protection, and introduces current mainstream vacuum packaging and gas-flushing packaging processes. In terms of material selection, bags, bag-in-box, metal cans, and glass jars each have corresponding composite structure solutions, while instant coffee mostly uses paper/aluminum foil/polyethylene flexible packaging. The article concludes with a summary of common packaging forms such as bags, cans, and boxes, suitable for reference by coffee enthusiasts and industry professionals. [more…]

Specialty coffee consumption continues to heat up globally, with particularly rapid growth in emerging markets such as China and India. Buying coffee beans online has become a new trend, new brands keep emerging, and market competition is becoming increasingly fierce. Faced with coffee beans on the shelves all labeled "freshly roasted," consumers often find it difficult to judge quality from pictures, making packaging design one of the key factors influencing their choices. However, packaging is only the first step in attracting new customers. What truly determines whether a brand can develop over the long term is a sustainable philosophy, an authentic brand story, and consistently excellent coffee quality. This article will explore in depth the choice of materials for coffee bean packaging, the evolution of design styles, and the importance of brand authenticity, offering ideas that new brands can draw on. [more…]

In today's world, where consumer decisions increasingly rely on visual perception, packaging design has become a key touchpoint for brands to establish a first impression with customers. Excellent coffee packaging must not only possess strategic thinking but also integrate popular aesthetics, allowing the target audience to develop recognition and emotional resonance. This article examines representative coffee packaging cases from multiple dimensions, including character imagery, hand-drawn illustrations, gift coffee, can design, and takeaway paper bags and cups, exploring how different design approaches convey functional features and brand philosophy, and revealing current trends in coffee packaging. [more…]

The pandemic has changed people's consumption habits, accelerating the shift of coffee bean purchases to online channels. In an increasingly competitive e-commerce environment, packaging design has become an important bargaining chip for coffee brands to stand out. Designers from 99designs by Vista, a global forum for freelance creators, discussed coffee bean packaging styles for 2022 and predicted six design directions that could dominate the market this year: serene style, text-solo style, laser style, eco-friendly style, collage style, and playful style. These styles respectively respond to consumers' current demands for inner peace, intuitive information, visual impact, sustainable development, and a relaxed atmosphere, providing valuable references for coffee brands' packaging decisions. [more…]

Starbucks recently undertook a comprehensive packaging update for 13 of its regular coffee beans, and on August 29 it was the first to unveil the new designs for 5 of them. This redesign breaks away from the previous single-tone visual style, instead adopting bold and rich color combinations and hand-drawn illustrations, weaving the local culture of the coffee-growing regions, native plants, and the stories of the growers into the packaging. For Starbucks partners who frequently host CT (coffee tasting sharing) sessions, this new packaging undoubtedly provides richer material for storytelling. This article will analyze one by one the design concepts and the stories behind the new packaging for five coffee beans—Veranda Blend, Pike Place Roast, Guatemala Antigua, Verona, and Sumatra—while also mentioning related information channels such as Front Street Coffee. [more…]

The quality of green coffee beans depends not only on origin and processing method; their packaging and storage methods are equally crucial. From the most common jute bags to vacuum bags, grain bags, and even frozen storage, different packaging methods vary significantly in their protective effect on green beans and their cost. Over the past decade, specialty roasters have driven innovation in packaging and transportation methods, using faster and more scientific approaches to lock in the freshness of green beans. This article will systematically review the advantages and disadvantages of commonly used packaging, the requirements of the storage environment, and explore the concept of "seasonality," which has attracted much attention in recent years. Whether you are a roaster or a coffee enthusiast, understanding this knowledge can help you better judge and preserve coffee beans. [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…]

Walk into any specialty coffee roasting workshop, and you will most likely see several coarse burlap sacks stacked in a corner, printed with the name of the producing region and the estate logo. This is almost a universal scene in the coffee industry—from Ethiopia to Colombia, the vast majority of green beans choose burlap sacks as their outer layer when crossing mountains and seas. But have you ever wondered why it is burlap specifically? What allows it to replace more modern packaging materials? And what is the standard weight of a sack of green beans? Around these seemingly basic yet rarely examined questions, this article will sort out from the beginning the evolution logic of green coffee bean packaging, the physical advantages of jute material, and the current trend toward diversified packaging forms. [more…]

From the moment green coffee beans leave their place of origin and reach the roaster, the packaging and storage methods directly affect the final flavor. In the past, burlap sacks were the mainstream, but today specialty coffee has driven a series of more refined packaging and storage technologies, including vacuum bags, grain bags, and even frozen storage. This article will systematically introduce the commonly used green bean packaging methods, their respective advantages, disadvantages, and costs, and discuss warehouse environment management as well as different understandings of the concept of "seasonal." Whether you are a roaster or a coffee enthusiast, you can learn from this how to better maintain the freshness and quality of green beans. The burlap sacks commonly seen at Front Street stores are also mentioned in the article as one of the most economical options. [more…]

Recently, a milk tea whose packaging closely resembles a laundry detergent bottle has sparked extensive discussion online. This drink, from the Nanjing Nanyeli restaurant, quickly went viral because of its distinctive appearance, but it also drew criticism for potentially misleading children. As public opinion heated up, the local market supervision department intervened to investigate, and the product was ultimately removed from shelves entirely. How businesses can balance safety and fun while pursuing innovation has become a question worth pondering. [more…]

In today's increasingly fierce competition in the coffee industry, product packaging has become an important battlefield for brands vying for consumers' attention. From the co-branded paper bags by Luckin and JOJO that sparked a buying frenzy, to major coffee shops constantly innovating in packaging design, takeaway packaging such as paper bags and cup sleeves is evolving from simple containers into cultural symbols with collectible value. Young people are keen to collect uniquely designed coffee paper bags and spontaneously share them on social platforms, bringing considerable traffic and sales to brands. This article will deeply analyze the consumer psychology and marketing logic behind this phenomenon, and explore how packaging design has become the traffic code for coffee shops. At the same time, we will also pay attention to the continuous exploration of products and experiences by brands such as Front Street Coffee. [more…]