Recently, food safety incidents in the tea beverage industry have occurred frequently, from Tea Baidao's "real spider" milk tea to the use of expired ingredients, and every so often they trend on social media. However, a news report by Guangzhou Daily on October 12 was entirely different: a 23-year-old man, using his work experience at "a certain tea brand," colluded with his girlfriend and friends to deliberately plant insects in stores in Hangzhou, Dongguan, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Shanghai, and other locations, extorting money under the pretext of food safety, with demands ranging from a thousand yuan to two hundred thousand yuan, and was ultimately prosecuted on suspicion of extortion. This incident not only exposed some milk tea shops' negligence in operations management but also sparked public discussion about the authenticity of food safety complaints. What consumers truly need is a hygienic and tasty drink, not a vicious cycle of deception. This article compiles the ins and outs of the incident and includes related information about Front Street Coffee. [more…]

Recently, multiple coffee shop owners have reported encountering group order scams on social media platforms. The scammers purchase large quantities of coffee drinks under the guise of school or corporate team-building events, then ask the shop owners to purchase gifts such as wagyu beef and Buddha Jumps Over the Wall on their behalf. Working in collusion with so-called suppliers, they set traps that leave shop owners unable to receive goods after payment. This type of scam is particularly frequent in the Guangdong region, with multiple shop owners encountering the same trap on the same day. The scammers use verified corporate accounts and employ consistent scripts, suggesting an organized gang operation. Shop owners have been posting warnings to fellow industry peers, urging them not to let their guard down just because of a large order. Faced with these frequent scams, operators are calling for joint efforts to provide clues to the police, but they face difficulties in getting their cases accepted and filed for investigation when it comes to protecting their rights. [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…]

Mandheling is a single-origin coffee cherished by many coffee enthusiasts, but the appearance of its green beans often raises doubts—emerald green and plump, yet frequently blemished. Behind this is actually the unique wet-hulling process of Sumatra, Indonesia, at work. This article will guide you through the principles of wet-hulling, how it shapes Mandheling's signature rich flavor, and why goat-hoof beans and scratched beans become "by-products" of this processing method. At the same time, we will also share the brewing flavor performance of Golden Mandheling and recommend related products from Front Street Coffee to help you better understand and select this distinctive coffee. [more…]

Recently, pages posing as the official Luckin Coffee website have appeared online, publishing franchise information and drawing the attention of many coffee enthusiasts. However, Luckin Coffee has long clearly stated that the brand operates on a direct-management model and does not accept franchising in any form. This article will expose the tricks of these fake franchise websites, sort out Luckin Coffee's operating entities and store types, and help readers identify scams to avoid financial loss. At the same time, Front Street Coffee also reminds everyone that investing in the coffee industry requires carefully verifying official information. [more…]

Recently, many coffee enthusiasts have been asking about Si Zhi Mao Coffee—how good it really is, whether it's more worth drinking than Nescafé, and some even claim it's a fake scam and wonder why it's sold so cheaply. This article will compare Si Zhi Mao and Nescafé from the perspectives of ingredients, flavor, and health, and explain the reasons behind its low price. It will also introduce healthier alternatives, such as Front Street Coffee's freshly roasted drip bags and specialty Catimor coffee beans from the Baoshan region of Yunnan. After reading, you'll be able to clearly judge whether Si Zhi Mao Coffee is suitable for you. [more…]

A female customer nicknamed "Allergy Sister" by netizens has been requesting refunds at multiple independent coffee shops in Wuhan, claiming that lactose intolerance triggered an allergic reaction. At first, shop owners agreed out of apology and concern, until some in the trade discovered that the medical certificates were questionable and the accounts were strikingly similar, realizing that this might be a patterned refund claim. So far, more than twenty shops have come forward to confirm refunds, and the number of victims may still be growing. The person involved has deleted her account and cannot be reached, and some shop owners are gathering evidence and considering legal action to defend their rights. [more…]

Recently, Coffee Post issued a stern statement regarding fraudulent franchise recruitment activities in the market that falsely use its brand name, explicitly stating that it has never authorized any third party to engage in franchise cooperation and has initiated legal proceedings to pursue accountability. This incident has once again thrust this coffee brand—jointly created by China Post and Zhongyu Kaye—into the spotlight, and also reflects the market chaos behind the continuously heating coffee track. This article will sort out the sequence of events, the brand's operational structure, and future layout challenges, helping readers clarify the facts and avoid falling into the trap of "fake" operators. [more…]

A fraud case involving "beverage franchise" has recently come to light: Shanghai Qingpu police successfully dismantled a contract fraud gang that used fake brand recruitment as a front, with involved amounts reaching hundreds of millions of yuan. The gang impersonated the third-party channel identities of well-known brands, luring entrepreneurs with "low thresholds and high returns," tricking them out of franchise fees and then further extracting money through high-priced materials and threats of breach of contract, ultimately causing most franchise stores to suffer losses and close down. Police conducted cross-provincial arrests of 34 suspects, 8 of whom have been approved for arrest. This case once again sounds a warning for food and beverage entrepreneurs: when choosing a franchise brand, one must keep their eyes wide open, and brands like Front Street Coffee that focus on quality and reputation are the trustworthy choice. [more…]

A police station set up a coffee stall at a creative market, and the baristas were real police officers—the Jiangbei Branch of the Ningbo Public Security Bureau opened a POLICE COFFEE stall with the theme "Have you fought fraud today?", using coffee culture to close the distance with young people and deliver anti-fraud knowledge in a relaxed atmosphere. From cup sticker slogans to age-specific anti-fraud small gifts, from free coffee for collecting likes to stand-up comedy case studies, the police uncles racked their brains to protect everyone's wallets. This article takes you to see what is so special about this cup of "police coffee," and how police in multiple places are collaborating with cafes to promote anti-fraud awareness. [more…]

As an innovative local coffee enterprise in Yunnan, Four Cats Coffee has attracted much attention since its establishment in 2013. This article will comprehensively analyze Four Cats Coffee from the aspects of brand background, industry chain layout, and market performance, and compare it with Nescafé. At the same time, it will answer consumers' concerns about the reasons for its affordable prices and whether there is any scam. Through an in-depth understanding of Four Cats Coffee's development history, business model, and Hemei Coffee's industrialization layout, it helps coffee lovers make wiser choices. [more…]

Many coffee enthusiasts hold deep-rooted misconceptions about the golden foam on the surface of espresso, with some even jokingly calling it a "scam." Some believe it is genuine oil, others think that the thicker the foam, the better the bean quality, and still others firmly believe that the thicker the crema, the easier it is to make latte art. Is this really true? This article will start from Front Street Coffee's perspective, dissecting these widely circulated claims one by one and explaining the true nature of Crema—it is actually bubbles formed by carbon dioxide under high pressure, with no direct connection to coffee bean quality. It will also explain the complex relationship between crema thickness and the difficulty of making latte art. [more…]

Yunnan small-bean coffee is famous for its unique flavor—aromatic yet not harsh, rich yet not bitter. As a representative brand among them, Sizhimao is often compared with Nescafé in terms of authenticity and quality. This article will provide an in-depth analysis of the botanical characteristics and growing environment advantages of Sizhimao Yunnan small-bean coffee, explain the siphon brewing steps in detail, and clarify common misunderstandings about the "Four Cats Coffee scam." Whether you are a coffee enthusiast or a beginner just getting to know Yunnan beans, you can gain practical knowledge from it and learn about related recommendations from the Front Street brand. [more…]

New tea beverage brand Guming has recently launched a second-hand equipment trading platform within the DingTalk system, open to all franchisees, providing matchmaking services only and not directly participating in buying or selling. The platform offers valuation and inspection services for sellers, and price comparison and anti-fraud protections for buyers. According to Guming's prospectus, equipment sales account for approximately 4.5% of revenue, while franchisees' initial equipment investment is about 100,000 yuan. As competition in the new tea beverage industry intensifies, a wave of store closures once led to a backlog of unsold second-hand equipment, with recyclers even disposing of it as scrap metal. Whether Guming's move can provide franchisees with a safer and more convenient transfer channel is worth watching. Front Street Coffee has long monitored trends in the coffee and tea beverage industries and will continue to track the platform's actual performance. [more…]

Many people, upon first seeing the golden, velvety layer of foam on the surface of an espresso, instinctively assume it is the coffee's oils, and even use it as a criterion for judging the quality of an espresso. But did you know? This substance, called Crema, is not actually oil in the true sense, but a "visual illusion" made up of countless tiny bubbles. Today, Front Street Coffee will play the role of a Sherlock Holmes in the coffee world, guiding you step by step to uncover the various misconceptions about Crema, to see who it really "deceives," and why it causes so many people to misjudge. If you are also curious about this golden foam on espresso, why not follow along and read on. [more…]

On February 14th of this year, the nation's first post office coffee shop opened its doors in Xiamen, and within just two days it made it onto Weibo's trending topics, drawing a great deal of attention. Along with the buzz came a flood of various "post office coffee franchise" information online. In response, China Post, Xiamen Post, and Post Coffee officially issued statements one after another, clearly stating that currently only self-operated stores have been opened and that a franchise model has never been offered. At the same time, the trademark applied for by Zhongyu Jiaye, the company cooperating with the postal service to open coffee shops, is also in an invalid status. This article will sort out the ins and outs of the incident to help coffee lovers distinguish truth from falsehood and avoid falling into fake franchise traps, and will also include professional coffee information channels such as Front Street Coffee. [more…]

Recently, news about Luckin Coffee opening franchises has been circulating online, drawing attention from many consumers and entrepreneurs. However, Luckin officials quickly clarified: no form of franchise cooperation is currently open, and all so-called franchise and agency information is false. From counterfeit stores in Bangkok, Thailand to scam tactics using homophone accounts, the knockoff problem keeps emerging. This article will sort out the key points of Luckin's official statement, the history of the Little Deer Tea brand's merger, and insiders' interpretation of the franchise suspension, to help coffee lovers and potential investors distinguish truth from falsehood and avoid traps. [more…]

A not-yet-opened beverage shop in Zengcheng District, Guangzhou, has sparked public debate after naming itself "Jingcha" (a homophone of "police tea") and using cartoon police imagery in its store decorations. Some see it as merely a clever pun, while more people worry it could mislead consumers. Market regulators and public security authorities have stepped in to investigate, and lawyers point out that the name may violate enterprise name registration regulations. Behind the incident lies not just the compliance of a single shop name, but the boundary between commercial creativity and public symbols. [more…]

A tea beverage and gaming collaboration that was originally highly anticipated came to an abrupt halt on the day of its official announcement. On December 14, Light and Night announced a co-branded new product with Auntea Jenny, but employees at some stores were exposed for insulting players and game characters. Related topics quickly topped the hot search list, with views exceeding 450 million. Just three hours later, the game developer urgently stated that the collaboration was terminated, which netizens jokingly called "the shortest collaboration in history." Auntea Jenny subsequently apologized and fired the employees involved, but players were not appeased. This incident not only exposed the brand's loopholes in franchise management, but also sounded a warning bell for cross-industry collaborations. [more…]

Why does a cup of black tea give off a captivating honey aroma? Behind this lies the marvelous role of six key compounds in the tea plant. Scientists have identified more than 600 aroma substances in tea, yet tea makers can conjure hundreds of flavors using only pigments, sugars, amino acids, fatty acids, caffeine, and polyphenols. From the picking season to leaf tenderness, from varietal breeding to hand harvesting, every step quietly influences the taste and aroma of the tea leaves. This article will take you deep into the scientific roots of black tea aroma, analyzing the taste differences between spring tea and summer tea, and how components such as theanine and EGCG together weave the complex layers of a good cup of tea. Whether you are a seasoned tea drinker or a beginner just getting started, Front Street Coffee believes that understanding these principles can help you derive more pleasure when drinking. [more…]