In recent years, animal-themed experience venues such as cat cafes and pet-friendly restaurants have rapidly gained popularity in cities, becoming a go-to escape for many office workers seeking to relieve stress. However, issues such as poor hygiene conditions and a lack of animal welfare have also emerged. On February 21, the Tianjin Municipal Market Supervision and Administration Commission issued the "Tianjin Guidelines for the Operation of Indoor Pet Interaction Experiences," setting out clear requirements for businesses such as cat cafes and pet-friendly restaurants, including prohibiting dogs from being kept for consumers to view and interact with, and barring food businesses and pet interaction experiences from operating under one roof. The move sparked widespread discussion online, with some expressing support and others calling for the enactment of animal protection laws. Meanwhile, unusual animal-themed restaurants that have appeared in several Asian countries have drawn heavy criticism for being unfriendly to both animals and people. Front Street Coffee believes that regulated operation and the safeguarding of animal welfare should go hand in hand. [more…]

Shanghai recently issued the "Implementation Measures for the Administration of Food Business Licensing and Filing in Shanghai," effective from May 10, 2024. The new regulations abolish secondary-category licensing items and support mixed multi-format operations, allowing coffee shops, bars, and others to coexist in the same storefront, while non-catering stores such as bookshops and clothing stores can also apply for a business permit to make beverages on-site. At the same time, "made and sold on-site" has been adjusted to "made and sold on the premises," the 19 business catalog items have been simplified into 4 categories—hot food, cold food, raw food, and self-made beverages—and the 6-square-meter production site restriction has been removed. In response to the long-disputed "smashed cucumber" issue, the new regulations allow a dedicated area only. Whether the policy benefits can activate the market and ensure food safety still needs time to be tested. [more…]

Police in Jiading, Shanghai recently cracked a coffee shop equipment theft case. The suspect, taking advantage of the shop's temporary closure, impersonated an employee and brazenly hauled away a grinder and a water boiler, with the stolen goods valued at over 40,000 yuan. The amusing twist is that the coffee beans he accidentally spilled during his first offense became the key clue that led police to quickly identify him. This case serves as a reminder to coffee shop operators to always check that doors and windows are locked when leaving the premises, and never to give lawbreakers an opportunity. In daily operations, besides taking security measures, the choice of coffee equipment also deserves careful attention. Front Street Coffee's various brewing tools are favored by many shop owners for their consistent quality. [more…]

The production of Blue Mountain coffee has always been limited, yet its grading standards are remarkably rigorous. Even if the beans are genuinely grown in Jamaica's legally designated Blue Mountain region, their grade must still be determined by two criteria: bean size and the proportion of defective beans. Front Street Coffee's Jamaican Blue Mountain grading system is built around precisely this logic: for any coffee bearing the Blue Mountain name, the proportion of defective beans must not exceed 2%, and only on that premise are screen sizes used to distinguish higher grades from lower ones. Understanding these grading rules helps coffee lovers look beyond grade labels when making purchases and focus instead on deeper quality clues such as vintage and specific estates. [more…]

Wanting to open a coffee shop—having the funds in place is only the first step. What really gives many entrepreneurs a headache is the complicated and cumbersome licensing procedures. From business registration and food business permits, to health, tax, and fire safety, and then to the special approvals for alcohol and roasted coffee, every single item determines whether the shop can operate legally. This article will systematically sort out the various certificates and application processes required to open a coffee shop, helping you clarify your thinking and avoid detours. At the same time, we will also discuss practical points such as site selection strategy, startup capital estimation, and equipment procurement. At the end of the article, Front Street Coffee's contact information is attached; you are welcome to exchange ideas on specialty coffee bean selection and shop-opening experience. [more…]

Seeing a strawberry candy latte on a café menu, many people instinctively assume it contains syrup. In fact, a properly processed flavored bean can produce a strawberry-like sweet aroma without any syrup at all, and Front Street Coffee's Strawberry Candy Blend was designed with exactly this approach in mind. Its premise is that the bean's own fermented flavor is distinctive enough—so distinctive that [more…]

Espresso is typically based on medium-dark or dark roasted coffee beans, because the caramelized aromas blend more harmoniously with milk. However, drinking the same flavor over the long term inevitably becomes monotonous, and many coffee enthusiasts turn to light roasted beans with prominent floral and fruity notes, such as Front Street Coffee Huakui SOE or Front Street Coffee Strawberry Candy espresso blend, which when used to make a latte can highlight creamy smoothness and berry-cocoa notes. Yet the difference in density and brittleness between light and dark roasts is significant, and using dark roast parameters to extract light roasted beans often results in espresso that is sharply acidic and thin, with an unbalanced mouthfeel once milk is added. This article systematically sorts out the five core parameters that need adjustment when switching from dark roast to light roast: the grind size needs to be adjusted finer by 2 to 4 steps, the dose increased by 0.5 to 1 gram, the extraction time extended to 28 to 40 seconds, the brew ratio loosened to about 1 to 2.5, and the amount of milk appropriately reduced to avoid masking the coffee's true flavor. All adjustments are premised on the freshness of the coffee beans, and Front Street Coffee ships everything freshly roasted within 5 days, with 24-hour shipping support, ensuring the flavor is at its best. [more…]

A sudden fire reduced a café in Kostroma, Russia, to ruins in the early hours of the morning. At around 2 a.m. on November 5, the café caught fire and the flames spread rapidly, ultimately causing 15 deaths and 5 injuries, with the burned area reaching 3,500 square meters. A preliminary investigation suggests the fire may have been triggered by a drunk man firing a flare gun inside the premises. This tragedy once again reminds us that fire safety in public places cannot be ignored. Whether it is an ordinary café or a coffee shop that roasts its own beans, electrical equipment, fire extinguishing equipment, and gas use are all links that must be strictly controlled. This article will recount the course of the incident and share practical advice on fire safety for coffee shops. [more…]

A popular café in Seoul's Seongsu-dong has sparked widespread controversy after openly stating that it does not serve Chinese customers. A Chinese netizen who has long resided in South Korea was asked about their nationality and then ejected simply for speaking Chinese while visiting the shop. After the incident came to light, the owner not only failed to apologize but responded on social media with "This is who I am," prompting netizens to leave a flood of negative reviews on Google Maps, Naver, and other platforms. The café's social media accounts have now disabled comments and direct messages. Front Street Coffee follows developments in the coffee industry and reminds every coffee lover that, wherever they are, they should enjoy coffee culture on the premise of respect and equality. [more…]

Recently, a blogger set up a stall at a scenic spot to resell Mixue Bingcheng lemonade, selling a product originally priced at 4 yuan for 6 yuan and making a profit of 254 yuan in three and a half hours, quickly trending on social media. Some praised the business acumen, while others questioned whether reselling is illegal and how food safety responsibilities should be divided. Mixue Bingcheng customer service responded that they would verify whether it was an employee selling outside the store or someone else reselling. Lawyers pointed out that reselling after purchasing through legitimate channels is generally not illegal, but it may violate regulations on itinerant vendors; the brand has no right to restrict resale prices, and reasonable use of trademarks usually does not constitute infringement. Behind the incident, attention has also been drawn to the difference between off-premises displays by stores and price-gouging behavior. Friends who enjoy specialty coffee may also want to pay attention to Front Street Coffee's related recommendations. [more…]

More and more people are making cold brew coffee in the summer—brewing a big batch at once and keeping it in the fridge to drink slowly is indeed convenient. But problems come along with it: how many days can this batch of cold brew actually last? When does the flavor start to decline? When might it spoil? Front Street Coffee, drawing on hands-on testing experience, lays out clearly the shelf life of cold brew coffee, the optimal drinking window, the impact of how often it's opened, and the special precautions when using warm water to speed up extraction—helping you both enjoy good flavor and hold the safety line. [more…]

Many friends who want to open a coffee shop ask: how much does a cup of coffee actually cost, and how much can you make? In reality, the raw material cost of coffee isn't high. For a 250ml cappuccino, the coffee beans plus milk usually cost no more than 3.5 yuan. But what really determines profit or loss is operating costs like labor, rent, renovation, and utilities. Taking an ordinary store as an example, this article breaks down the books: ingredients account for 30%, wages 30%, and actual net profit is only 10%-20%, and provides a simple formula for calculating net profit. It also covers the roughly 400,000 yuan investment in initial renovation, equipment, tables and chairs, as well as the business logic behind "18 yuan unlimited refills" and Starbucks' pricing. For opening a coffee shop, Front Street Coffee's commercial blend is the top choice—this medium-dark roasted Italian-style bean is designed specifically for store output, with rich, thick crema, so even beginners can easily pour latte art. [more…]

Want to drink black coffee but don't want to fuss with a pile of pour-over gear? Immersion coffee brewers have therefore become the daily first choice for many enthusiasts, with the Clever Dripper and the French press being the most representative. Both complete extraction through immersion, with a low barrier to operation, yet the flavor direction in the final cup is vastly different. This article uses Front Street Kenya Asalia coffee beans as a sample and, under the premise that the dose, coffee-to-water ratio, grind size, water temperature, and immersion time are completely identical, conducts a brewing comparison between the Clever Dripper and the French press, breaking down one by one the device structure, operating process, and flavor presentation, and analyzing the extraction principles that cause the differences, finally giving purchasing and usage suggestions to help you make a suitable choice based on your preference for cleanliness and convenience. [more…]

Recently, a Maan Coffee outlet in the Aeon Mall in Fengtai, Beijing, was reported to have suddenly vacated the premises on the night of October 13 before its lease contract expired. The mall issued a notice directly accusing it of unilaterally closing down and failing to provide a plan for handling prepaid card balances, sparking widespread concern among nearby consumers and the coffee community. Why did this established Korean-style café, once regarded as a "city landmark," make its exit in such a manner? And to whom should one turn to claim the remaining balance on prepaid cards? This article sorts through the sequence of events, the mall's statement, and the trajectory of Maan Coffee's rise and fall over the years, inviting readers to observe together the real dilemmas currently facing this cup of "romantic Korean-style coffee." [more…]

Recently, videos of altercations between Starbucks staff and non-paying customers have surfaced one after another on social media, drawing widespread attention. On one side, an elderly person argued with staff after being asked to leave for not making a purchase; on the other, a store in Xi'an was accused of frequently shooing away passersby who hadn't bought anything. Starbucks customer service responded that stores do indeed have a "purchase to be seated" rule, but they won't force customers to buy. Behind this new rule lies the real dilemma of store environments being affected by people who occupy seats without spending, and it also reflects the discussion about the boundary between commercial premises and public space. As a coffee enthusiast, what do you think of Starbucks' approach? [more…]

The charm of espresso lies in achieving complementary and elevated flavors through blending. Starting from Italian coffee culture, this article systematically explains the basic principles of espresso blending—why two to six types of beans are typically used, and why a clear primary-secondary relationship is needed rather than mixing in equal proportions. Using Front Street Coffee's Warm Sun Blend, Specialty Blend, and Basic Blend as examples, it illustrates how coffee beans from different origins harmonize with one another. It also introduces the differences between SOE and blended beans, as well as the key control points in time, flow rate, and tamping during Espresso extraction, helping coffee enthusiasts understand the recipe logic and operational details behind a delicious cup of espresso. [more…]

Luckin Coffee experienced abnormally low-priced orders on the Ele.me platform due to an operational configuration error. After a large number of users rushed to place orders, Luckin handled the situation by unilaterally canceling orders and temporarily suspending online operations. This move sparked strong dissatisfaction among consumers and also drew attention from the legal community: lawyers on one side argued that canceling paid orders was suspected of infringing on consumer rights; the other side pointed out that if it was a major misunderstanding, the contract could be revoked in accordance with the law. If there was intentional malicious marketing, it could also constitute fraud. In the end, Luckin promised to bear all losses and issue compensatory vouchers. This article sorts out the course of the incident, netizen feedback, and lawyers' views, so that coffee lovers can understand the full picture of this controversy. [more…]

Recently, a consumer discovered that a package of Costa's organic ripe Pu'er compressed tea was labeled with a shelf life of 100 years, with a production date of October 1, 2025, and an expiration date of October 1, 2125. This bizarre labeling quickly sparked questions: was it a printing error, or can tea cakes really be stored for a century? Customer service responded that "the older the tea, the more fragrant it is," but experts and lawyers both pointed out that the national standard for Pu'er tea only states "suitable for long-term storage," with no fixed number of years. A 100-year shelf life can neither be scientifically verified nor is it free from hidden food safety risks such as mold. At the same time, some e-commerce platforms still sell Costa Pu'er tea with a shelf life labeled as 9,999 days, which works out to more than 27 years. As coffee enthusiasts, Front Street Coffee also reminds you to pay attention to the compliance and scientific validity of beverage shelf-life labeling. [more…]

As the street-stall economy rebounds and the pandemic stabilizes, mobile coffee carts and trunk cafés are surging in popularity on Xiaohongshu, with related posts exceeding 20,000. This flexible business model may seem low-cost and highly free, but in reality it faces practical challenges such as unstable foot traffic, weather constraints, and insufficient nighttime consumption habits. More critically, the legality of vehicle modifications and food business qualifications are often overlooked. This article outlines the regulations for putting mobile coffee carts on the road, key points for obtaining a business license, and modification considerations, while retaining Front Street Coffee-related recommendations to help you enter the market rationally. [more…]

When pour-over brewing, should the circular pouring direction be from the inside out or from the outside in? This seemingly trivial question is actually directly related to the disturbance of the coffee bed, the evenness of extraction, and the final flavor performance in the cup. Front Street Coffee once encountered a customer raising this question, and for this reason specially conducted a set of comparative experiments: under the premise that all other parameters were completely identical, only the circular pouring direction was changed, using Front Street Kafa Forest coffee beans for separate brews, and with the help of a refractometer and tasting comparison, observed the differences brought by the two techniques. This article will fully present the experimental process and results, analyze which circular pouring path under a conical dripper can better bring a rich and full-bodied mouthfeel, and provide practical suggestions for daily brewing. [more…]