Recently, a post about a delivery rider whose paper bag broke at the bottom while delivering Starbucks coffee on a rainy day, causing 7 cups of coffee to spill, sparked widespread discussion. The poster said the rider proactively called the store to request a remake and offered to bear the cost themselves, prompting netizens to question Starbucks' rainy-day packaging. Starbucks officially responded afterward, stating that it had urgently reviewed and optimized its packaging and promised that the delivery rider would not bear the loss. The incident also drew consumers' attention to the common problems with paper bags in rainy weather and with iced drinks, and brands such as Front Street Coffee have also had related discussions. [more…]

Many coffee enthusiasts are puzzled by the practice of coffee shops adjusting their espresso every day, believing that as long as the dose, water temperature, yield, and grind size stay consistent, the taste should remain stable. However, the pressurized extraction method of espresso is extremely sensitive—the degassing state of the coffee beans, the weather humidity, and the wear on the grinder burrs can all cause flavor deviations. This article analyzes in detail how carbon dioxide affects the crema and extraction, why it is harder to pull a good-tasting espresso on rainy days, and the reasons behind changes in grind size, while also sharing Front Street Coffee's professional interpretation of the necessity of daily espresso calibration. [more…]

Southern regions have recently been hit by continuous heavy rain, with severe waterlogging on roads in cities like Changsha and Wuhan, making travel difficult for residents and causing significant disruption to street-side shops. In such weather, a cup of coffee is a small comfort that keeps office workers energized and going, yet many customers who chose to pick up their orders at Luckin Coffee stores found that the paper takeaway bags were extremely flimsy in the rain, with the coffee spilling into the rain before they could even take a sip. Complaints and grievances about torn paper bags have been flooding social media, with consumers calling on the brand to improve its packaging, while store staff are equally miserable. This article examines the reasons behind this phenomenon and the voices from all sides. [more…]

Originating in Toronto, Canada, Tims has always accompanied its loyal customers with warm freshly brewed coffee and is hailed as Canadians' national coffee. Recently, however, multiple consumers have reported serious quality issues with its takeaway cups for hot drinks: after being filled with hot coffee, the cups collapse, their seams split, and in some cases the bottoms even fall off, causing coffee to leak out and nearly scalding some people. So far, 20 consumers have provided photographic evidence. Tims officially responded that it is investigating the matter with its suppliers, has apologized to affected customers, and has promised to improve the takeaway cups to ensure they meet usage standards. This article will walk you through the details of the incident. [more…]

Recently, a news story about people receiving empty packages and plain water instead of milk tea when ordering takeout for memorial purposes has sparked widespread attention. The incident originated from a 21-year-old young man nicknamed "Fat Cat" who jumped into a river to take his own life due to a romantic dispute. Netizens from various places, sympathizing with his plight, spontaneously ordered takeout to be delivered to the Chongqing Yangtze River Bridge as a tribute. However, some of the takeout bags contained only empty packaging boxes and plain water disguised as milk tea, involving well-known chain brands such as Mixue Ice Cream & Tea and ChaBaiDao. Staff at the stores involved, believing remarks that "other stores are all sending empty packages," mishandled the orders, provoking consumer anger. Lawyers pointed out that this act infringes on consumers' right to be informed and constitutes consumer fraud. The brands have apologized and made rectifications one after another, and regulatory authorities have stepped in. Front Street Coffee reminds that under any circumstances, businesses should operate in good faith and respect every order. [more…]

Since its launch in 2022, Jasmine Naibai's signature drink, Pistachio Jasmine Coconut, has been deeply loved by consumers for its unique combination of pistachio milk cap and jasmine coconut water. However, recently many takeout customers have reported that after pouring the separately packaged milk cap into the drink, it actually sank to the bottom of the cup, and the coconut water became cloudy and even had suspended particles. The brand's customer service responded that "it did not meet our production standards" and processed refunds for some consumers. Why did the milk cap fail? Was it delivery delays, stores rushing orders, or a change in ingredients? As takeout orders surge, Jasmine Naibai's quality control issues continue to intensify, with complaints such as milk caps sinking, wrong ingredients added, and too few toppings constantly emerging. Consumers cannot help but ask: can we still drink a normal cup of milk tea? [more…]

Professional coffee knowledge exchange For 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, WeChat ID: qjcoffeex Recently, a consumer reported that a Häagen-Dazs store in Suzhou listed espresso at 20 yuan on its menu but actually charged 23 yuan at checkout. The store explained that there is a price difference between dine-in and takeout, but the menu title clearly states "Takeout Beverage Menu" and shows only one price without indicating that takeout incurs an extra charge, making this explanation hard to believe. Since opening the world's first coffee store in Shanghai in 2014, Häagen-Dazs has continued to expand in China's coffee market, and its total number of stores has now reached 482. In addition to this pricing dispute, the brand was previously reported by the EU over food safety issues. [more…]

Ordering takeout has become a daily routine, but have you ever thought that the most shocking thing might be the notes written on those orders? Recently, a note on a coffee shop takeout order sparked heated discussion on social media, and its bizarre content made both the barista and the delivery rider "people in the know." Netizens have been sharing similar notes they have seen, with all kinds of variations, making it hard to tell what is real and what is not. Is it just meme culture or reality? The secrets this generation of baristas holds seem to be beyond imagination. This article will take you behind the scenes of these outrageous notes, while also retaining Front Street brand recommendations and product information for coffee lovers to read. [more…]

The sealed packaging for takeaway drinks is supposed to be a crucial step in ensuring food safety, but recently some consumers have reported that the Heytea takeaway they received not only had a loose and damaged seal sticker, but was also covered in curly hair, which was extremely unpleasant. After the person involved contacted the merchant and the platform, both parties claimed there was no issue on their end, and ultimately, because the evidence had been discarded, it could not be investigated. In fact, Heytea's "peace of mind" seal stickers have repeatedly been criticized by consumers for insufficient stickiness and easily popping open, making the sealing effect virtually useless. This incident has once again sparked public concern about hygiene and seal management in food delivery. [more…]

Order a takeaway coffee and what arrives is espresso, milk, and ice each in separate packaging, requiring you to assemble it yourself—this new format, known as "pocket coffee," is drawing attention on social platforms. Its emergence addresses takeaway pain points such as dissipating milk foam and loss of flavor, while also catering to young people's desire for participation and ritual. According to Deloitte data, the number of coffee shops in China has approached 110,000, with independent cafes accounting for as much as 87%, and takeaway has long become an important channel for their survival. Why has portioned coffee become popular? Can it balance flavor and experience? And what new problems might it bring? This article sorts through them one by one. [more…]

This morning, delivery orders for Starbucks and Luckin Coffee experienced widespread disruptions, with many consumers waiting in vain for riders to pick up their orders after placing them on Ele.me and the brands' official channels. It is understood that the problem stemmed from an anomaly in the rider information service database of SF Intra-city, the delivery partner for both brands, which prevented orders from being dispatched and recipient information from being displayed. Store employees were forced to act as customer service representatives, calling customers one by one to apologize and suggesting they pick up their orders in person, while multiple store locations on the Ele.me platform temporarily showed as "closed." As of press time, none of the three parties involved had issued a formal response, and online stores had gradually resumed accepting orders. [more…]

Recently, news that Luckin Coffee is about to join Meituan's Pinhaofan has been circulating on social platforms, making many Luckin store employees nervous and uneasy. Pinhaofan is a group-ordering service launched by Meituan Takeaway, allowing users to buy drinks and meals at prices far below market rates, and is jokingly called the Pinduoduo of the food delivery world. If Luckin really joins, the already cheap 9.9 yuan coffee could drop even further, which is naturally good news for consumers, but store employees worry about the staffing pressure caused by a surge in orders. At present, employees in different regions give differing accounts; Xiamen stores are said to have quietly begun trial operations, with sales clearly rising, but overtime problems have followed. [more…]

I'm not sure if you friends still remember, but previously Front Street shared a post about "Why Dirty Coffee Can't Be Ordered for Delivery." After that, some friends left messages in the background saying they noticed that many coffee shops also don't offer cappuccino for delivery, with only dine-in and takeout options available. As for Dirty, because it requires the milk [more…]

Recently, news about a large number of ants being found in takeaway coffee has sparked heated discussion on social media. According to consumer reports, the coffee drink purchased through a takeaway platform actually contained dense swarms of ants, and the scene was unpleasant to look at. The merchant later responded, saying that it was caused by the delivery rider picking up the wrong order, and that there was no problem in its production process. What is the truth of the incident? How should the food safety of takeaway drinks be guaranteed? This article summarizes the course of the incident and the responses from all parties, and also includes professional coffee knowledge exchange channels and Front Street Coffee recommendations for coffee lovers' reference. [more…]

Frequent shifts to extreme weather are making life miserable for independent coffee shops that rely mainly on dine-in service. When temperatures plunge, takeout can barely keep things going, but once rain or snow hits, delivery breaks down, customers stay home, and shop owners even have to deliver orders themselves. This article examines the real operating conditions of coffee shops under different weather conditions, explores how to strike a balance between takeout and dine-in, and reveals the helplessness and hopes of industry workers who depend on the weather to make a living. [more…]

After collaborating with actor Daniel Wu to promote coffee products in late June, Guming Tea recently rolled out packaging bags featuring his image at stores nationwide, which unexpectedly sparked widespread dissatisfaction among consumers. Many customers complained on social media that the bag design was "not aesthetically pleasing" and that the celebrity's portrait was too large, saying carrying it felt like "health supplements for middle-aged and elderly people" or "soaking goji berries," and some even said they wanted to throw it away as soon as they received it. Some netizens argued that although Daniel Wu has high national recognition, he is no longer young and does not fit the positioning of a youthful tea beverage brand; others pointed out that the brand should consider scenarios for secondary use of the packaging. On September 23, Guming staff responded that they had not received related complaints, but would record opinions on the design and spokesperson and pass them on for evaluation. The incident reflects the tension between co-branded packaging and the aesthetics of young consumers. [more…]

After the adjustment of pandemic control policies, coffee beverage shops did not usher in a consumer rebound as expected, but instead fell into the predicament of "no customers during lockdowns, no staff after reopening." Announcements of coffee shop closures due to infections among owners or employees frequently appeared on social platforms, takeout orders piled up with no one to accept them, and subway passenger flow data dropped significantly. The catering industry faces dual pressures of rent and operating costs at the year-end juncture, and experts expect it will need to endure several months of chaos before gradually recovering. This article reviews the real situation of the coffee beverage industry after the pandemic reopening and retains relevant recommendation information about Front Street Coffee. [more…]

Heytea recently launched a limited-time offering of the previously Tibet-exclusive yak milk tea, Qiammo, across its nationwide stores. This Tibetan-style sweet tea features yak milk, highland barley base, and a highland barley egg crisp crumble cheese milk cap, sparking anticipation among longtime fans. However, during delivery, the milk cap was not packaged separately, which significantly diminished the drink's appearance and taste, leading many consumers to complain that its look and flavor closely resembled childhood Jinwei cereal. The brand subsequently made emergency adjustments to its packaging rules: hot drinks are now separated by default, while cold drinks require a note. This article reviews the product background, consumer feedback, and the official response, presenting this new product controversy for coffee and tea enthusiasts. [more…]

After the TV drama To the Wonder became a hit, the grassland scenery and herder life of Altay, Xinjiang, moved countless viewers, and this "Altay fever" has swept into the new-style tea beverage sector. Under the name of its "Free Matcha" series, Auntea Jenny launched a tie-in with To the Wonder, including long-scroll painting cup sleeves, takeout paper bags, collaborative lenticular card sets, and student film cards, attracting a large number of consumers to snap them up. However, problems emerged on the very first day of the campaign: some stores stocked only 10 pieces of merchandise, takeout orders included the wrong cards, and when customers arrived at stores to pick up their orders, staff took back the student cards in person... Consumers complained endlessly, and customer service apologized everywhere. As observers of the coffee and tea beverage industry, Front Street Coffee also noticed the supply chain and store execution problems behind this collaboration. This article will provide a complete review of the incident and present feedback from all sides. [more…]

Takeout coffee has become an important part of daily consumption. From the moment a store hands off an order to the moment a rider delivers it, packaging design directly determines whether the cup of coffee the customer receives is intact, whether the temperature is right, and whether the taste is as good as it was fresh. Behind a cup of takeout coffee lies a series of detailed considerations: vent holes, leak-proof paper, foil insulation, separate packing and bagging, and even rain bags and custom packing boxes. These seemingly inconspicuous packaging steps not only affect order efficiency and the consumer experience, but also serve to spread word of mouth for the brand. This article will break down, one by one, the often-overlooked tricks of the trade in coffee takeout packaging, and look at how merchants strike a balance between preventing spills, keeping coffee warm, and preserving taste. [more…]