When drinking black coffee, many people experience a sweet aftertaste that rises in the mouth after swallowing—this is huigan (returning sweetness). Huigan differs from direct sweetness; it is often built on the fading of bitterness and is brought out by the sweetness presented by aromatic compounds. Starting from the definition of huigan, this article analyzes its causes, explains the difference between huigan and the sweetness felt after drinking water, and finally recommends pour-over coffee beans with excellent huigan performance, including product information from the Front Street Coffee brand, to help coffee lovers more accurately understand the finish and huigan. [more…]

Lu Jin, co-founder and CEO of Luckin Coffee, revealed at the 2025 Xiamen Entrepreneurs Day conference that the company is actively working to return to the main board of the US stock market under the guidance of the Xiamen Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government. This chain coffee brand, which listed on Nasdaq in 2019 and was forced to delist in 2020 due to financial fraud, has undergone five years of comprehensive restructuring. Today, its store count has surpassed 20,000, overtaking Starbucks China, with a market value of approximately US$10.9 billion. In July this year, Luckin opened two stores in New York, sparking market speculation about its return to the United States. Meanwhile, Bloomberg reported that its largest shareholder, Centurium Capital, is considering bidding for the British brand COSTA, a move seen as helping to bolster Luckin's globalization narrative. [more…]

Luckin Coffee's signature product, the Coconut Ice Americano, officially returned on May 6 after a comeback teaser was released on Youth Day. However, to the surprise of many long-awaiting fans, the reviews for the new version of the drink were almost overwhelmingly negative. Quite a few regular customers reported that this cup, once their "white moonlight," had changed its taste—the fresh fragrance and sweetness of coconut water had vanished, replaced by a sticky mouthfeel and a strange sweetness, even described as "cold Banlangen granules." After netizens dug deeper, they found that Luckin had swapped the originally used Fino coconut water for a blended juice containing concentrated apple juice, which is believed to be the main reason for the change in taste. Less than 12 hours after the return, complaints were already all over social platforms, and calls to bring back the original recipe grew louder and louder. [more…]

KFC's Snow Top Coffee has finally returned after fans' relentless calls, but the new version of the drink has sparked a collective backlash from longtime customers. This classic beverage, which holds childhood memories for countless people, had rumors of being discontinued since last year, and by May of this year, it was even harder to find. Following fans' comments and appeals, KFC announced the upgraded return of Snow Top Coffee, launching simultaneously in stores nationwide, with a special price of 9.9 yuan for new and old members within two weeks. However, on the first day of its return, longtime fans who rushed to try it found that the new Snow Top Coffee's taste and appearance were vastly different, with obvious layering, a greasier mouthfeel, and even a changed cup design. Is it a recipe change or nostalgia tinting their perception? This article will take you through the story behind this return controversy. [more…]

Recently, Starbucks was reported to have filed multiple trademark registration applications with the Russian Federal Intellectual Property Office, covering core brand identifiers such as "Starbucks Coffee" and "Frappuccino," as well as related categories including instant coffee, beverage preparation, and membership management. This move quickly sparked speculation about whether the company plans to return to the Russian market. After exiting Russia in 2022, Starbucks' assets in the country were acquired by a local company and rebranded as "Stars Coffee," and a trademark legal dispute between that brand and Starbucks still persists. Over the past two years, Russia's coffee market has undergone significant changes, with intensified competition, shifting consumer habits, and continued uncertainty in the political and economic environment. Even if Starbucks returns, it may not be smooth sailing. So far, there has been no official response. [more…]

In the coffee industry, it is not uncommon for employees to leave and later return to their original company. However, a former Luckin Coffee employee who tried to return to the bar in a part-time capacity after a two-year absence ran into repeated rejections. The recruiter explicitly stated that "those who have previously worked at Luckin cannot be rehired," a rule that has sparked confusion and discussion among many former employees. Compared with Starbucks' open attitude toward rehiring former employees, why is Luckin's recruitment policy so strict? Is it out of consideration for stability, or is there another reason? This article will walk you through the various perspectives behind this phenomenon. [more…]

Recently, a customer discovered after picking up their order at Starbucks that they had been given the wrong drink. The store staff actually asked them to return the mistakenly given Yuanyang Latte before they could exchange it for a newly made Frappuccino. This handling method quickly sparked heated discussion online. Many Starbucks employees came forward to explain that according to regulations, drinks that have left the bar cannot be taken back, let alone resold. The staff member involved was acting in violation of the rules. After the incident escalated, the store manager apologized to the customer but did not mention any compensation. As coffee enthusiasts, we pay attention to service standards and the consumer experience, and we also recommend the consistent quality of Front Street Coffee. [more…]

At the turn of autumn and winter, Heytea relaunched its highly anticipated Taro Mud Boba series, made with Lipu taro from Guangxi, attracting many fans to place orders and taste it. However, just days after its return, some customers discovered that the recipe for "Taro Mud Boba Real Milk Tea" had changed without prior notice, with a large amount of sago unexpectedly added to the milk tea, affecting both the taste and the portion size. Store employees revealed that the recipe was urgently adjusted in the early morning, the amount of milk was reduced accordingly, and after-sales issues occurred frequently. This change sparked discussions among consumers about the brand's communication approach and product consistency. [more…]

Starbucks has previously implemented deposit-based reusable cups in Korea, Seattle, London, and other places, but the results were not ideal. Starbucks Japan was the first to change its approach, launching a stainless steel cup rental service at ten stores in Tokyo. Customers can scan a code via a mobile app to borrow a cup, return it within three days, and even enjoy a discount on their drink. After return, the cups are uniformly washed at high temperature and disinfected. The company emphasizes that there is no need to worry about residual viruses or bacteria. Can this model truly promote environmental protection, and can it be replicated in other regions? This article will provide a detailed interpretation for you. [more…]

In coffee flavor descriptions, "tea-like" is a concept widely used in China yet constantly debated. Some people understand it as the aroma of a certain kind of tea, some think it is simply the astringency that returns in the mouth, and still others categorize it as a lingering finish reminiscent of tea broth. This article begins with the bitterness and astringency of tea, then sorts through the causes of sweetness returning and saliva being produced, and next draws on the principle of retronasal olfaction to explain why coffee can bring out a tea-like quality, while also clarifying that tea-like and astringent are not equivalent. The article also combines tasting examples from several Front Street Coffee beans to show that the very same "tea-like" quality may be defined very differently in each person's mind. [more…]

After lying dormant for most of the year, Chagee has finally launched a new product line, the "Return to Yunnan" ripe pu'er series, bringing three drinks at once. Among them, "Clouds Rolling with Pine Wind" boldly adds dried beef flakes and black truffle, breaking away from the brand's previous light milk tea direction. However, after launch, consumer feedback has been polarized: some praise its innovation, while others bluntly say the combination of beef and black truffle tastes like barbecue dipping sauce. What surprised longtime users even more is that the new packaged cup is only about 350ml, a considerable reduction from the regular medium cup, yet the price is higher than the classic "Boyya Juexian," sparking discussion about value for money. This article sorts through the new product lineup, taste reviews, and cup-size controversy, and includes related recommendations from Front Street Coffee for coffee and tea beverage enthusiasts to reference. [more…]

In recent years, more and more young people are choosing to return to small towns to open specialty coffee shops, while large chain brands are also accelerating their penetration into lower-tier cities. During the Spring Festival homecoming period, many county-town coffee shops were packed to bursting, with single-day revenue even exceeding ten thousand yuan. Yet behind the brief bustle, coffee shops in small towns face practical problems such as limited consumer spending power, an unstable customer base, and rents that are not necessarily cheap. Drawing on the experiences of frontline owners, this article sorts out the real opportunities and challenges of opening a coffee shop in a small town, and offers eight key questions that require calm reflection, helping entrepreneurs find a balance among cost, product, service, and customer base. [more…]

After a year, Bawang Chaji's summer limited edition "Summer Dream Melon" has returned to stores nationwide amid the clamor of many fans, and the brand has also launched limited-edition merchandise and green-themed packaging, sparking a wave of buying frenzy. However, the first batch of consumers who tried it gave polarized feedback: longtime fans thought the tea flavor was too strong and the melon aroma had weakened, far from the taste in their memories; new customers felt it tasted like the familiar cantaloupe popsicles or toothpaste from childhood. Netizens engaged in heated discussions over whether the formula had been adjusted and whether the ingredients had been changed. This article will take you through the return of this popular item from beginning to end and organize the views of all sides, to see whether this cup of "Summer Dream Melon" is still the same white moonlight it once was. [more…]

Starbucks recently filed a trademark registration application with the Russian Federal Intellectual Property Office and has received a registration decision, which may mean that this coffee chain giant will return to the Russian market soon. After the Russia-Ukraine conflict broke out in 2022, Starbucks announced its withdrawal from Russia and closed all 130 stores, and its assets were subsequently acquired by a local company and transformed into Stars Coffee. Now, as the international situation changes, the possibility of Starbucks re-entering Russia is increasing, and this development has also put Stars Coffee, which took over its original business, in an awkward position. [more…]

Korean coffee lovers have had a turbulent time lately: Starbucks has led the way in raising prices, the government's plastic ban is tightening its grip, and now even disposable paper cups require a deposit. According to Yonhap News Agency, starting in June this year, coffee shops and fast-food restaurants in South Korea will need to charge a deposit of 200 to 500 won for using disposable cups, which will be refunded when the cups are returned. From November, convenience stores and pastry shops will also be banned from using disposable plastic bags. Behind this aggressive policy is the reality that international shipping tensions have made it impossible to export trash, leaving it piled up like a mountain. Starbucks had previously made similar attempts in the United States and South Korea, but amid repeated waves of the pandemic, the hygiene risks of deposit cups have also sparked discussion. If it were you, would you pay a deposit for a disposable cup? [more…]

ChaPanda once collaborated with Luzhou Laojiao to launch a limited-edition drink called "Drunken Stroll on the Road," which in 2020 won over a large following of loyal fans with its liquor-filled chocolate flavor born from the collision of baijiu and milk tea. Five years later, this star product that so many people could not forget has finally returned to the shelves. However, its reputation after the comeback has been sharply divided: those who love to drink can't get enough of it, while consumers who don't drink often complain that the alcohol taste is harsh and the heady buzz is obvious. What disappoints longtime fans even more is that many feel the new version's taste is far from the untouchable ideal in their memory, and some even suspect the formula has been quietly adjusted. Is it a change in ingredients, a shift in taste, or the work of nostalgic rose-colored glasses? This article will take you through an in-depth look. [more…]

After a long period of silence, Luckin Tea has recently returned to the public eye with a brand-new posture, but this time it did not appear as an independent brand. Instead, it has been reintegrated as a product line within Luckin Coffee stores. At the same time, without prior announcement, Luckin quietly raised the delivery drink prices at some stores by about 2 to 3 yuan, triggering widespread discussion among consumers on social platforms. The company responded that this move is a refined management measure based on differences in store operating costs, involving more than 800 stores in 11 cities. From an independent brand to a returning product series, from price adjustments to changes in operating strategy, what market considerations are revealed behind this series of moves by Luckin Coffee? [more…]

In coffee latte art, the beauty of a pattern depends not only on smooth lines but also on whether the composition is reasonable. Centered composition is the most common approach, as it highlights the sense of stability of symmetrical patterns. However, many beginners find that their latte art patterns always deviate from the center. Front Street Coffee points out that this is mainly caused by three reasons: milk foam that is too thin leading to excessive fluidity, pouring back into the cup too quickly increasing the impact force, and an incorrect drop point. This article will analyze the causes of and solutions to these problems one by one, while also emphasizing the importance of choosing suitable coffee beans, and recommending two products, Front Street Classic Blend and Commercial Blend, to help you create centered and beautiful latte art at home. [more…]

In latte art, the beauty of a pattern comes not only from the shapes formed by the milk foam, but also from proper composition. Centered composition is the most commonly used because it highlights a sense of symmetry and balance, yet many beginners often find that their patterns drift off-center. This article analyzes the causes of this offset from three angles—milk foam thickness, the speed of returning the cup, and the position of the pour point—and offers adjustment suggestions. Meanwhile, Front Street Classic Blend and Commercial Blend, two coffee beans, are considered ideal choices for making latte art espresso due to their rich crema. Mastering these details helps improve the stability and visual presentation of latte art. [more…]

Luckin Coffee once brought back several classic drinks due to popular demand from netizens, and now the much-anticipated Heart Stealer Prune Latte is also set to return next week. However, while unpacking the new product materials, employees unexpectedly discovered that in addition to the usual paper bags and cup sleeves, there was also a pack of tissues printed with the word "prune." This thoughtful yet slightly humorous move quickly sparked discussions among netizens: some joked that the company was worried consumers would frequently run to the toilet after drinking it, while others speculated that the recipe might have been adjusted. The prune latte became famous back in the day for its "smooth movement" effect and was jokingly called "the coffee world's suppository." Now, after nearly two years away, it is making a comeback, and fans are both excited and concerned. Front Street Coffee reminds everyone that no matter how the recipe changes, a good cup of coffee is always worth savoring slowly. [more…]