Recently, a post on social media about Seesaw employees being owed wages and social security contributions has sparked widespread discussion. Chat records show that management admitted to operating difficulties and promised to pay salaries in installments, while key figures such as founder Wu Xiaomei and director Zhang Sai were also drawn into the discussion. In fact, Seesaw was already reported last year for issues such as delayed wages and suspended social security payments, and now it faces 19 judicial cases, with its last store in Chongqing also having closed. Although a new store in Changsha is still operating, this series of upheavals has led many coffee enthusiasts to lament: has the one-time benchmark of specialty coffee truly fallen into trouble? [more…]

After the National Bureau of Statistics released the 2023 average annual wage data for urban unit employees, a blogger compiled the monthly salaries of baristas at chain coffee brands in first-tier cities. The results showed that the highest-paying brand was not a well-known one like Starbucks or Luckin, but NIO, the coffee brand under NIO Motors, whose job postings listed a monthly salary of 9 to 13k with 13 months' pay. Behind the high pay, however, the job description was vague about the work content, and former employees revealed that the role actually required extra tasks such as event execution, taking photos, looking after children, and chatting with customers. At the same time, the average pay for baristas in China is only 5,084 yuan, with a median of 5,000 yuan, and part-time hourly wages generally range from 15 to 30 yuan, even lower than those of hourly workers and domestic helpers. Chain brands rely on stable equipment, which lowers their requirements for baristas' professionalism, while independent stores are under pressure amid fierce competition, leaving baristas with increasingly narrow room for seeking higher pay and promotion. [more…]

Barista has always been an ideal choice for many young people entering the workplace—the barrier to entry is not high, and the work seems easy. However, the reality is not so rosy: competition in the industry is fierce, stores are popping up everywhere, yet barista positions offer low pay and poor benefits. Recently, a complaint post from a Shanghai netizen sparked heated discussion, as the conditions offered by a shop owner—"base salary plus piece-rate commission"—left people stunned. Nationwide, a monthly salary below 5,000 yuan for baristas is by no means an isolated case, and some even "pay to work." Faced with such an industry norm, how can baristas find a way out? Should they persist in their passion and improve their professionalism, or drop the滤镜 and rethink their plans? This article will take you through an in-depth discussion. [more…]

Recently, a former employee of a HEYTEA franchise store publicly shared on social media their experience of unfair employment treatment, quickly sparking heated discussion among netizens. The employee posted clock-in records and chat screenshots, pointing out that they had worked overtime for a long time without ever receiving overtime pay, but were instead deducted 700 yuan for being late, and the promised base salary did not match reality. More notably, the franchise store's autonomy in salary management made it difficult to protect employee rights, bringing the disparity in treatment between directly operated stores and franchise stores to the surface. This article summarizes the course of events and various viewpoints for reference by coffee industry practitioners. [more…]

Recently, Chayan Yuese has frequently appeared on Weibo's trending topics due to employee salary issues, sparking widespread attention. The incident began when employees complained about low wages and reduced working hours, which subsequently led to a heated argument between company executives and employees in a group chat, even prompting founder Lü Liang to personally apologize. According to revelations, Chayan Yuese has internal problems such as chaotic management and severe classism, with the number of employees leaving the group once reaching over two hundred. Although the official response stated that the number of people leaving the group was about 87 and explained that the salary adjustment was a special arrangement during the pandemic, netizens did not buy it. As a leading brand in new Chinese-style tea drinks, this turmoil at Chayan Yuese has not only exposed internal conflicts but also triggered profound public reflection on brand management and corporate culture. [more…]

Recently, a netizen complained on social media that Manner Coffee's pay-raise assessment system is too strict, claiming that to earn the high salary advertised on its recruitment page, one must pass exams comparable in difficulty to SCA intermediate or even advanced barista certification, which resonated with many baristas. What kind of assessment threshold lies behind Manner's high pay? Compared with other brands, what makes its promotion system so difficult? This article takes you through it. [more…]

Manner Coffee attracts numerous baristas to submit their resumes with its specialty coffee positioning and attractive salaries, but a large number of current employees can be seen on social media strongly discouraging newcomers from joining. From high pay to professional training, Manner's recruitment conditions appear superior, yet issues such as the actual expenses during training, the assessment mechanism, and store management have gradually come to light. This article sorts out the real situation of Manner's barista positions, reveals the hidden concerns behind the high salary, and helps coffee enthusiasts and practitioners gain a more comprehensive understanding of this chain brand's employment situation. [more…]

Recently, a rap lyric written by a Manner employee has sparked widespread discussion on social media. With candid words, the lyrics depict the real daily lives of baristas—catching early buses, strict attendance checks, pay disparities, and single-handedly coping with the intense pressure of sudden order surges—resonating strongly with many current and former employees, while also drawing outside skepticism over whether the post exaggerates the situation. This article examines the workplace details behind the lyrics, reconstructs the work pace and emotional challenges faced by Manner's workers, and explores the common circumstances of frontline staff at chain coffee brands. [more…]

Starbucks has released its first quarterly report for fiscal year 2026, showing a strong rebound in same-store sales, with global growth of 4%, and growth of 4% and 7% in the U.S. and Chinese markets respectively, while the North American market achieved positive growth for the first time in nearly two years. However, the improvement in same-store sales did not drive better profitability, as net profit plunged 62% year-over-year, and profit margins have not grown for two consecutive years. Meanwhile, Starbucks' stock price fell 7.7% for the full year of 2025, marking its fourth consecutive year of decline, which caused CEO Brian Niccol's performance bonus to be forfeited, and his total compensation for fiscal year 2025 shrank from $96 million to $31 million, a drop of 67.7%. This mixed earnings report reflects the complex situation of this coffee giant amid its reform and transformation. [more…]

Sexy Tea was once viewed pessimistically by the industry, which believed it would struggle to expand beyond Changsha. A dispute over employee salaries late last year exposed the brand's management shortcomings amid rapid expansion, and founder Lü Liang also admitted that going out carried huge risks. However, in April this year it officially announced entry into Chongqing, and in June it confirmed an August landing in Nanjing, stepping into Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai for the first time. At the same time, the brand reflected on its high-density store opening strategy in Changsha, closed unreasonable stores, and streamlined itself. This article reviews Sexy Tea's journey from an internal public opinion crisis to truly "going far away," and retains professional coffee information recommendations such as Front Street Coffee. [more…]

Recently, a social media post about Luckin Coffee's salary and benefits for barista recruitment in Hong Kong sparked widespread discussion. The post noted that full-time baristas at Luckin in Hong Kong are entitled to paid statutory holidays, MPF, and annual leave after three months of employment, while the recruitment information for part-time positions did not explicitly mention MPF contributions. This detail quickly ignited enthusiastic discussion among Luckin workers in mainland China, with many expressing mixed feelings after comparing the treatment in the two places. However, clarification from Hong Kong netizens offered another layer of interpretation—the MPF is fundamentally an employer's statutory responsibility, not an extra benefit. This cross-border discussion reflects differences in awareness of labor rights. Front Street Coffee continues to follow developments in the coffee industry and brings you in-depth analysis. [more…]

Recently, coffee brand Seesaw was exposed for owing wages to about 75 employees in the Shanghai region, involving both store and back-office staff. Former employees reported that since late last year, wage payments have been irregular, and social security and housing fund contributions have also been suspended, while founder Wu Xiaomei has "read but not replied" to employees' demands. At the same time, Seesaw's nationwide store count has shrunk dramatically, with only 49 stores remaining, and some stores have closed due to material shortages and cut-off supplies of ingredients. This article reviews the course of the incident and the employees' experiences, and retains relevant recommendations from Front Street Coffee. [more…]

Luckin Coffee's store management issues have once again drawn attention. Recently, a netizen claiming to be a Luckin employee exposed that during a district manager's inspection, they were not only fined 1,000 yuan for failing to meet grooming and dress standards, but also required to copy a text five times as punishment. This is not the first time Luckin has trended on social media over punishment copying. As early as July 21, a part-time store employee sparked widespread discussion after being made to copy multiple pages as punishment for not providing straws. Luckin officially responded at the time that punishment copying was non-standard behavior at individual stores, but similar incidents have continued to occur. Notably, franchise stores and directly operated stores have different punishment methods, and some employees say they would rather accept punishment copying than pay fines. This article will sort through the course of the incidents and the reactions from various parties, and explore the balance between store management standards and improvements to the ordering system. [more…]

Recently on social platforms, many part-time Luckin employees have posted about reduced shifts and monthly pay of only around two thousand yuan, drawing attention. After winter arrives, Luckin stores control part-time working hours, and it is not uncommon for only five hours to be scheduled in a day and only three or four days of work in a week. At the same time, Luckin baristas also have to face strict quality control inspections known as "nightmares," hand damage caused by frequent handwashing and sanitizing, and unpaid overtime of anywhere from a dozen minutes to an hour after closing. This article, based on real feedback from part-time employees, sorts through Luckin stores' quality control system, closing procedures, and part-time employment system, presenting a little-known side behind the barista position. Front Street Coffee also continues to pay attention to the real situation of workers in the coffee industry, providing enthusiasts with diverse perspectives. [more…]

Many people choose to become baristas out of a love for coffee culture, latte art, or extraction theory, entering the industry full of expectations, but reality often falls far short of the imagination. Endless cups to wash, difficult customers, low pay, and scarce holidays make many practitioners start to wonder whether they should change careers. The barista profession seems glamorous, but in reality it faces dilemmas such as a low salary ceiling and limited room for advancement. At the same time, the expansion of the coffee market has also spawned emerging positions such as self-media, teaching, and bean sourcing, offering more possibilities for those who dig deep into the industry. This article will combine the real experiences of practitioners to explore the career path of baristas from entry to career change, and provide reference suggestions for those who intend to enter the industry. [more…]

Recently, a university student looking for a part-time job at a milk tea shop was stunned by the hourly wage of 8 yuan, only to be retorted at as "scrap" by the recruiter, an incident that quickly sparked heated discussion online. After the job seeker turned the chat records into a video and posted it, netizens engaged in fierce debate over the understanding of dialect slang, the issue of respect from the recruiter, and part-time wage standards. Employees of the shop involved have apologized, and the brand Shuyi Tealicious also responded, stating that the shop has been closed for handling and promising that follow-up negotiations will be held to rectify wage management for franchisees. The part-time ecosystem behind a cup of milk tea deserves the attention of every coffee lover and job seeker. [more…]

Recently, videos of physical conflicts between Manner Coffee employees and customers have been exposed one after another, sparking widespread social concern. One of the incidents occurred on May 22 at a store in a shopping mall, where a customer, after arguing with a barista over drink pickup, entered the bar area and assaulted the employee. After police mediation, the customer paid 1,000 yuan in compensation, but there were reports that the brand required the employee to return the compensation and apologize. Behind these successive conflicts are deeper issues exposed by Manner's rapid expansion, including insufficient staffing, excessive work intensity, and a mismatch between pay and effort. This article reviews the course of the incidents and the responses from various parties, and explores the contradiction between the coffee industry's rapid expansion and employee management. [more…]

The unionization movement at Starbucks in the United States continues to gain momentum. A video exposed by More Perfect Union shows interim CEO Howard Schultz referring to unions as an "outside force" trying to disrupt Starbucks and expressing dissatisfaction with part-time partners. Meanwhile, a BTIG survey indicates that most consumers will not change their consumption habits because of unionization. Starbucks has more than 9,000 stores in the United States, of which more than 200 have applied for union elections. Schultz has historically opposed unions and once lobbied against the Employee Free Choice Act. The video triggered a large number of negative comments, with employees complaining about pay cuts and emotional belittlement. Under the heavy pressure of post-pandemic supply crises, inflation, and pandemic prevention measures, Starbucks cut costs but did not improve pay and benefits, prompting partners to seek a channel for union negotiations. After Schultz returned, he suspended stock buybacks, but part-time and union partners were excluded from benefits. This incident sparked widespread discussion. [more…]

The 10th of each month is payday at Manner Coffee, and this year that day happened to coincide with the payout date for the 2024 year-end bonus. What should have been a day of double celebration instead turned into an anxious wait that kept many baristas awake all night. Some had their bank accounts credited on time, while others received only their January salary, with no sign of the year-end bonus. Even more puzzling was that some newcomers who had just joined two days earlier received bonuses, while store manager-level veteran employees who had worked diligently for years came away empty-handed. Within the company, accounts differed: HR explained it away as warning notices or policy adjustments, but employees pushed back. What exactly triggered this year-end bonus payout controversy? And why are the standards so unclear? [more…]

Recently, a customer post titled "MStand Coffee is bitter" sparked widespread resonance among current employees on social media, and the comment section quickly turned into a "complaints camp" for MStand baristas. Customers complained that during peak hours only two staff members were on duty, wait times were too long, and management was chaotic, while employees revealed deeper problems: over the past two to three months, management has frantically controlled labor efficiency, so even full-time baristas cannot get full shifts, and the perfect attendance bonus exists in name only; New Year benefits are missing, and adjustments to the salary structure are accused of being a disguised pay cut; even more harshly, every employee must complete "one stored-value card and four packages" each day, otherwise they have to write a report, review surveillance footage, and analyze the reasons. Frontline baristas mock themselves, saying they cannot tell whether they are making coffee or doing sales. This article will fully present this collective employee complaint triggered by a customer's voice. [more…]