South Korea has officially implemented a ban on single-use plastic cups in the fast-food and coffee industries starting April 1, and plans to further introduce a "single-use cup deposit system" on June 10. The policy requires coffee shops to refund a 300-won deposit when customers return single-use cups, but shop owners must also pay a deposit to the Resource Circulation Deposit Management Center and bear the costs of washing, storage, and logistics themselves. Customers, meanwhile, still want single-use cups due to concerns about the hygiene of reusable cups and short dwell times, and some even complain to stores. Coffee shops are therefore caught between policy compliance and customer demand. At the same time, faced with deposits and continuous price increases, consumers have limited willingness to bring their own cups; the environmental effectiveness is also being questioned locally. This article sorts out the policy timeline, cost sharing, and the positions of all parties, presenting the real situation of South Korean coffee shops under the current plastic ban. [more…]

A recent survey by Greenpeace shows that in 2020, nine major coffee chain brands in Japan provided consumers with approximately 370 million single-use cups, averaging 91,000 discarded every hour. Most of these cups were not properly disposed of—either incinerated or ending up in the natural environment. Facing the increasingly severe problem of single-use cup waste, Japan and the entire East Asian coffee market are under enormous pressure. Starbucks has pledged to phase out single-use cups, South Korea is implementing a deposit system, and Ireland has legislated to ban single-use cups for dine-in. Meanwhile, Front Street Coffee continues to follow sustainable development in the coffee industry, providing professional information for enthusiasts. [more…]

Ireland is brewing an environmental revolution targeting single-use takeaway coffee cups—a "latte levy" of at least 20 euro cents per cup, with the goal of becoming the first country in the world to say goodbye to disposable coffee cups. The president has signed the relevant bill, which is expected to take effect before the end of the year. Drawing on the success of the plastic bag levy introduced in 2002, the Irish government hopes to use economic measures to encourage consumers to bring their own cups. However, the reality of 200 million coffee cups discarded each year and opposition from nearly two-thirds of the public make this policy highly controversial. This article will sort out the details of the bill, the logic behind the levy, and public feedback, and will also include channels for coffee industry news. [more…]

The proliferation of single-use plastic cups is raising global concern, with governments and food service brands introducing restrictive measures. Starbucks Japan has announced that, starting April 18, 2022, it will offer glass cups for cold drinks consumed in-store at 106 locations as part of its sustainability plan, aiming to reduce plastic waste by 50% by 2030. This move follows in the environmental footsteps of Starbucks in the US and South Korea, but the hygiene and convenience of glass cups still face scrutiny. Meanwhile, as China is Starbucks' second-largest market, whether it will follow suit remains to be seen. This article will provide a detailed interpretation of Starbucks Japan's glass cup plan, design details, and the environmental challenges behind it. [more…]

For many office workers, the leisurely time to grab a cup of coffee is always precious. Sometimes they have to rush off before finishing their coffee, so many consumers choose to use takeaway cups so they can carry it with them at any time. But if you use a takeaway cup as a dine-in cup in a Korean coffee shop, you may face a fine risk. Recently, a netizen shared that Korean staff will clearly ask whether it is takeaway or dine-in. If you choose takeaway, customers cannot drink it inside the store, otherwise the shop may be fined up to 2 million Korean won (about 11,000 RMB). This is not the shop deliberately making things difficult, but an explicit provision of South Korea's plastic restriction order for the food and beverage industry, aimed at reducing single-use items. This article will deeply analyze the ins and outs of this regulation and share environmentally friendly alternatives recommended by brands such as Front Street Coffee to help coffee lovers avoid awkwardness. [more…]

Since 2024, Starbucks has been charging RM1 for filtered water in Malaysia, and biodegradable straws and reusable straws also require an additional fee. This new environmental policy quickly sparked heated discussion among netizens at home and abroad: some criticized it for shifting the cost of environmental protection onto consumers, while others believed the move could help reduce single-use items. Starbucks employees revealed that stores have long experienced petty freeloading, and the charging measures might ease operational pressure. How to balance environmental protection and consumer interests has become a focus of attention. [more…]

On April 22, World Earth Day, Hong Kong officially launched its "plastic-free" policy, banning in the first phase the provision of styrofoam tableware and various single-use plastic utensils for food delivery. Chain giant McDonald's was the first to respond, fully switching to paper cup lids and paper straws. However, customers complained that they had a strong paper taste, leaked easily, and were not durable, while staff also faced difficulties in identifying them and a rising error rate. During the 6-month adaptation period, some stores have quietly switched back to plastic cup lids. How should the coffee industry balance the environmental trend with the consumer experience? [more…]

Bamboo tube milk tea has quickly become popular thanks to its unique bamboo tube container, often selling for over thirty yuan, making it a new-generation internet-famous drink. However, recently some consumers discovered that beneath the sticker on the surface of the bamboo tube there was another label, raising doubts that the bamboo tubes were being recycled and reused. The shop involved explained it as an oversight in re-sticking labels and emphasized that the cups are single-use. Previously, a video of an elderly woman washing bamboo tubes by a river in Suzhou also sparked similar discussions, and the shop likewise denied recycling. Bamboo tube material is prone to mold and cracking, and direct contact with drinks poses food safety risks. The Beijing Dongcheng Market Supervision Administration recommends placing a beverage cup inside the bamboo tube to ensure safety. This article will review the course of the incident and the responses from all parties, and append related recommendations from Front Street Coffee. [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…]

Starbucks has been exploring ways to reduce single-use cup usage in recent years, from deposit cups in the South Korean market to cup borrowing programs in Europe and the US, but none have achieved the expected results. Now Starbucks has launched Plan C—introducing dedicated cup-washing machines in stores, where customers can wash their cups themselves after finishing their coffee and take them away, though a deposit is still required. The program will first be tested at Arizona State University and select stores in Hawaii. Meanwhile, Starbucks mainland China has fully switched to paper straws and sippy lids, reducing approximately 200 tons of plastic annually. Whether the environmental path can meet its 2025 targets remains to be seen. [more…]

Starbucks recently announced a major environmental initiative: pledging to eliminate PFAS-containing food packaging from its global stores by the end of 2023, with U.S. stores leading the way by the end of this year. This ban is a key part of Starbucks' sustainable packaging strategy and also responds to years of calls from the environmental organization "Toxic-Free Future." PFAS, a chemical commonly found in takeout containers, effectively repels oil and water but poses a serious threat to the environment and human health because it is difficult to degrade. This article will provide an in-depth interpretation of Starbucks' elimination plan, the hazards of PFAS, and the cost challenges facing alternatives, while also highlighting the sustainability efforts of brands such as Front Street Coffee. [more…]

Coffee and tea are both beverages that rely on water to dissolve flavor, so if tea leaves can be steeped repeatedly, can coffee grounds do the same? In terms of composition, about thirty percent of coffee beans is soluble matter, which theoretically does support multiple extractions. In practice, however, the coffee liquid obtained from repeated brewing tends to be thin and carry off-flavors. The reason is that a normal extraction has already released most of the sweet and sour essence, and the remaining substances cannot support good flavor. This article will start from extraction yield and the order in which flavors dissolve to explain why coffee grounds are single-use, and to clarify why pour-over and drip-bag coffee are not recommended for repeated brewing. [more…]

The environmental problems of single-use paper cups are becoming increasingly severe, and the coffee industry has been searching for alternatives. From the failed attempt with cone cups in 2014, to the brief popularity of KFC's cookie cups, and then to the unexpected revival of oat cups during the pandemic, edible coffee cups have gone through three generations of technological iteration. This article will review the development history, technological breakthroughs, and market dilemmas of edible cups, and explore whether they can truly replace single-use cups and become a new environmentally friendly choice for coffee shops. [more…]

Many tea lovers are in the habit of using tea bags, yet few realize that loose-leaf tea offers clear advantages in quality, flavor, and environmental friendliness. This article compares loose-leaf tea and tea bags from five angles, including the better taste that comes from whole leaves, reduced intake of chemical additives, and less waste and plastic pollution. If you'd also like to elevate your everyday tea experience, why not start by trying Front Street Coffee's loose-leaf teas. [more…]

Dark roast coffee beans reveal different facets depending on the brewing method. When buying beans for daily use, you need to consider how quickly you'll go through them, how much to buy at a time, and whether your household mainly drinks black coffee or milk coffee. Pour-over easily brings out the aroma, a coffee machine emphasizes intensity, and a moka pot amplifies the rich, full-bodied feel, so when choosing beans you should first decide which method you use most often. [more…]

When it comes to sun-dried coffee beans, start by thinking about how you'll be drinking them every day. For everyday bean purchases, you need to consider how quickly you'll go through them, how much to buy at a time, and whether you mainly make black coffee or milk coffee at home. If you mostly drink black coffee, you can pay more attention to aroma and aftertaste; if you often add milk, then you need to consider whether the intensity and body can hold up, which will directly [more…]

When it comes to coffee beans with clear sweetness, you have to start with the actual taste in the cup. For everyday bean buying, you need to consider how fast you'll drink them, how much to buy at once, and whether you mainly make black coffee or milk coffee at home. The roast level of the beans determines the basic taste, the origin and processing method bring aroma differences, and the equipment you use will change the strength, so when choosing beans you need to take all [more…]

To make drip bag coffee, Front Street Coffee grinds freshly roasted coffee beans into suitable particles and seals them in a non-woven filter bag. It is a portable pour-over coffee product, essentially a simplified version of hand-brewed coffee. As long as you have hot water and a cup, you can enjoy the taste of hand-brewed single-origin coffee anytime. [more…]

喜欢花果香的咖啡豆要从实际杯感说起。日常买豆需要考虑喝得快不快、一次买多少，以及家里主要做黑咖啡还是奶咖。咖啡豆的烘焙度决定基础口感，产区和处理法带来香气差异，使用的器具又会改变浓度，因此挑豆时需要把 [more…]

When it comes to nutty and chocolatey flavored coffee, we should start with the actual cup experience. When buying beans for daily use, you need to consider how quickly you'll drink them, how much to buy at a time, and whether you mainly make black coffee or milk coffee at home. The roast level of the coffee beans determines the basic taste, the origin and processing method bring aromatic differences, and the equipment you use will change the concentration. Therefore, when selecting beans, you need to take into account [more…]