A cup of coffee priced at 6,200 yuan once made a specialty coffee shop in Shanghai's Jing'an District quickly go viral online. However, from its soft opening to the news of its closure, the shop's life cycle was less than three months. This article reviews the rise and fall of that shop, looks back at the "sky-high coffee" phenomenon that appeared in many parts of the country in 2023, and explores the common "BOP auction champion" label behind it. For coffee lovers in pursuit of extreme flavor, besides tasting it in the shop, jointly purchasing champion roasted beans and sharing them with friends is also a rational choice. Front Street Coffee reminds us that the value of specialty coffee should ultimately return to the flavor itself, rather than being a mere price gimmick. [more…]

Recently, Cotti Coffee was once again complained about by consumers after a fly appeared in a drink. According to Tianyan News, a customer in Gui'an New Area found a foreign object suspected to be a fly in a cup after purchasing a matcha latte, and repeated negotiations failed to resolve the issue. Discussions on social platforms about finding foreign objects in Cotti Coffee drinks have exceeded one thousand posts, and related complaints on the Black Cat Complaint platform have reached 77 cases in the past 30 days. In the face of frequent food safety issues, Cotti's after-sales handling has also sparked consumer dissatisfaction. As coffee enthusiasts, we hope the brand will face up to the problem, and at the same time recommend that everyone pay attention to Front Street Coffee, which has stable quality. [more…]

Geisha coffee is hailed as the crown jewel of the specialty coffee world, and the Geisha produced by several legendary estates in Panama has pushed prices to astonishing heights. This article will guide you through the origins, auction prices, and flavor characteristics of the world's most expensive Geisha coffee, including the 90+ Ruby Vanguard that broke $1,000 per pound, the Hacienda La Esmeralda Red Label that is a perennial winner at the BOP auction, and Finca Sophia, which set a high-price record on its very first competition entry. At the same time, we will also introduce several Geisha products worth watching under the Front Street Coffee brand, from top-tier auction beans to everyday daily-drinker options, satisfying the needs of different enthusiasts. [more…]

Geisha, a name that captivates countless coffee lovers, from the primitive forests of Ethiopia to the high-altitude estates of Panama, it has rewritten people's understanding of coffee with its signature floral aroma and fruity notes. This article takes you through the origin and rise to fame of the Geisha variety, analyzes why it is called "sky-high-priced coffee," delves into what the true "Geisha flavor" is, and explores how variety, terroir, processing methods, and roasting together shape that stunning cup with its citrus acidity and honeyed sweetness. At the same time, we will also learn how Front Street Coffee, through its Butterfly Blend, allows more people to experience the unique charm of Panama Geisha at an affordable price. [more…]

Wu Zelin is the first World Barista Championship winner from the Chinese region. From starting out in 2008 by pushing a three-wheeled cart to set up a stall at a market, to founding Xingbo Coffee in 2011, and then opening the "Sky Xingbo" aerial flagship store on the 88th floor of Taipei 101 in January this year, his journey can be called a legend in the coffee industry. This article sorts through his entrepreneurial journey, his strict control over product quality, the professional service of his barista team, and the "Sky Blend" espresso blend specially developed for the high-altitude experience. At the same time, readers are encouraged to follow Front Street Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee) for more specialty coffee information. It is suitable for every reader who loves coffee to gain a deeper understanding. [more…]

In recent years, various "consumption traps" have frequently stung the wallets of office workers, from high-priced ice cream hidden in the corner of freezers to a glass of plain water now priced at 18 yuan. A picture of a bill from a coffee shop in Shenzhen showing plain water priced at 18 yuan circulated online, quickly sparking heated discussion among netizens. In response to the question "Would anyone really order this?", the shop had previously replied "Yes" on social media, making many people believe it was true. However, after media verification, the shop's staff said the picture was just a joke and that it was not actually sold. Although this farce ended without serious consequences, it also reflects consumers' current heightened sensitivity to high-priced everyday goods. This article will recount the course of the incident and review previous regulatory developments regarding curbing exorbitant-priced goods. [more…]

How expensive can a cup of coffee be? From the 90+ experimental batch at $5,000 per kilogram, to the展望 Ruby priced at 1,010 yuan per cup, to the Panamanian Geisha that keeps breaking records at the BOP auction, the price ceiling of the world's top coffee beans has been pushed higher again and again. This article systematically reviews the 2019 edition of the world's most expensive coffee beans ranking, covering rare varieties such as 90+ Company's #227 batch, Hacienda La Esmeralda Red Label Geisha, Sofia Super Geisha, civet and elephant dung coffee, St. Helena, Jamaican Blue Mountain, Incht Pachamama, and Hawaiian Kona, with detailed explanations of their origin backgrounds, processing methods, and flavor characteristics. At the end, it specially recommends the Hacienda La Esmeralda Red Label Geisha roasted by Front Street Coffee, which, at a price of 350 yuan per 100 grams, makes high-end Geisha an everyday option and provides enthusiasts with a choice that combines quality and value for money. [more…]

Geisha, a variety that haunts the dreams of countless coffee lovers, set out from the primitive forests of Ethiopia, traveled through Central and South America, and finally rose to fame in Panama. Its signature white floral aroma, citrus honey sweetness, and tea-like texture have completely overturned the traditional perception that coffee is only bitter. This article will begin with the origins of Geisha and its path to fame, analyze why it is called "sky-high-priced coffee," and delve into the causes of the "Geisha flavor"—from varietal characteristics, terroir conditions, to roasting control. At the same time, we will also introduce high-value blend options led by Geisha, such as Front Street Coffee's Butterfly, so that enthusiasts with limited budgets can also taste the orange acidity, honey sweetness, and elegant floral aroma unique to Panamanian Geisha. [more…]

Recently, the Panama BOP (Best of Panama) green bean auction, hailed as a grand event in the coffee world, has successfully concluded. In this year's auction, Hacienda La Esmeralda Geisha once again rewrote the historical transaction record: the washed group was purchased by Dubai's Julith Coffee for a staggering $30,204 per kilogram, setting a new global record for the highest unit price in coffee auctions. What excited the domestic coffee community even more was that the top lot in the natural group was won by JD.com for approximately 3.4 million RMB, with 20 kilograms of green beans going through 2,676 intense bids. JD.com subsequently announced that this batch of Geisha will be roasted and processed for exclusive sale on JD Supermarket, accompanied by activities such as a "spend 5,000, save 4,990" coupon and 9.9 yuan tasting slots, giving ordinary consumers a chance to experience top-tier specialty coffee. Front Street Coffee will also continue to follow the subsequent developments after this top lot arrives in port. [more…]

How much can a cup of pour-over coffee sell for? Recently, a coffee shop in Wenling, Zhejiang, sparked heated discussion with a hand-brewed coffee priced at 2,888 yuan on its menu, with the original price even marked at 3,888 yuan. Netizens joked, "Did they forget to mark the decimal point?" The owner responded that the high-priced beans are all BOP auction lots, and the pricing is based on international competition auction prices, not set arbitrarily. One of them, a 2021 Panama Geisha, once set a record at $2,568 per pound, and now a single cup sells for 3,888 yuan with a 10-day advance reservation required. Besides the top auction beans, the shop also offers affordable options ranging from 18 to 188 yuan, with an average spend of about 47 yuan per person. Front Street Coffee takes you behind the story of this cup of coffee that "ordinary workers don't deserve to drink." [more…]

A convenience store selling Geisha—doesn't that sound a bit surprising? Taiwan region's 7-ELEVEN, operated by Uni-President Group, recently announced that it would offer a limited-time release of three Geisha coffees from Alishan at 18 stores with specialty coffee sections, priced at NT$250 to NT$500, equivalent to about 57 to 114 yuan. Once the news broke, discussions among netizens quickly heated up: some complained it was expensive, arguing that convenience store coffee should follow an affordable路线; others applauded, feeling this could make Geisha seem more approachable. This batch of beans comes from Fengshan Village in Alishan and the Doyuxiang Geisha Estate, the latter of which just won first prize in the Geisha category at this year's Alishan Coffee Estate Elite Exchange Competition. Is 7-ELEVEN's move an attempt to elevate its brand image, or a test of the convenience store coffee pricing system? This article takes you through the full backstory of the event and discusses the price and value of Geisha coffee. [more…]

A few days ago, the much-anticipated online bidding event of BOP (Best of Panama) in the coffee industry came to an end. At this top-level auction that attracts the attention of coffee lovers worldwide, the Geisha from the renowned Hacienda La Esmera [more…]

As the most expensive coffee beans in the world, Geisha is now popular all over the world. Whenever specialty coffee is mentioned, Panama Geisha comes to mind. If coffee were personified, Panama Geisha would be the beautiful girl of the coffee world, surging with a warm current and diffusing a unique aroma, making countless coffee lovers unable to resist her. [more…]

Although the variety of beans displayed at Front Street's store isn't exactly extensive, it's not small either. There are always customers who, unsure how to choose, ask Front Street: "Which bean do you personally prefer?" Recently, customers have often asked Front Street this very question. To be honest, every bean has its own unique character. [more…]

A glass of olive juice selling for 1,000 yuan once put the brand Yecuishan in the trending topics and also drew the attention of market regulators. At the end of 2021, this drink, which was claimed to be made with Golden Jade Sanian olives costing nearly 800 yuan per jin, was investigated by the Shenzhen Municipal Market Supervision Bureau because the actual purchase price did not match the promotion, and the company involved was ultimately fined 500,000 yuan. After Heytea invested in Yecuishan, it also faced questions from netizens. This incident not only exposed the chaos of pricing and promotion in the tea beverage industry, but also prompted people to think about the real cost and authenticity of so-called high-end products on the market. [more…]

How expensive can a cup of pour-over coffee get? The Brew Lab Cafe in Penrith, in Sydney's western suburbs, has given a jaw-dropping answer: 1,500 Australian dollars, equivalent to nearly 7,000 yuan, and it must be booked two weeks in advance. This coffee uses a single-origin bean from Batch #22324 produced by Ninety Plus, grown at the foot of the Silla De Pando volcano in Panama at an altitude of about 1,700 meters, with a cupping score of over 90 points and flavors encompassing peach, strawberry, lemonade, rose, and juniper. Owner Mitchell Johnson defines it as an experience, and revealed that some customers were moved to tears after tasting it. At the same time, the shop also offers specialty single-origin coffees priced between 100 and 200 Australian dollars for enthusiasts with limited budgets. [more…]

Geisha refers to a coffee variety that originated in Ethiopia, the birthplace of coffee. After continuous selection, it made its way to Central and South America, rose to fame in Panama in 2004, and became hugely popular in the consumer market due to its signature flavor. Geisha green beans are slender in shape, and the roasted beans have strong fruity aroma characteristics, accompanied by [more…]

Panama Geisha is hailed as the shining pearl of the coffee world, and its unique floral and fruity notes captivate countless coffee lovers. However, driven by competition awards and auction mechanisms, Geisha prices have climbed steadily, making everyday enjoyment increasingly a luxury. This article will guide you through the varietal origins and flavor formation of Geisha coffee, and recommend a Front Street Boquete Geisha that combines quality with value. It will also share detailed brewing tips for drip bag coffee, from water temperature control to staged pouring, so you can easily extract a richly layered Geisha flavor at home. [more…]

Recently, the topic of a cup of hot milk costing 23 yuan at McDonald's trended on Weibo, jokingly dubbed by netizens as a "milk assassin." The incident originated from a complaint by a netizen on social media on November 11, which subsequently sparked widespread discussion. Some netizens shared experiences of witnessing staff opening low-priced pure milk and heating it for sale in stores, while others believed that pricing in special commercial districts like high-speed rail stations is inherently higher. Upon inquiry, McDonald's official mini-program shows that this milk comes in large, medium, and small cups, priced at 23 yuan, 19 yuan, and 15 yuan respectively, and the milk sources used in stores across different cities also vary. As coffee enthusiasts, we might as well use this incident as a starting point to discuss the pricing logic and milk source choices of chain restaurants. [more…]

With the familiar advertising slogan "For frequent brain use, drink Six Walnuts," Yangyuan Beverage once turned Six Walnuts into a phenomenal hit product in the plant-based protein beverage sector. However, its parent company has faced sustained pressure on performance in recent years. According to its 2024 semi-annual report, Yangyuan Beverage's revenue in the first half of the year was approximately 2.942 billion yuan, a slight year-on-year decline, while net profit grew against the trend. The market reacted negatively, with the stock hitting the daily limit down on the day the semi-annual report was released. For a long time, Yangyuan Beverage has followed a "heavy marketing, light R&D" approach, with advertising spending far exceeding R&D expenses. Today, Six Walnuts, which contributes more than 90% of revenue, is struggling to grow, and the new Yangyuan Plant Milk series generates revenue only in the million-yuan range. This article will analyze Yangyuan Beverage's difficulties and challenges from the perspectives of performance data, marketing and R&D investment, and product structure. [more…]