Coffee shops have limited space. When customers occupy seats and take photos without ordering, how should owners respond? Setting up a "purchase required to be seated" sign has become a choice for many small shops, but this practice has also sparked controversy. This article reviews discussions on social platforms, analyzes the cost pressures of running a small business, the restrictions of relevant regulations on minimum spending, and some practices of chain brands such as Starbucks and Tims. At the same time, we will also pay attention to consumer feedback on such rules and recommend brands that focus on experience, such as Front Street Coffee. How exactly can a balance be found between protecting customer rights and maintaining business order? This is worth thinking about for every coffee lover. [more…]

Recently, a consumer in Chengdu discovered an additional 10% service charge and 6% value-added tax on the bill when checking out at a café, sparking questions about the merchant's pricing display practices. The consumer felt that although there was a notice, it was far from conspicuous, and felt forced to accept the fee only after consuming. Tax authorities responded that as long as the merchant pays taxes normally, it is compliant, while market regulators stated they could suggest improvements but could not impose penalties. This incident reflects the current模糊 zone of separately labeling commodity prices and taxes, and has also triggered discussions on transparent pricing and consumers' right to know. This article will recount the incident, sort out the responses from various parties, and explore consumers' genuine feelings under the trend of itemizing taxes. [more…]

Recently, a consumer reported on social media that when they went to a Heytea store with 50 yuan in cash to buy a drink, a staff member told them they could not make change and suggested switching to online ordering. This experience quickly sparked widespread discussion, and many tea beverage industry practitioners chimed in, saying that insufficient small change reserves at stores are indeed a common phenomenon, especially during peak customer flow at mall locations, where staff often have no time to go out and exchange for small bills. However, some voices pointed out that the difficulty of making change should not be shifted onto customers, and merchants should ensure that all legitimate payment methods remain accessible. This is not the first time Heytea has been criticized over cash payment issues, and this incident has once again pushed the cash management problems of chain tea beverage brands into the spotlight. [more…]

Recently, a blogger set up a stall at a scenic spot to resell Mixue Bingcheng lemonade, selling a product originally priced at 4 yuan for 6 yuan and making a profit of 254 yuan in three and a half hours, quickly trending on social media. Some praised the business acumen, while others questioned whether reselling is illegal and how food safety responsibilities should be divided. Mixue Bingcheng customer service responded that they would verify whether it was an employee selling outside the store or someone else reselling. Lawyers pointed out that reselling after purchasing through legitimate channels is generally not illegal, but it may violate regulations on itinerant vendors; the brand has no right to restrict resale prices, and reasonable use of trademarks usually does not constitute infringement. Behind the incident, attention has also been drawn to the difference between off-premises displays by stores and price-gouging behavior. Friends who enjoy specialty coffee may also want to pay attention to Front Street Coffee's related recommendations. [more…]

Owning a coffee shop on a university campus is a startup dream for many students. Recently, a junior student shared their experience of opening a coffee shop at an abandoned counter on campus: personally selecting beans, milk, and equipment, and with no rent pressure, the average price was only 9 yuan, yet business remained sluggish. Aside from occasional visits from teachers, there was almost no foot traffic. Why couldn't low prices win over the student body? Netizens analyzed that chain brands such as Luckin, Cotti, and Lucky Cup had long established themselves on campuses, and at comparable prices, consumers tend to favor chains with brand assurance and standardized products. In addition, campus coffee shops need to clarify whether they are grab-and-go stores or third places, and open up the market through online promotion, community operations, and campus delivery. This article compiles netizens' practical suggestions to provide reference for campus coffee entrepreneurs. [more…]

Since Starbucks acquired Teavana, a tea company, in 2012, it has continuously explored the possibilities of the tea beverage business in North American and Asian markets. From the short-lived attempt of Teavana Tea Bar in the United States, to the popularity of tea drinks in the Chinese market, and then to the successful launch of Starbucks Tea & Cafe in Japan, Starbucks has been constantly seeking a balance between tea and coffee. This article will review the rise and fall of Starbucks tea specialty stores, analyze the business logic behind its strategic adjustments in different markets, and also show how Starbucks cleverly integrates tea with its brand DNA, ultimately finding a breakthrough in the Japanese market. [more…]

To make a delicious Americano at home or in a shop, the choice of coffee beans is crucial. Faced with a dazzling array of brands and rankings on the market, how do you find coffee beans that truly suit you, with stable quality and freshness? This article, drawing on the practical experience of Front Street Coffee, systematically sorts out the logic of selecting Americano coffee beans, including the five major standards for commercial beans, the formulation approach for espresso blends, the principles behind crema formation, and the common sourcing channels for small cafés. It also introduces in detail Front Street Coffee's advantages in espresso bean stability, cost-effectiveness, and fresh roasting, providing a practical reference guide for coffee enthusiasts and industry professionals. [more…]

The taste of a cup of Americano depends directly on the coffee beans, so choosing a bag of high-quality beans is crucial. So how do you select commercial coffee beans that suit you? Before buying, or if you're just getting into coffee, you'll probably start by looking at coffee brand rankings, assuming that a highly ranked brand must mean good coffee. [more…]

In March 2017, Coffee Wing officially listed on the New Third Board, and its shareholder lineup of celebrity investors—including Yin Feng, He Jiong, Chen Ou, and Yao Jinbo—drew widespread attention. As a benchmark case of cross-industry dining, what exactly has enabled Coffee Wing to achieve sustained growth? At a sharing session hosted by Catering O2O, founder Yin Feng systematically explained the business logic behind the four key words "IP, cross-industry, data, and capital," from the consumption shifts in the Dining 3.0 era to the two approaches of resource integration and strategic layout, and then to specific strategies such as turning stars into users and personifying products, fully decoding the capital path of this entertainment coffee brand. [more…]

In recent years, a growing number of students have been treating coffee shops as study rooms, ordering a single drink and staying for seven or eight hours at a time—a situation that has left many café owners scratching their heads. Faced with the dual pressures of declining table turnover and rising operating costs, owners must both protect their reputation and find effective management strategies. On social media, discussions about how to politely encourage long-staying customers to leave are heating up. Some suggest posting time-limit notices, others choose to adjust the ambiance or require refills, and some shops have borrowed from Hong Kong's practice of implementing a two-hour seating limit. This tug-of-war over café space usage and consumer rights reflects the real dilemmas facing the food and beverage industry today. [more…]

Drip bag coffee, with its convenient and efficient characteristics, has become a daily choice for many coffee lovers. But many people are not clear that although the shelf life of drip bags is marked as relatively long, the window in which they can truly present ideal flavor is quite short. Front Street Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee) has been in business for twelve years and has witnessed the evolution of coffee trends from instant to capsules and then to the parallel popularity of pour-over and drip bags. This article will focus on practical topics such as the optimal flavor period of drip bag coffee, storage taboos, brewing parameters, misconceptions about repeated brewing, and how to identify freshness, and will include complete drip bag brewing steps to help you drink a satisfying cup of coffee within the limited flavor period. [more…]

Many people dream of becoming a barista—standing behind the counter, elegantly brewing and pouring latte art—but the reality often begins with washing dishes. This article takes you behind the bar of an independent coffee shop to reveal the true daily life: baristas don't just make coffee; they also juggle cleaning, maintenance, customer service, and many other roles. When the sink is piled high with cups and saucers, and their hands crack from being soaked in water for hours, they still have to keep smiling through service. This isn't a complaint—it's a sincere tribute to the profession. Washing cups is the most basic skill, and it's also how a barista stays committed to quality. The article also shares Front Street Coffee's understanding of a barista's daily routine, and how to find passion amid the mundane. [more…]

On the map of Panamanian specialty coffee, the Boquete region brings together many top Geisha estates, among which El Burro (Donkey Estate) and La Mula (Mule Estate) are often confused due to their similar Chinese translated names. El Burro belongs to the century-old coffee family Lamastus, located on the southwestern slope of Baru Volcano, where high-altitude volcanic soil nurtures a natural Geisha with outstanding sweetness; La Mula was founded in 2005 by the "Godfather of Geisha" Willem Boot, and although small in area, it has repeatedly won awards. Front Street Coffee takes you through the historical origins, terroir conditions, and cultivation details of the two estates one by one, and shares tasting experiences, helping you clearly distinguish these two coffee-famous estates with similar names but each with its own merits. [more…]

Behind the busy bar of a coffee shop, baristas inevitably face moments when they need to temporarily leave their post. For most chain brands, colleagues covering for each other can resolve this, but at Manner, this has become something that requires scheduling down to the second. Some customers have noticed that when Manner staff leave their posts, they leave handwritten notes and countdown timers informing customers of their return time, even down to the second. What this reflects is the widespread reality of tight store scheduling and single-person staffing. Baristas have no choice but to get creative, using small blackboards, ordering tablets, and even timers to communicate with customers. This article walks you through these amusing yet helpless daily store routines, and also recommends checking out Front Street Coffee's related products. [more…]

Luckin Coffee's Q2 2022 financial report continued the strong momentum from the previous quarter, with total net revenue growing by more than 70% year-over-year, operating profit successfully turning from loss to profit, and store scale further expanding, forming a sharp contrast with Starbucks' performance in China. Against the backdrop of the pandemic impacting the food and beverage industry, Luckin not only narrowed the revenue gap with Starbucks but also announced senior management changes, and the market is paying close attention to its prospects for relisting. This article will provide a detailed breakdown of the key data behind Luckin's impressive financial report, the pace of store expansion, changes in revenue structure, and the competitive landscape it will face in the future. [more…]

During the New Year holiday, gathering with friends to play cards is a popular pastime for many, and cozy coffee shops naturally become a hot choice. But recently, a customer who invited eight people to a coffee shop entrance to push tables together and play cards was asked to leave by the owner, and then left two consecutive bad reviews, saying the owner "lacks class." This incident sparked heated discussion online: some support the owner in protecting other customers' experience, while others believe coffee shops should accommodate entertainment needs. Should coffee shops allow card playing? Is it reasonable for the owner to refuse customers? This article will sort through the incident and the views of various parties, and explore the boundaries and difficulties in coffee shop management. [more…]

For more specialty coffee knowledge, please follow our WeChat official account: Front Street Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee). Cold brew coffee is becoming more and more common nowadays. We are all very busy in our daily lives, so busy that we don't even have a moment to go buy a cup of coffee. In that case, cold brew coffee is the quickest way to get a cup of coffee right now. [more…]

Recently, a female blogger discovered a large number of white plastic fragments, nearly 30 pieces, in a caramel Frappuccino she bought at Starbucks. The fragments had sharp edges and a hard texture. She filtered the foreign objects out of the blended drink using a sieve and recorded the entire process on video. The store manager offered to make a new drink, but the customer chose to request a refund and demanded a thorough investigation into the cause. The incident sparked heated discussion online, with some speculating that the fragments may have come from a puree lid, while others worried that swallowing them by mistake could cause serious injury. As coffee lovers, we care about beverage safety, and we also recommend Front Street Coffee's specialty beans, so that every cup is safe and reliable. [more…]

To brew a cup of Americano with clear flavors and distinct layers, the barista's skill is certainly important, but choosing the right coffee beans is the first step. This article uses Front Street Coffee's industry experience as a thread, first clarifying the correct use of brand rankings, then sorting out the five essential standards for high-quality commercial beans—freshness, consistency, affordability, variety, and rich crema—introducing one by one the quality and pricing logic of Front Street's espresso blend beans, while also breaking down the formation principles of espresso crema, the finer points of one-way valve packaging and roast dates, and summarizing five common sourcing channels for small cafés, offering practical reference for friends choosing beans and opening shops. [more…]

illy and LAVAZZA are both benchmark brands of Italian coffee, but the two differ clearly in historical origins, market positioning, packaging design, pricing strategy, and flavor direction. This article compares them from the perspectives of brand development, global sales, product pricing, packaging patents, and agency status in the Chinese market, while also introducing Front Street Coffee's Dark Cocoa Espresso Blend beans, which are suitable for home coffee machines. Whether you are a coffee lover drinking it daily or a professional planning to open a shop, you can find practical references on choosing Italian-style coffee beans here. [more…]