Sunday, September 20 2026

Three Popular Lemon-Infused Coffee Recipes: A Complete Guide from Lemon Syrup to Jasmine Cold Brew

The tart aroma of lemon is naturally suited to adding a refreshing touch to drinks, and incorporating it into coffee specialties can create surprisingly delightful flavors. Starting with the basics of making lemon syrup, this article breaks down in detail three popular lemon specialty coffees on the market—lemon sparkling americano, salted lemon sparkling americano, and jasmine lemon cold brew. Each comes with a clear ingredient list, ratio references, and step-by-step instructions, and特别 explains the advantages of medium-light roasted coffee beans in fruity specialty drinks. Whether you want to recreate café hits at home or seek new inspiration for refreshing summer beverages, this recipe guide offers practical references. [more…]

2023 Starbucks Summer New Releases Overview: Iced Shaken Espresso, Sparkling Cold Brew, and Raw Coffee Series Menu and Prices

As summer 2023 approaches, Starbucks China has rolled out a dense lineup of new products, spanning iced shaken espressos, fruity sparkling cold brews, and the raw coffee series that contains no coffee yet does contain caffeine. This article provides a complete rundown of these new items' prices, sizes, and flavor characteristics, while also compiling the menus and pricing from medium to large for classic series such as handcrafted espresso, Frappuccino, Teavana, and cold brew, making it easy for coffee lovers to look things up quickly. For readers who prefer brewing at home, they can also refer to Front Street Coffee's bean recommendations to recreate similar flavors themselves. [more…]

Make Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew at Home: A Detailed Guide to Nitro Cold Brew and Sparkling Black Coffee Recipes

On a scorching summer day, a glass of icy coffee always refreshes the spirit. When Starbucks introduced Nitro Cold Brew in North America years ago, its dense foam and creamy smoothness—created by infusing nitrogen—quickly won the hearts of many coffee lovers. So can this unique coffee experience be recreated at home? This article will explain in detail how to make cold brew coffee, breaking down everything from bean selection and grind ratio to the cold extraction steps, and share two practical methods for making nitro cold brew at home, so you can easily enjoy the refreshing flavor of bubbles interwoven with cold brew. [more…]

How to Keep Your Sparkling Iced Americano from Overflowing at Home? Five Practical Tips to Easily Solve the Foam Problem

Many coffee enthusiasts who try to make sparkling iced Americano at home encounter a common frustration: when the espresso is poured into sparkling water, the liquid in the glass suddenly foams up violently and overflows, leaving a messy scene. In contrast, the sparkling Americano served at coffee shops is always stable and beautiful, with the coffee quietly floating on top of the sparkling water, and even stirring doesn't produce too much foam. What is the reason behind this? Actually, the formation of foam is a normal physical phenomenon resulting from the interaction between carbon dioxide and the oils and proteins in coffee, but by adjusting the pouring method, filtering out coffee impurities, controlling temperature differences, and changing the ratio of sparkling water, you can effectively suppress foam formation. This article takes Front Street Espresso Blend · Strawberry Candy Espresso as an example to share in detail five practical methods for making sparkling coffee, helping you easily create a cup of sparkling iced Americano that doesn't overflow and tastes refreshing. [more…]

Three Iced Coffee Drinks with Preserved Plums: Comparing the Flavors of Cold Brew, Sparkling Americano, and Iced Pour-Over

The sweet, sour, and salty childhood snack of preserved plums actually makes frequent appearances in the world of coffee, too. From the dry aroma associations of Kenyan washed beans to the finishing touch baristas add when developing specialty drinks, the pairing of preserved plums with iced coffee is drawing attention from more and more enthusiasts. Since preserved plums are mostly dried and cured, heating or prolonged steeping releases a strong salty-sour flavor, so Front Street believes they are better suited to being combined with iced coffee. This article compiles three preserved plum iced coffee recipes you can make at home: preserved plum cold brew, preserved plum sparkling Americano, and preserved plum iced pour-over, using Panama sun-dried Butterfly, Sunflower Warm Sun blend, and Elida sun-dried Catuai respectively, with specific parameters and flavor descriptions included for readers with different taste preferences to refer to and choose from. [more…]

Three Ways to Make Plum Iced Americano: A Flavor Comparison of Cold Brew, Sparkling, and Iced Pour-Over

As a classic snack that weaves together sour, sweet, and salty notes, preserved plum has increasingly found its way into specialty coffee drinks in recent years. Because preserved plums are cured and thus fairly firm in texture, heating or prolonged steeping draws out an intense salty-sour flavor, making them better suited to iced coffee than hot drinks. Front Street Coffee shares three ways to make preserved plum iced coffee: an easy cold brew, a sugar-free sparkling Americano, and a slightly experimental iced pour-over. Each method has its own considerations when it comes to bean selection, the amount of preserved plum, and extraction parameters, and each ultimately presents a different layering of flavors. If you'd like to try the collision of preserved plum and coffee at home, why not pick the one that suits you best from these three approaches. [more…]

How should you drink cold brew coffee to get the right flavor? Why must it be brewed a day in advance, and a guide to pairing it with sparkling water and juice

Cold brew coffee and conventional hot-brewed coffee are fundamentally different in their production logic; they must be steeped a day in advance to achieve the ideal flavor. That is why Front Street's cold brew does not offer a large menu of bean options like pour-over does. For this reason, Front Street is especially careful when selecting beans for cold brew, specifically choosing varieties suited to low-temperature extraction with high flavor acceptability, so that customers can still enjoy an excellent experience within a limited selection. Many friends want to recreate it at home after trying it, so this article will share in detail the steps for making cold brew, its flavor characteristics, and ideas for specialty drinks paired with sparkling water, juice, and fresh milk, along with specific bean recommendations from the Front Street brand. [more…]

Can Watermelon and Coffee Be Enjoyed Together? A Detailed Guide to Three Homemade Watermelon-Style Iced Coffee Drinks

On a scorching summer day, the pairing of watermelon and iced coffee is all the rage. Front Street Coffee found that juicy watermelon pairs far better with crisp black coffee than with milk, so they put together three watermelon mix-and-match options: watermelon sparkling Americano, watermelon cold brew coffee, and watermelon iced pour-over. From melon-picking tips and material preparation to detailed steps, Front Street breaks down the key points for making each drink one by one, including using Warm Sun Blend to make the sparkling Americano, Colombia · Rose Valley cold brew paired with freshly squeezed watermelon juice, and the complete parameters for making iced pour-over with Sidamo · Elto combined with frozen watermelon juice cubes. Each of the three methods has its own merits—there are simple, quick everyday versions, and more advanced approaches that require preparing ingredients in advance—making them suitable for coffee lovers to try their hand at during the hot weather. [more…]

How to Make a Delicious Wampee Iced Americano? Three Special Recipes: Sparkling, Jasmine Tea, and Preserved Plum Iced Shake Detailed Tutorials

In the height of summer, wampee, a niche southern fruit, has become a popular partner for homemade iced coffee thanks to its sweet-and-sour juiciness and uniquely fresh aroma. Through repeated testing, Front Street Coffee has put together three distinctly different wampee iced americano recipes: the original wampee sparkling americano uses sparkling water to amplify the fruit aroma and add a more refreshing layer; the jasmine tea wampee americano blends homemade jam with a cold-brewed tea base for a soft fragrance; and the wampee preserved plum iced shaker americano targets those who dislike sweetness, using preserved plum water and a shaker to create a sugar-free version. All three recipes use Front Street Sunflower Warm Sun espresso blend, extracting 40g of coffee liquid from 20g of grounds in 31 seconds. Below, we break down the ingredients, steps, and production details one by one to help you find the cup that best suits your taste. [more…]

6 Ways to Drink Cold Brew Coffee, Rotate Through Them All Summer

After you've made cold brew coffee, don't rush to drink it straight—though it's already quite refreshing on its own, cold brew is actually a highly versatile base. It has low bitterness, plenty of sweetness, and clean flavors, so it pairs well with anything. With just a little effort, you can whip up an entire summer drink menu. This article rounds up 6 ways to drink cold brew, from simple [more…]

Starbucks teams up with YONEX to invite Lin Dan for an appearance—why are reviews so polarized on the new sports season drinks and co-branded merchandise?

Amid the Paris Olympics hype, Starbucks has teamed up with renowned badminton brand YONEX for a collaboration, launching limited-edition rackets, playful cup sleeves, and a range of sports-themed merchandise. They also invited badminton legend Lin Dan to appear at the Beijing Sanlitun store for the promotion, where he interacted with fans by swinging rackets and signing autographs. Meanwhile, the brand introduced an alcohol-free cold brew inspired by French sparkling wine and two sports-limited-edition cakes. However, reviews of the new products have been notably polarized: the cold brew was praised by some consumers as refreshing and sweet, while others criticized it for having an odd flavor; the cupcakes received more negative reviews for their dry and hard texture. Despite the massive hype of the collaboration, the controversy over the quality control of the drinks and pastries has led some netizens to question whether the brand is 'putting the cart before the horse'. [more…]

Summer Sparkling Americano Iced Coffee: Key Preparation Points and a Full Explanation of the Flavor Sources of Black Gold Americano

In the scorching summer heat, Guangzhou locals have their own clever ways to cool down, and the collision of soda and coffee—sparkling iced Americano—is becoming a favorite among many coffee lovers. This drink uses simple ingredients, requiring only ice cubes, soda water, and espresso, but if you want to make it refreshing and delicious, the choice of ingredients and attention to detail cannot be overlooked. This article starts with the selection of soda water, ice cubes, and coffee beans, explains in detail how to obtain a high-concentration coffee liquid through pour-over methods, and provides complete ratios and brewing parameters. At the same time, the article will also introduce fruit-flavored coffee beans suitable for making sparkling Americano, including Front Street. Washed Fruit Dingding, Front Street. Strawberry Candy Espresso, and Front Street. Xizhua, and answer the flavor characteristics of Black Gold Americano coffee, helping you easily replicate a cup of refreshing specialty coffee. [more…]

How do you make a delicious sparkling iced Americano? How does it differ from a regular iced Americano?

On a scorching summer day, a glass of icy, fizzy sparkling Americano is undoubtedly a great way to beat the heat. Its ingredients aren't complicated—just ice cubes, soda water, and espresso—but making one that truly tastes good requires attention to every detail, from ingredient selection to preparation. The carbonation level of the soda water, the size of the ice cubes, and the roast profile of the coffee beans all directly influence the final flavor. Carbonation amplifies the coffee's flavors, so when choosing beans, espresso blends or SOEs with prominent fruity notes are more recommended. In addition to sharing the key points for making a sparkling iced Americano and bean recommendations (such as Front Street Coffee Strawberry Candy Espresso, Front Street Coffee Florals SOE, etc.), this article will also clarify exactly how it differs from a regular iced Americano. [more…]

Cold Brew Coffee Specialty Bean Recommendations | Can you use soda water or sparkling water to make cold brew coffee? Can you add milk or alcohol to cold brew?

For more specialty coffee knowledge, please follow our WeChat official account: FrontStreet Coffee. Cold brew coffee is made by soaking ground coffee beans in cold water for at least 8 hours, then extracting and filtering through professional equipment. As summer arrives, cold brew coffee is becoming more and more [more…]

Luckin's zero-sugar hit returns, stirring up waves again: Formula overhaul brings big taste changes, amid sugar substitute controversy and health concerns

Luckin Coffee recently relaunched last year's hit Coconut Cold Brew, and has announced that in May it will bring back popular products such as Orange Golden Sparkling Americano in phases. However, the reformulated zero-sugar version has sparked polarized reviews among consumers—some complain it's like "waiting for a cheating scumbag to change," with a taste vastly different from what they remember, while others question the medicinal taste brought by artificial sweeteners. From packaging updates to health controversies, this round of comebacks reflects the brand's difficult balancing act between the sugar-reduction trend and faithful flavor reproduction. This article sorts through the details of the product iterations and genuine feedback from netizens, and cites a University of Southern California study on how artificial sweeteners affect appetite, to explore whether zero-sugar drinks are truly healthier. [more…]

Sparkling Coffee Without Ice Poses Hidden Risks: Carbonation and Espresso Collide and Spray Easily, Baristas Offer Solutions

Entering May, coffee brands have密集 launched a wave of new sparkling water and coffee combinations, from KFC's herbal tea sparkling Americano to Luckin's orange-gold sparkling Americano, with discussion heat on social platforms continuing to climb. However, for in-store baristas, more troublesome than taste controversies is when customers insist on removing or reducing ice, the instant the carbonated water meets the espresso, a violent bubbling reaction occurs, even overflowing the cup lid and spilling across the counter. This article sorts out recent developments in various brands' sparkling new products, the causes of splashing and operational techniques, as well as the ice-amount game between brands and consumers. Front Street Coffee reminds that when tasting such drinks, one should also pay attention to the carbonation characteristics to avoid affecting the experience. [more…]

A Guide to Making Four Sparkling Iced Coffee Specials: From Classic Blends to Summer Recipes with Preserved Plum, Orange, Mint, and Coconut Water

On a hot summer day, a refreshing sparkling iced coffee is undoubtedly an excellent choice to wake you up and cool you down. But pouring espresso directly into carbonated drinks often amplifies the coffee's bitterness due to the stimulation of carbon dioxide, and can even produce an unpleasant "dishwater" sensation. In fact, by cleverly adding just one "supporting player," you can help Americano avoid the obvious bitterness while enhancing the overall layers of flavor. Today, Front Street Coffee will teach you step by step how to make four sparkling specialty iced coffees in different styles—from the classic original to preserved plum, orange, mint, and young coconut. Each one is simple and easy to make, with both good looks and great taste. Whether you are a coffee lover or want to recreate a coffee shop favorite at home, this guide can help you get ready for summer in advance. [more…]

Water for Pour-Over Coffee Brewing | Can You Make Pour-Over Iced Coffee with Ice Water? Can Sparkling Water or Soda Water Be Used to Make Pour-Over Black Coffee?

The iced pour-over coffee I've shared with you before is the Japanese-style iced pour-over method, which is essentially hot coffee cooled with ice. In this article, Front Street Coffee will introduce a true iced pour-over coffee brewed with ice water—don't blink! Can ice water really brew coffee? A normal cup of pour-over coffee takes only 2-3 minutes to brew, using just [more…]

KFC Joins Forces with Wong Lo Kat to Launch Sparkling Americano: Can This Old-Brand Crossover Coffee Replicate the Moutai Latte Craze?

KFC's KCOFFEE continues to deepen its presence in the coffee sector and is about to launch a limited-edition drink in collaboration with the Chinese time-honored brand Wanglaoji — a Wanglaoji-flavored sparkling Americano. On one side is a Western-style fast-food coffee brand accelerating its expansion, and on the other is a representative of Cantonese herbal tea with nearly two hundred years of history. This collision of "Chinese and American herbal tea" has sparked considerable discussion. Yet before the new product even hit the shelves, netizens had already easily replicated it with Wanglaoji plus sparkling water. Can the consumer-friendly price of 9.9 yuan win over customers? What attempts has Wanglaoji made in recent years to appeal to young people? And can KFC replicate the success of Luckin and Moutai through this collaboration? This article will focus on this cross-industry cooperation, sorting through both sides' brand backgrounds, market situations, and collaboration highlights, for the reference of coffee enthusiasts. [more…]

Fruit-Infused Cold Brew Coffee Pairing Experiments: Four Recipes, Flavor Comparison, and a Coconut Cold Brew Latte Recipe

Under the framework of cold brew coffee's low-temperature slow steeping, there are inherently few adjustable variables—just water volume, water temperature, grind size, and steeping method. But if fruit is brought into the steeping process as well, could it open up new flavor territory? Front Street paired blueberries, grapes, lemons, and peaches with four coffee beans of different character profiles, ran a round of fruit cold brew experiments, and recorded the aroma, mouthfeel, and pros and cons of each group. In addition, it extended into mixing ideas for cold brew lattes, sparkling cold brew, and coconut water cold brew, and summarized the types of fruit suitable for steeping and the direction for choosing coffee beans, as a reference for recreating them at home. [more…]