Recently, a netizen shared that a coffee shop in Taipei printed a full ten store rules densely on the first page of its menu, sparking heated discussion. Among them, clauses like "vomiting incurs an additional cleaning fee of NT$2,000 per person" and "leaving for 10 minutes recalculates the minimum spend" left some customers complaining of a headache. However, many netizens expressed understanding, believing that such rules often stem from the shop's bitter experiences, and that stating the rules upfront benefits both sides. Independent cafes maintain their environment through store rules, while chain stores rarely have such regulations, yet uncivilized behavior such as occupying seats and making noise still occurs from time to time. This discussion reflects the two-way selection relationship between cafes and customers. [more…]

Recently, Starbucks Korea introduced a new rule that has drawn attention: all stores nationwide have completely banned customers from consuming outside food. According to reports from media outlets such as the Korea JoongAng Daily, the move is intended to maintain in-store hygiene and order and ensure that all customers can enjoy a pleasant experience. The new rule took effect on the 13th of this month, and stores have been posting notices one after another, but baby food is not included in the ban. Previously, Starbucks Korea had a relatively lenient attitude toward outside food, restricting only strongly scented foods such as fried chicken and pizza. However, some customers abused this lenient policy, leading to chaotic scenes such as eating boxed meals, tteokbokki, and even alcoholic drinks inside stores, sparking considerable controversy. Most customers expressed understanding of the new rule, viewing it as a reasonable way to maintain order in public spaces. Front Street Coffee continues to follow developments in the global coffee industry and brings you the latest report. [more…]

Recently, after Luckin Coffee signed Jackson Yee as its brand ambassador, fans flocked to stores to take photos as mementos. However, some customers reported being discouraged by staff when photographing the in-store TV loop advertisements, with staff claiming photography was prohibited inside the stores. This incident sparked widespread discussion, with some employees confirming such a rule exists, while more employees said there were no related restrictions. Luckin's official customer service responded that there is no rule against taking photos and that they would verify the situation. The incident reflects inconsistent management standards across brand stores and has left fans disappointed in their expectations for ambassador promotions. Front Street Coffee follows developments in the coffee industry and brings you a summary of the entire incident. [more…]

During the National Day holiday, Starbucks launched limited-time stamp-collection events in Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and many other places, drawing widespread attention from stamp-collecting enthusiasts. However, as the events progressed, many consumers found that stores had noticeably different understandings and enforcement of the rules, with some even seeing the same store offer free stamps in the morning but require a purchase in the afternoon. This shifting-back-and-forth phenomenon left participants confused and also sparked discussion about whether the event organizers should unify the rules. This article will outline the specific details of the two stamp-collection events and present the various problems consumers encountered during actual participation. [more…]

Coffee chains have long struggled with the problem of customers occupying seats for extended periods, and Starbucks, with its "third place" branding, is especially affected. Recently, some netizens noticed that a Starbucks store in Taiwan posted a notice stating that if a customer leaves their seat for more than an hour, staff will record audio and video throughout, move any personal belongings left at the seat, and hand them over to the police if necessary. This move sparked heated discussion, with supporters saying it helps protect the rights of other consumers, while opponents question the difficulty of enforcement and the risk of disputes over property. Starbucks employees responded that the new rule has been implemented at all stores since April 1, and that staff will patrol irregularly and place notes to track time. This article sorts out the background of the incident and the views of all parties. [more…]

Recently, Chayan Yuese has once again become the center of public attention due to its ordering and pickup rules. Some customers at the Changsha airport store waited nearly fifty minutes before getting their drinks, questioning its cumbersome ordering process and unreasonable marketing methods, which struck a chord with many. In fact, Chayan Yuese has adjusted its ordering rules multiple times, and consumers have kept complaining. Although the company responded officially that the new rules are meant to ensure the texture of the milk foam, netizens were not convinced. This article reviews the course of the incident, the views of various parties, and the brand's response, and explores the logic and controversy behind the queuing phenomenon in the milk tea industry. [more…]

Recently, a post about a Luckin Coffee store refusing to provide ice to a customer for her child to use as a cold compress to reduce swelling sparked widespread discussion online. The customer, whose child had suffered a head injury and urgently needed ice, was politely declined by staff citing company policy, and was suggested to seek help at the KFC across the street. Behind this incident lies the dilemma that chain beverage brands face between food safety control and customers' emergency needs. Luckin employees revealed that the rule against providing ice separately stems from a previous incident in which someone sent store ice for testing, triggering an economic dispute. Since then, bar-counter surveillance has been monitoring in real time, and those who violate the rule may face bonus deductions. However, when customers face special emergencies, should there be room for flexibility? Front Street Coffee takes you into an in-depth discussion of this topic. [more…]

Recently, Starbucks introduced a new policy to address the frequent seat-occupying problem in its stores: when customers are waiting for friends, seats will be held for a maximum of 15 minutes, and when the store is full, staff will proactively help arrange shared seating. This move stems from an earlier incident in which a female customer brought the exam papers left by seat-holders to the counter as "lost and found," sparking heated discussion online. Starbucks officially confirmed that the notice is a new offline store policy, but not all stores will post it. Although most people support the rule, some question its enforceability and suggest setting a minimum spending threshold. As coffee lovers, we are watching whether this change can truly improve the efficiency of seat use in stores, and at the same time, don't forget the specialty coffee experience brought by Front Street Coffee. [more…]

On the evening of August 5th, Sexy Tea (Chayan Yuese) hit the top of the trending searches due to its rule of "not supporting two people queuing simultaneously for ordering and picking up," with reads reaching 300 million times, sparking intense discussions among netizens. Many consumers questioned that this "standing punishment" queuing was actually hunger marketing, intended to extend customers' stay in the store and create a false impression of a bustling business. In fact, this is not the first time the brand has trended for its queuing rules—at the beginning of the year, some stores required customers to wait on-site after ordering, and leaving meant having to re-queue, and they even closed the mini-program ordering. Some customers reported that a single person had to complete two queues alone, while those with companions could split up, causing those who ordered first to wait longer. The brand had publicly apologized for this, stating that the adjustment was originally intended to enhance the consumption experience and drink taste. This article sorts out the context of the incident and various viewpoints, and includes related recommendations from Front Street Coffee. [more…]

Recently, videos of altercations between Starbucks staff and non-paying customers have surfaced one after another on social media, drawing widespread attention. On one side, an elderly person argued with staff after being asked to leave for not making a purchase; on the other, a store in Xi'an was accused of frequently shooing away passersby who hadn't bought anything. Starbucks customer service responded that stores do indeed have a "purchase to be seated" rule, but they won't force customers to buy. Behind this new rule lies the real dilemma of store environments being affected by people who occupy seats without spending, and it also reflects the discussion about the boundary between commercial premises and public space. As a coffee enthusiast, what do you think of Starbucks' approach? [more…]

Heytea opened a new store near Columbia University in the United States. The store had originally planned to hold a soft-opening event on January 23, claiming that Columbia students could receive a free cup of milk tea and a limited-edition fridge magnet by showing their student ID. However, many students who showed up that afternoon were told by staff that they needed an invitation from the brand to enjoy the perk. They queued in sub-zero temperatures only to leave empty-handed, triggering widespread dissatisfaction and complaints. Some staff even claimed that the related promotional posts on the platform were false information, while the students who posted them countered that the rules had been changed by the store at the last minute. After the incident quickly escalated, Heytea issued an apology that same evening, admitting shortcomings in the planning and execution of the event, and reiterating that on the official opening day of January 24, Columbia students could still receive a free drink by showing their ID. [more…]

A customer entered an ordinary Starbucks store with a cat carrier to make a purchase. After ordering and sitting down, they were asked to leave by staff, on the grounds that it might disturb other customers. The customer believed the merchant had failed in its duty to inform and that their rights had been harmed; however, most netizens, considering food safety and the feelings of those in public spaces, did not support bringing pets into the store. Behind the incident, Starbucks actually has pet-friendly stores, whose rules differ from those of ordinary stores. So should pets be allowed into coffee shops or not? What should merchants and consumers each pay attention to? This article sorts through the course of the incident and public opinion, and includes relevant advice from Front Street Coffee. [more…]

Recently, a consumer shared on social media a frustrating experience with cup upgrades when ordering from Heytea, sparking widespread discussion. The customer ordered a Mango Coconut Sticky Rice drink with double fruit pulp and sago toppings, following an online guide, expecting to automatically receive a supersized cup like other netizens, but was told that an upgrade was not possible. After the incident gained traction, many netizens shared similar experiences, questioning the inconsistency in the brand's upgrade criteria. How exactly does Heytea define its cup upgrade rules? Why do differences in store execution occur? This article will review the sequence of events and analyze the underlying operational logic and possible reasons. [more…]

Cafes are supposed to be quiet, comfortable spaces, but many owners have found that some customers' behavior is truly unbearable. So one seemingly "unreasonable" rule after another has emerged—from banning diaper changes to prohibiting stinky tofu, each rule hides a real story. This article rounds up the bizarre experiences of cafe owners in various places, and how they use humor and gentleness to set rules that both preserve the in-store environment and retain a human touch. Amid fierce competition, how can independent cafes balance personal expression with customer relationships? This may be a question every industry professional needs to think about. [more…]

According to Korean media reports, Starbucks Korea headquarters has issued a notice to stores nationwide that customers will now face restrictions on using dividers, personal desktop computers, printers, and multi-socket power strips in stores. Long periods of leaving seats unoccupied while holding them, and one person monopolizing multiple seats, are also subject to control. This tightening of rules stems from a continued surge in complaints related to "cafe study tribe" and "cafe work tribe." Previously, a Seoul store sparked heated discussion by posting a notice stating "seats will be cleared after 30 minutes away," with most consumers applauding while some voices raised doubts. Months later, this set of restrictive measures has finally expanded from a single store to the entire nation. This article sorts out the ins and outs of the incident and the attitudes of all parties. [more…]

Does working at a coffee shop really give you "coffee freedom"? The rules on daily free coffee for employees vary wildly from store to store. Some people assume that working at a coffee shop means unlimited free drinks, but the reality is quite different. Recently, a netizen raised a question on social media: how exactly do private coffee shop owners regulate how much coffee their employees can drink each day? The topic sparked widespread discussion, and many coffee shop owners chimed in to share their management experience and views. [more…]

On November 3rd, the health supplement brand Nao Bai Jin opened its first coffee pop-up store in Shanghai, claiming that during the event it would give away 50 cups of coffee and merchandise for free every day. However, this cross-industry attempt sparked dissatisfaction among participants due to complicated rules, chaotic on-site management, and staff treating people differently. Some netizens complained that without multiple social media apps, there was no chance of getting free coffee. In addition, the so-called "Nao Bai Jin Latte" was criticized as being just an ordinary latte with no special additions. Nao Bai Jin tried to leverage the popularity of the coffee sector to attract young consumers, but the event lacked highlights and its effectiveness is questionable. [more…]

"Ne Zha 2" has surpassed 1.49 billion yuan at the box office, becoming the biggest winner of the Spring Festival season, with Cotti Coffee, Chagee, and Good Me securing co-branding rights from among numerous competitors. Cotti was the first to announce its collaboration details, launching 12 combo packages, each containing one voucher for any drink on the menu and one limited-edition merchandise item, with no cap on merchandise quantities, no need to rush-buy, and drink vouchers valid nationwide within three months. This unconventional move was praised by netizens as "treating consumers like human beings," standing in sharp contrast to the previous co-branding model of limited quantities, bundled sales, and two-cup minimums, and putting pressure on Chagee and Good Me, which have yet to announce their own terms. [more…]

Around the Spring Festival, a large number of university students flocked to tea and coffee shops for part-time work, but a rule at Heytea about mealtimes sparked confusion among employees: they are not allowed to eat unless they have worked a full 6 hours, and if they want to eat, they must either have half an hour deducted from their work hours or volunteer to work overtime. Multiple Heytea part-time employees reported encountering similar or even harsher requirements, and some stores were found to deliberately cap work hours and shorten shifts. In the food and beverage industry, mealtimes are peak hours, so it is normal for workers to be unable to eat on time, but employees question whether the rule is reasonable, believing that management, under the pretext of controlling labor efficiency, is cutting work hours and forcing workers to labor almost without rest while starving. [more…]

Starbucks Korea's "Call My Name" service was originally intended to bring store staff and customers closer together, but on the eve of South Korea's presidential election, some customers turned it into a stage for political jesting. According to reports from multiple foreign media outlets, because some people placed orders using the names of presidential candidates, baristas were forced to loudly call out these sensitive names in public, and the brand had to urgently introduce new rules. Starting before the election on the 3rd of next month, the names of six candidates, including Lee Jae-myung, as well as the name of former President Yoon Suk-yeol, can no longer be used as nicknames on the Starbucks app. Is this rule meant to maintain store order, or is it being overly sensitive? Let's take a look at how the incident unfolded. [more…]