After a year, Bawang Chaji's summer limited edition "Summer Dream Melon" has returned to stores nationwide amid the clamor of many fans, and the brand has also launched limited-edition merchandise and green-themed packaging, sparking a wave of buying frenzy. However, the first batch of consumers who tried it gave polarized feedback: longtime fans thought the tea flavor was too strong and the melon aroma had weakened, far from the taste in their memories; new customers felt it tasted like the familiar cantaloupe popsicles or toothpaste from childhood. Netizens engaged in heated discussions over whether the formula had been adjusted and whether the ingredients had been changed. This article will take you through the return of this popular item from beginning to end and organize the views of all sides, to see whether this cup of "Summer Dream Melon" is still the same white moonlight it once was. [more…]

This summer, bucket-sized fruit teas quietly took over milk tea shop menus. From Heytea and Nayuki to ChaPanda and CoCo, major brands have rolled out 1-liter or even larger bucket drinks, attracting consumers with high cost-performance. Bucket tea drinks are nothing new—back in 2019, they went viral thanks to Jay Chou fan support, and in 2020 Nayuki even launched a 5-liter "mighty bucket." However, issues like the short optimal drinking window and rapid bacterial growth in bucket tea drinks cannot be ignored. From giant buckets to portable packs, what evolution has bucket tea drinks undergone? And why have this summer's bucket fruit teas made a comeback? This article will break it all down for you. [more…]

Starbucks is introducing a texture-focused topping—raspberry bursting pearls—for the first time in its summer menu this year, adding them to three berry-flavored Refreshers iced drinks. This attempt was personally previewed by CEO Laxman Narasimhan at an earnings conference and is positioned as the first step in texture innovation for the years to come. Unlike traditional tapioca pearls, Starbucks is using popping boba that burst when bitten, officially called Pearls. Customers can also pay to add the pearls to other drinks and snacks, at $1.25 per scoop. In fact, as early as 2021, Starbucks tested coffee popping boba in two stores, but the response was limited. This article sorts out the formula details of the new products, the pricing rules, and Starbucks' historical attempts at pearl toppings. [more…]

Located in the Mirik Valley of Darjeeling, the Turzum Tea Estate has been renowned for producing premium single-origin teas since the 1860s. This article breaks down the flavor layers of a 2021 summer-picked black tea step by step, from dry leaf to brew to liquor, and includes detailed records of aroma and appearance. For coffee and tea enthusiasts who love exploring origin flavors, this tasting note offers a panoramic sensory map ranging from orchard aromas to woody spices, and also presents the unique performance of high-altitude clonal tea in summer. [more…]

The hot summer weather easily makes people lose their appetite, and at times like this, a cup of coffee with a juicy fruitiness might just awaken the taste buds. Coffee beans are, after all, the seeds of the coffee cherry, and the fruit pulp is rich in citric acid, malic acid, and lactic acid, among other components. After roasting, the natural fruity aromas and fruity acidity are released naturally, so it makes perfect sense for coffee to have a juicy fruit flavor. This article selects three coffee beans with fresh fruity notes, ideal for summer drinking: Front Street Coffee Gotingding Cooperative, Front Street Coffee Kenya Small Tomato, and Front Street Coffee Colombia Sidra, offering lemon floral notes, berry-like acidity, and complex tropical fruit tones respectively. It also includes lazy-person iced coffee brewing parameters to help you easily brew a full-flavored fruity iced coffee at home. [more…]

On a scorching summer day, a glass of iced coffee is undoubtedly a great choice to cool off and refresh yourself. This article compiles three iced coffee brewing methods suitable for home or office use—pour-over iced coffee, drip bag iced coffee, and cold brew iced coffee—and recommends three coffee beans that offer both refreshing and full-bodied flavors: Ethiopian Natural Red Cherry, Panama Elida Estate Natural Typica, and Colombia Finca La Divisoria Sidra. Whether you're after complexity or great value for money, you'll find an option that suits you. Follow Front Street Coffee's detailed steps and welcome summer with ease. [more…]

Starbucks Korea recently issued a public apology after a summer promotional giveaway was found to contain formaldehyde. The incident began when an employee at an anonymous testing agency posted on social media alleging that the Summer Carry Bag travel tote contained formaldehyde, following earlier consumer complaints that the bag emitted a fishy odor resembling squid. Starbucks Korea immediately suspended the giveaway and sent the product for testing, which ultimately confirmed the presence of formaldehyde. The company announced that customers who had already redeemed the bag could return it and receive a beverage voucher as compensation, while also removing the promotional reward and pledging to strengthen safety verification procedures for future merchandise. [more…]

Tea brand 1 Dian Dian recently launched a new product, "Summer Pit-Scented Grape Milk Green," attracting a large number of fans to try it out immediately with its light purple promotional posters and novel flavor. However, as genuine feedback increased on social media, this new product encountered overwhelmingly negative reviews—the buyer's show differed vastly from the promotional images, jokingly dubbed "cement gray"; even when opting for no added sugar, some consumers reported it was cloyingly sweet; furthermore, users who switched to A2 fresh milk discovered floating curds in their cups, describing it as "tofu pudding milk tea." From appearance to taste, this highly anticipated new product left many Dian Dian devotees exclaiming "the greater the expectation, the greater the disappointment," and even questioning the brand's R&D capabilities. This article will comprehensively sort out consumers' genuine feedback and the focal points of controversy. [more…]

Every summer, coconut-flavored coffee becomes a popular choice. From refreshing coconut water Americano to rich coconut milk latte, thick coconut milk latte, and the uniquely flavored coconut milk dirty, coconut ingredients at different stages of maturity give coffee vastly different taste experiences. Compiled by Front Street Coffee, this article takes you through the maturation changes of coconuts from young to old, and which coffee drinks each stage of coconut is suited for, and shares specific recipes and methods for coconut water Americano, coconut milk latte, thick coconut milk latte, and coconut milk dirty, helping coffee lovers recreate the layered summer coconut coffee series at home. [more…]

Summer jobs are supposed to be a way for students to earn pocket money and gain social experience, yet 14 students in Meicheng, Meizhou, encountered an absurd situation when applying for summer work at a coffee shop: before even starting the job, they were charged deposits ranging from several hundred to over a thousand yuan by the shop owner. What's even more frustrating is that most of them never worked a single day, yet getting their deposits back proved extremely difficult. This incident not only exposes the risks of recruitment information on social platforms, but also serves as another reminder to job seekers: it is illegal for employers to charge work deposits. [more…]

Just after the Qingming holiday, as temperatures rise, Starbucks' summer menu update is quietly approaching. Recently, an Instagram user leaked Starbucks' upcoming "Spicy Lemonade Refresher Series," which features chili powder and comes in three flavors—dragon fruit, strawberry, and pineapple—with an optional spicy cold foam, and is planned to be available for a limited time at stores across the United States starting April 16. This is not Starbucks' first attempt at spicy drinks; as early as 2015, its stores in China launched a Spicy Chili Mocha. From Dongpo Braised Pork Latte to Wasabi Pistachio Latte, Starbucks has been continuously testing the waters on the path of "dark cuisine." This article will take you through the specific details of this new spicy product, its preparation process, and the history of past spicy coffees. [more…]

The scorching summer heat makes people want to ice everything, and even customers who normally only drink hot coffee can't resist ordering an iced pour-over to cool down. However, making iced pour-over with dark-roasted beans is not quite the same as with light-roasted beans—water temperature, coffee-to-water ratio, and the amount of ice all need to be readjusted, otherwise it's easy to end up with a cup that's both bitter and weak. This article uses Front Street Coffee's Golden Mandheling as an example to break down in detail the complete process of making iced pour-over with dark-roasted coffee beans, explaining everything from grind size and water temperature to pouring rhythm, helping you reliably recreate a cup of cool, rich iced pour-over coffee this summer. [more…]

Nestled in the mountain town of Kurseong, where a World Heritage toy train passes through, the Goomtee Tea Estate nurtures this premium Indian single-origin summer harvest black tea at an altitude of 4,000 feet. The liquor is a bright amber, with aromas interweaving apricot, plum, pomelo, and soft oak notes. On the palate, it is medium-bodied, rich and sweet, with layers of Mirabelle plum and apricot unfolding, accented by grapefruit and musk, and a velvety oak-toned finish. The dry leaves exude aromas of hazelnut, caramel, and cedar blended with ripe rambutan and almond nougat; the wet leaves hint at damp wood, vegetation, and peach. Paired with scones, croissants, or buttered toast, it makes for an unforgettable summer black tea experience. In this issue, Front Street Coffee will take you deep into this iconic tea estate, offering a complete interpretation of this Darjeeling summer harvest black tea's unique charm—from liquor, aroma, and appearance to food pairing—and sharing practical information for a Goomtee tea tourism getaway. [more…]

On a scorching summer day, with temperatures approaching 40 degrees Celsius, would you rather pick up a glass of iced coffee or a hot coffee? Most people's instinct would be to choose a cold drink to dispel the heat, yet scientific research gives the exact opposite answer: a hot beverage may actually be the truly effective way to cool down. This article explores in depth the pros and cons of iced coffee versus hot coffee in summer from the perspectives of taste perception, the principle of ice dilution, and the body's sweating and evaporation mechanisms, and analyzes why some people insist on drinking hot coffee in the sweltering heat. Whether you are a loyal fan of iced coffee or a staunch supporter of hot coffee, this discussion about temperature and how it feels to the body is worth a read. [more…]

Following yesterday's iced coffee tutorial, Front Street Coffee continues today with a refreshing summer special for coffee lovers—a guide to making iced lattes, plus a complete tutorial on the recently surging hit, Dirty coffee. With illustrations and text, the article walks through both drinks step by step, covering key parameters such as cup capacity selection, the ratio of ice to milk, coffee grounds dosage, and espresso yield, with special emphasis on ice-cup pre-chilling and hot-cold layering techniques for Dirty. Whether you want to easily recreate an iced latte at home or take on the richly layered Dirty coffee, you'll find practical guidance in this clear, step-by-step guide. [more…]

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…]

In the hot summer season, a glass of iced coffee is undoubtedly a great way to cool down. This article compiles three iced coffee methods that can be easily made at home or in the office—hand-brewed iced coffee, drip bag iced coffee, and cold brew iced coffee—and recommends three coffee beans that balance freshness and body with excellent value for iced drinks: Ethiopia Natural Red Cherry, Panama Elida Estate Natural Typica, and Colombia Finca La Divisa Sidra. The article explains in detail the coffee-to-water ratio, water temperature, grind size, and brewing steps. Front Street Coffee also provides specific operating parameters to help you consistently make iced coffee with rich layers and a smooth mouthfeel in the scorching summer. [more…]

On a scorching summer day, a glass of iced coffee is undoubtedly an excellent choice for cooling off and refreshing yourself. This article will introduce in detail three ways to easily make iced coffee at home or in the office—pour-over iced coffee, drip bag iced coffee, and cold brew iced coffee—and share three coffee beans recommended by Front Street Coffee that are suitable for making iced drinks: Ethiopian Natural Red Cherry, Panama Elida Estate Natural Typica, and Colombia Diviso Estate Sidra. Whether you seek a fresh and crisp taste or a full-bodied, layered experience, you can find a plan that suits you. At the same time, the article will also explain the difference between espresso and cold brew coffee, as well as the various ways to drink cold brew coffee liquid, helping you enjoy a cool summer. [more…]

In the heat of midsummer, a refreshing glass of iced coffee is a favorite for many coffee lovers. Front Street Coffee continues to share various methods for making iced coffee, and today is no exception. This article will detail how to make cold brew using drip bag coffee, including the materials needed, the coffee-to-water-to-ice ratio, the steps, and recommended specialty coffee beans. Whether you want to quickly enjoy a glass of iced coffee or prepare cold brew in advance, you can find a method that suits you. The article also specifically recommends Front Street Strawberry Candy drip bag coffee and explains practical tips for making cold brew with 3–5 drip bags, helping you easily make a full-flavored cold brew at home. [more…]

On a scorching summer day, a glass of iced coffee is undoubtedly the best way to cool down. This article compiles three iced coffee brewing methods that coffee lovers can easily do at home or in the office—hand-brewed iced coffee, drip bag iced coffee, and cold brew iced coffee—and explains in detail their respective ratios, water temperatures, and step-by-step instructions. It also recommends three coffee beans suitable for making iced drinks: Ethiopia Natural Red Cherry, Panama Elida Estate Natural Typica, and Colombia Finca La Divisa Sidra. These beans deliver a bright acidity while maintaining a soft, full-bodied complexity at low temperatures. In addition, the article specifically shares Front Street Coffee's buying advice for drip bag coffee and recommendations for cold brew beans, helping you quickly find your preferred flavor during the hot season. [more…]