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…]

In the scorching summer heat, Peet's Coffee launched a trio of sparkling double yuzu series new products in one go, among which the Sparkling Matcha Double Yuzu quickly went viral on social media thanks to its fresh gradient colors. However, this drink, described as a "concerto of tea and fruit," left many consumers stunned once they actually tasted it—the sweetness of tonic water, the bitterness of matcha, and the sourness of yuzu each went their own way under the stimulation of carbonation, even taking on a powdery texture. Even Peet's own employees admitted that this new product being "unpopular" was entirely expected. This article combines netizens' hands-on reviews and employee opinions to comprehensively analyze the flavor performance of this drink, and reviews the recent shifts in Peet's product strategy, for the reference of coffee enthusiasts. [more…]

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…]

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…]

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…]

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…]

In the scorching summer heat, mint-flavored drinks have become a hot choice rolled out by major brands, and Manner has followed suit by launching its "Sea Salt Mint Iced Latte." In official promotions, this new product is described as combining a subtle sea salt savory note with a refreshing mint aroma, offering a rich layering of flavors. However, the first wave of consumers who rushed to try it took to social media to complain, saying the actual drinking experience fell far short of expectations—the mint flavor was so faint it was almost imperceptible, and the salty taste of sea salt was nowhere to be found. Some even joked that all they tasted were the words "iced latte." So how does this new product actually perform? And what noteworthy details are hidden in consumer feedback? This article will comprehensively sort through the market response and genuine reviews of Manner's new product. [more…]

Cold brew coffee has rapidly gained popularity in recent years, driven by the specialty coffee scene and Starbucks, becoming a hot choice for summer iced coffee. It uses a low-temperature, long-steeping extraction method, typically requiring 8 to 12 hours, so its flavor profile is completely different from regular iced coffee. Without the involvement of high heat, the bitterness, astringency, and oils in the coffee are released less, but the caffeine content is relatively higher, and it may also carry a fermented, alcohol-like note. This article will systematically explain the flavor characteristics of cold brew coffee, the scientific principles of low-temperature extraction, the grind size and coffee-to-water ratio for home brewing, and recommend light-roast beans suitable for cold brew, including information on several Front Street Coffee products. [more…]

On September 14, Starbucks China officially announced its 2025 China Strategic Vision, planning to comprehensively accelerate development over the next three years with the help of six major growth engines. The blueprint covers multiple dimensions, including store network expansion, promotion of the green store certification system, digital membership upgrades, localized new product development, and employee salary increases. According to the plan, by 2025 Starbucks China's total number of stores will climb to 9,000, its workforce will grow to 95,000, and doubling targets have been set for both net revenue and operating profit. At the same time, the Starbucks Coffee Innovation Park will also begin production in the summer of 2023, completing the localization layout of the entire industry chain. In the face of fierce competition from local brands such as Luckin, whether this strategy can help Starbucks consolidate its market position is worth continued attention. [more…]

In recent years, with the strong promotion of the specialty coffee industry in Europe and America as well as Starbucks, Cold Brew has become a popular contender in the iced coffee world. On a scorching summer day, you can not only go to a beautiful coffee shop to enjoy a cup, but also brew a batch at home yourself, which has become a stylish and relaxing new coffee choice. Cold brew coffee [more…]

On a scorching summer day, a refreshing glass of iced coffee is undoubtedly a coffee lover's favorite. As representatives of low-temperature extraction, cold drip coffee and cold brew coffee have become stars among summer beverages, thanks to their crisp taste and rich flavor layers. At the same time, rapidly cooling hot pour-over coffee by adding ice is also a convenient option. Taking Front Street Coffee's practice as an example, this article will analyze in detail the historical origins and brewing process of cold drip coffee, compare the differences in extraction principles between cold brew and iced pour-over, and provide specific coffee-to-water ratios, grinding adjustment suggestions, and recommended bean types, helping you find the summer iced coffee solution that best suits your taste. [more…]

On a scorching summer day, a glass of icy cold brew coffee is undoubtedly a perfect way to cool down. But cold brew coffee is fundamentally different from iced Americano or iced pour-over in how it's made—it uses cold water and low-temperature extraction throughout, taking a long time, yet this reduces bitterness and acidity, resulting in a smoother, sweeter taste. This article uses Front Street Coffee's drip bags as an example to explain in detail the three steps of making cold brew coffee at home, including the coffee-to-water ratio, steeping time, and filtering techniques. It also introduces cold brew coffee's characteristics, such as its long shelf life and being gentle on the stomach, as well as why coffee beans from various regions are all suitable for making cold brew. Whether you want to beat the heat or try something new, this guide can help you easily make a delicious cup of cold brew coffee. [more…]

This summer, after brands like Luckin and Manner rolled out matcha drinks one after another, Starbucks also jumped on the trend and launched a Matcha Frozen Mountain series, including a latte, a tea latte, and a Frappuccino. In official promotions, the tea latte is described as featuring a matcha jelly base, paired with mountain-style milk and a blueberry powder cloud milk cap, blending the imagery of blue skies, white clouds, and green meadows into a single cup and successfully winning over looks-focused fans. However, after the product launched, many consumers on social platforms reported that the drink was too sweet and had a strange grassy scent, with some describing it as "sugared grass" or a "weakened version of Iced Matcha," and some discarded it after taking a photo and only a sip. At the same time, Starbucks employees also frequently made mistakes because the names of the latte and the tea latte were too similar, leading to an increase in complaints. This article will sort out the market reaction and the main points of controversy surrounding this new product. [more…]

Geisha 5.0 has arrived as promised. This naturally processed bean from the Buku Abel washing station in Ethiopia has won over many coffee lovers with its strawberry and creamy aroma. But does the new-crop Geisha still taste the same as before? The roasters at Front Street Coffee adjusted the roasting curve to suit its high moisture content and high density, and offered four extraction methods — hot pour-over, iced pour-over, ice drip, and cold brew — so that the gentle fruity notes of Geisha 5.0 can be fully released in summer. This article starts with the origin story of Geisha and then breaks down the specific parameters and operating details of each brewing method one by one, helping you find the cup that suits you best. [more…]

As soon as summer arrives, cold brew becomes a regular on many people's coffee lists. Coffee slowly brewed at low temperature has less bitterness, a more pronounced fruity aroma, and a smooth mouthfeel, like a cup of juice infused with coffee fragrance. But whether cold brew tastes good depends on the beans. Choose the right ones, and a cold-water steep alone brings out the flavor; choose the wrong ones, and no matter how long you steep it, it is still just a cup of" [more…]

On a scorching summer day, a refreshing glass of cold brew coffee is a favorite for many coffee lovers, but traditional cold brewing often requires a wait of 12 hours or more, which puts people off. Now, a chemistry research team at the University of Duisburg-Essen in Germany has brought an exciting discovery: by irradiating a mixture of coffee grounds and water with pulsed laser light, cold brew coffee can be made in just 3 minutes. This technique not only greatly shortens the extraction time, but also shows unique performance in acidity and caffeine content. This article will guide you through the principles of this scientific breakthrough, the results of experimental comparisons, and the possibilities for future commercialization, while also retaining relevant recommendations for the Front Street Coffee brand. [more…]

Heytea recently launched the "Fire-Clearing · Slimming Bottle," the second product in its "Super Plant Tea" series, featuring kale and bitter melon as the core ingredients, paired with apple, lemon water, tea infusion, and white pomelo pieces. The official emphasis is on 100% fresh ingredients freshly squeezed, with no added concentrated juice, and only about 100 calories. Just one day after its launch, the new product was sought after by young consumers, with many reporting that the bitter melon taste is not very noticeable and the drink is refreshing and easy to drink. However, the hot sales of this beverage have also brought enormous pressure to store employees, with the workload of apple washing and juicing surging, and back-of-house partners complaining endlessly. This article will take you through the features of this new product, consumer feedback, and the real situation behind the stores. [more…]

On a scorching summer day, a refreshing glass of ice-cold lemonade should be the perfect way to beat the heat, but Good-Me's recently launched "Preserved Plum Lemonade" has left many consumers frowning with every sip. This new product, described as a "still version of salted lemon Seven-Up," combines perfume lemons, calamansi, and pickled preserved plums to create a sweet-and-sour, ice-cold selling point, and its appearance is indeed refreshing and enticing. Yet once it hits the palate, the saltiness of the preserved plum immediately takes over the taste buds, and after prolonged steeping, the bitterness of the lemon peel layers on top of that, earning it the nickname among netizens as "the rising star of the dark cuisine world." Even more surprisingly, in some delivery orders the preserved plums are packaged separately, requiring customers to add them themselves, which has caused considerable confusion. Front Street Coffee takes you through the real performance of this controversial new product. [more…]