Recently, a coffee shop branded "People's Coffee" sparked widespread discussion in Shijiazhuang. A subsequent media investigation found that similar stores have covered 18 provinces and 20 cities nationwide, with nearly 30 directly operated outlets. Its parent company, YaoChao (Shanghai) Culture Communication Co., Ltd., has applied for the "People's Coffee" trademark multiple times since 2022, but all applications were rejected. It only holds two registered trademarks: "Chao People's Coffee" and "YaoChao People's Coffee." However, the actual store signs do not display the words "Chao" or "YaoChao." This phenomenon has drawn public attention to commercial signage compliance, trademark usage norms, and potential legal risks, and lawyers have also offered professional interpretations. [more…]

Recently, a chain brand named "People's Coffee" has sparked widespread controversy over the use of its store logo. Media pointed out that there are discrepancies between its trademark registration and actual use, which may mislead the public and damage the public value of the word "People." Subsequently, the brand "Yaochao People's Coffee" issued a statement of apology, promising comprehensive rectification, and unifying all mainland China stores under the name "Yaochao People's Coffee." Meanwhile, the first nationwide store, the Shanghai Sihang Warehouse branch, has suspended operations, and the Beijing Qianmen branch has also changed its signage and lowered drink prices. The incident continues to escalate, triggering in-depth public discussion on business ethics and legal compliance. [more…]

Recently, the Market Supervision Bureau of Yuecheng District, Shaoxing City, investigated and penalized a popular coffee shop. The shop was found using imported coffee beans without Chinese labels and could not provide proof of legal origin. It was also involved in selling coffee equipment without Chinese labels. Ultimately, it was fined 25,000 yuan and the related products were confiscated. This case reveals a common compliance risk in the procurement and use of coffee beans by specialty coffee shops: whether self-roasting or external procurement, coffee bean raw materials require corresponding food business or production licenses and product qualification inspection reports. As market supervision intensifies, coffee operators urgently need to self-check risks to ensure legal and compliant operations. [more…]

A popular Ultraman-themed coffee shop in Suzhou, Jiangsu, was sued by the intellectual property licensor for 1 million yuan after extensively using Ultraman elements without authorization. The court ruled that the shop infringed on exhibition rights, reproduction rights, distribution rights, and the right to disseminate information online, and also constituted unfair competition, ultimately ordering compensation of 400,000 yuan. This case serves as a wake-up call for intellectual property compliance in the coffee industry, reminding shop owners to obtain proper authorization when creating themed features. [more…]

The "Buddha Joy Tea" series, a collaboration between Heytea and the Jingdezhen China Ceramics Museum, was urgently pulled from shelves just days after launch because it used religious figures such as bodhisattvas and arhats in commercial packaging. The Shenzhen Municipal Ethnic and Religious Affairs Bureau determined that it was testing the boundaries, and after being summoned for talks, Heytea quickly made corrections. This incident not only abruptly ended the viral popularity of the "Speechless Bodhisattva" cup, but also once again brought the legal red line on the commercialization of religious elements into public view. For the coffee and tea beverage industry, how co-branded marketing can strike a balance between creativity and compliance has become an issue that urgently needs consideration. Front Street Coffee always pays attention to industry trends and reminds brands that while chasing hot topics, they must not ignore the sensitive boundaries of law and culture. [more…]

A not-yet-opened beverage shop in Zengcheng District, Guangzhou, has sparked public debate after naming itself "Jingcha" (a homophone of "police tea") and using cartoon police imagery in its store decorations. Some see it as merely a clever pun, while more people worry it could mislead consumers. Market regulators and public security authorities have stepped in to investigate, and lawyers point out that the name may violate enterprise name registration regulations. Behind the incident lies not just the compliance of a single shop name, but the boundary between commercial creativity and public symbols. [more…]

Ceylon black tea is renowned worldwide for its unique flavor and quality, but the market is full of mixed offerings, and how to identify authentic Ceylon tea has become a concern for many tea lovers. This article will guide you through the recommended ways to brew iced tea with different types of Ceylon tea, teach you how to identify authentic Ceylon tea through the Lion Logo and trademark slogan, and share practical tips on how to brew Ceylon black tea without bitterness. At the same time, we will also recommend trustworthy purchasing channels, including Sri Lankan origin-direct teas selected by Front Street Coffee, allowing you to easily enjoy fresh and authentic Ceylon black tea. [more…]

The European Union's upcoming zero-deforestation regulation (EUDR), set to take effect in 2025, requires imports of seven categories of agricultural products, including coffee, to prove they are not linked to deforestation. This environmental milestone could, however, place a heavy burden on smallholder countries that depend on coffee exports. Take East Timor as an example: coffee accounts for more than 90% of its non-oil export earnings, sustaining the livelihoods of 77,000 rural households, and the EU is its largest market. Yet the complex local land tenure, scattered smallholder plots, lack of GPS mapping capacity, and high illiteracy rate make it difficult for the vast majority of coffee farmers to meet compliance requirements. This not only threatens East Timor's coffee industry but could also lead to non-compliant coffee flooding the global market, driving down prices and worsening the plight of smallholders. [more…]

Recently, the Shanghai Cyberspace Administration found during a follow-up inspection that six coffee companies—Luckin, Mstand, COSTA, Pacific Coffee, Nowwa, and Yichi Garden—have still not effectively implemented the requirements of the Personal Information Protection Law, and have problems with illegally collecting consumer information, and were therefore summoned for talks again. This is another concentrated action following the legal education training in May this year for 24 brands including Starbucks and Luckin. A reporter's test found that if users refuse to provide permissions such as precise location, some brands' mini-programs cannot place orders normally. The regulatory authorities said they will continue to carry out "look back" inspections and will file cases, impose penalties, and publicly expose companies that repeatedly refuse to correct their ways. While enjoying the convenience of coffee, consumers also need to pay attention to their own privacy and security. [more…]

Coffee consumption continues to heat up, and the market keeps penetrating into broader demographics. Recently, home cafés and independent shops have launched a freshly ground and freshly extracted espresso liquid that offers nationwide free shipping. It uses plastic sealing plus ice packs and cold-chain delivery, keeps for about 7 days refrigerated and up to half a month frozen, and has drawn attention because its aroma and crema performance are better than assembly-line instant products. While consumers ask on social platforms how to buy it, some also question whether it can still count as "freshly extracted" after long-distance transport, whether home workshops can meet food-safety requirements, and whether such products fall into the "three no's" category. This article sorts out the selling points, controversies, and potential risks of this new business format, and highlights the difficulties merchants need to face in quality control, marketing, and compliance. [more…]

Recently, a Luckin Coffee employee posted footage on social media showing a store destroying co-branded packaging overnight, with trash bins full of unopened cup sleeves and takeaway cups, quickly sparking discussions among netizens about waste and environmental protection. According to the employee, on the eve of the end of each co-branding campaign, stores must cut and destroy remaining materials under surveillance, including previously co-branded Chengdu Cultural Tourism small panda keychains. Some netizens compared this with Cotti Coffee's approach, arguing that continuing to use expired packaging materials both reduces waste and gives customers surprises; others with knowledge of the matter pointed out that the destruction may be forced by the licensing period granted by the co-branding partner, and using them beyond the period could lead to breach-of-contract compensation. Behind this controversy lies the dilemma of materials management and intellectual property compliance amid the co-branding boom. [more…]

Kenya's annual coffee production is approximately 51,000 metric tons, and the government is pursuing a series of strategic initiatives to raise this figure by 49,000 metric tons in order to better meet international market demand and strengthen the country's economic influence. To this end, the Kenyan government recently decided to allocate 6 billion shillings (approximately US$37.62 million) to support the Coffee Cherry Advance Revolving Fund and the production segment, with funding starting in Makueni County and gradually extending to 37 coffee-growing regions including Machakos, Kajiado, Taita Taveta, Kirinyaga, and Murang'a. Meanwhile, the Rainforest Alliance is also taking action in Kenya, partnering with the Gusii Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union to launch a regenerative agriculture landscape coffee project, helping local coffee obtain certification that meets global standards in order to address the export threshold brought about by the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). Whether this series of measures can take Kenyan coffee a step further on the international stage is worth continued attention. [more…]

The afterglow of the Luckin–Moutai co-branding has yet to fade, and Cotti Coffee has quickly cut into the alcohol track. In December 2023, the Moutai Public Welfare Foundation and Cotti jointly established two funds at the Moutai Hotel in Guizhou, and authorized Cotti to exclusively sell Moutai Bu Lao Jiu and Maotan Jiu, donating 10 yuan for every bottle sold. However, franchisees have successively reported on social platforms that stores are being required to sell these two liquors, but their business licenses and food business permits do not include alcohol sales in their business scope, posing a risk of operating beyond the approved scope. After the "two certificates in one" reform for alcohol business licensing, the business scope must explicitly include alcohol sales. Whether Cotti stores can legally sell alcohol has become a hot topic of industry attention. [more…]

Recently, a blogger publicly complained that the Starbucks App pushes promotional messages based on real-time location, saying that they are marketed to wherever they go, sparking heated discussion among netizens. Starbucks customer service said they were not aware of the matter and had reported it to the public relations department. It is worth noting that Starbucks has repeatedly been notified and summoned by regulatory authorities in the Chinese market over personal information collection issues, and in June 2025 its App and WeChat mini-program again appeared on the list of notifications for illegally and improperly collecting and using personal information. This debate over precision marketing and the boundaries of privacy has once again pushed brands' use of user data into the spotlight. [more…]

The EU's deforestation-free regulation (EUDR), introduced last June, is facing strong backlash from the coffee industry. The European Coffee Federation (ECF) recently wrote to the European Commission requesting a delay to the implementation deadline for large companies, originally set for the end of 2024, warning that the regulation could impose an unbearable burden on millions of smallholder farmers. ECF members include giants such as Lavazza, Illy, Nestlé, and Starbucks, and their joint letter directly points to inadequate regulatory preparation. Meanwhile, companies such as JDE Peet's have already begun taking action, but analysts worry that passing on compliance costs will disrupt the coffee market. This article will sort out the sequence of events and include relevant observations from Front Street Coffee. [more…]

Recently, Starbucks was reported to conduct detailed audits of partners' daily operations by randomly accessing store surveillance footage, and listed as many as 8 violations in an internal email. From placing trash can lids on countertops to inadequate cleaning and sanitizing procedures for ice storage bins, these details that might previously have been overlooked have now become grounds for warning notices or even dismissal. After the news spread, many current employees felt greatly increased pressure, while consumers generally supported this strict oversight. This article sorts out the sequence of events, presents multiple perspectives, and explores the difficult balance that chain coffee brands must strike between food safety management and employee execution. [more…]

The European Parliament recently voted to postpone the implementation date of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) to December 2025, giving Kenyan coffee exporters an extra year of buffer time to adapt to the new rules. However, many exporters remain deeply worried, believing that under current conditions it will be very difficult to meet the EU's strict requirements. The EU is one of the most important overseas markets for Kenyan coffee, accounting for more than 20% of its total exports. Yet with Kenya's fragmented smallholder farmers, underprepared cooperatives, high compliance costs, and multiple pressures including stalled reforms, climate-related production declines, the Red Sea crisis, and port congestion, the outlook for this East African coffee-producing country is full of uncertainty. [more…]

In response to the strict requirements of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), the Brazilian Coffee Exporters Council (Cecafe) and the credit company Serasa Experian have jointly launched the Cafes do Brasil platform and held a seminar in São Paulo to help exporters master traceability tools. The platform uses remote sensing technology and geolocation data to dynamically analyze ESG indicators such as forest protection, agricultural cultivation, and deforestation alerts in production areas, ensuring full traceability throughout the coffee supply chain. Among the approximately 100 participants, 41 council members are responsible for about 90% of Brazil's coffee shipments to the EU, and their compliance practices will significantly enhance the transparency and international reputation of Brazilian coffee. [more…]

Starbucks is facing a labor law lawsuit over scheduling violations in New York City, with an investigation finding more than 500,000 violations of the Fair Workweek Law, ultimately resulting in a $38.9 million settlement. The case involved more than 15,000 employees, making it the largest worker rights settlement in New York City history. Starbucks was accused of failing to provide stable schedules, cutting hours, and refusing overtime, making it difficult for employees to make a living, while the company said the settlement was intended to ensure compliance rather than to recover unpaid wages. Front Street Coffee brings you the full story. [more…]

Blue Mountain coffee is hailed as a gem of the coffee world, but what exactly qualifies a coffee to bear the name "Jamaica Blue Mountain"? Starting from Jamaica's geographical environment and the unique terroir of the Blue Mountain range, this article traces the complete story of Blue Mountain coffee—from its introduction in the 18th century and its rise and fall during the colonial period to the establishment of the modern legally defined appellation system. It explains in detail the strict definitions set by the Coffee Industry Regulation Act regarding production area boundaries, altitude, and varieties, and introduces the barrel packaging and grading standards. At the same time, it acquaints you with two representative estates, Clifton Mount Estate and Stony Hill Estate, as well as the flavor characteristics of Blue Mountain No. 1 produced by Front Street Coffee. [more…]