Recently, a set of promotional photos from CHAGEE's seventh-anniversary offline event caused a stir on social media. An ordinary consumer who took part in the event discovered that a photo of her with an unflattering expression had been taken without her knowledge and posted by the brand on its official account, after which friends screenshotted it to poke fun at her. When she contacted customer service to demand the photo be deleted, she encountered delays and received no public apology. The brand's explanation of its review standards further led her to question whether she was being treated differently. As the incident intensified, netizens' opinions split into two camps: some criticized the brand's review mechanism, while others felt the person involved was overthinking things to her own detriment. What exactly does this controversy reveal about the gray areas in the portrait-rights clauses of brand event? As of press time, CHAGEE has not yet responded officially. [more…]

At the start of 2024, the co-branding wars in the coffee industry are intensifying, with Luckin, Cotti, and Starbucks all making their moves, and Peet's Coffee not to be outdone, teaming up with the Dunhuang Museum to launch themed merchandise and two signature drinks. However, once the new products were in hand, they drew complaints from consumers because the cream top melted quickly and the drinks' appearance differed too much from the promotional posters. This article reviews the highlights and controversies of this co-branding campaign, and explores the widespread "buyer's show vs. seller's show" problem with hot drinks topped with cream. For coffee lovers who enjoy trying new things, this is undoubtedly a consumer experience case worth paying attention to. [more…]

After collaborating with actor Daniel Wu to promote coffee products in late June, Guming Tea recently rolled out packaging bags featuring his image at stores nationwide, which unexpectedly sparked widespread dissatisfaction among consumers. Many customers complained on social media that the bag design was "not aesthetically pleasing" and that the celebrity's portrait was too large, saying carrying it felt like "health supplements for middle-aged and elderly people" or "soaking goji berries," and some even said they wanted to throw it away as soon as they received it. Some netizens argued that although Daniel Wu has high national recognition, he is no longer young and does not fit the positioning of a youthful tea beverage brand; others pointed out that the brand should consider scenarios for secondary use of the packaging. On September 23, Guming staff responded that they had not received related complaints, but would record opinions on the design and spokesperson and pass them on for evaluation. The incident reflects the tension between co-branded packaging and the aesthetics of young consumers. [more…]

Mstand has collaborated with streetwear brand AMAZING PANDA to launch a bamboo latte and panda-themed limited-edition merchandise, among which a "Panda Hug Cup" has sparked heated discussion due to its design. Many consumers said after receiving the actual product that it differs noticeably from the promotional images, with the all-black version described as looking like a "black-skinned muscular man," while the light-colored version was jokingly said to look like "feet holding up a cup." Besides the appearance controversy, practical complaints were also frequently mentioned, such as the arms on the cup being positioned too low and hard to grip, and the cup opening being too small, which is unfriendly to latte art beginners. At the same time, a cup enthusiast posted a handmade ceramic cup from another online shop, suspecting it was the inspiration source for Mstand's collaborative design, triggering discussion about "creative plagiarism." Fans, however, believe the details of the two cups are clearly different, and given that Mstand's previous "vegetable basket" woven bag also had precedent of borrowing from luxury brands, it can only be considered similar creativity. [more…]

Many coffee enthusiasts, when first encountering coffee beans, often misjudge defective beans based on unusual appearance. In reality, true defective beans are mainly concentrated at the green bean stage, and most have already been screened out at the producing region and roasting stages. Among the beans consumers buy day to day, those covered in wrinkles, with cracks, or on the lighter side in color are often not defects, but normal phenomena brought about by light roasting, high-altitude cultivation, or specific processing methods. This article systematically sorts out the classification standards for green coffee bean defects, distinguishes true defective beans from appearance traits that are easily misunderstood, and introduces Front Street Coffee's practice of double screening before and after roasting, helping readers build a more accurate basis for judging quality. [more…]

A takeaway latte, but upon opening the lid, there's no milk foam to be seen. The customer complains in dissatisfaction, yet the staff explains, "Takeaway drinks simply aren't made with milk foam." Is this cutting corners, or is there another story behind it? This article delves into a real customer complaint from Manner, examining the physical properties of milk foam, the impact of delivery on beverages, and the dilemma coffee shops face between texture and a full cup. It also educates coffee enthusiasts on the essence of latte milk foam and shares Front Street Coffee's understanding of latte preparation, helping readers view this controversy more comprehensively. [more…]

Golden Mandheling is often mistaken for Aged Mandheling, but in fact it is a specialty coffee produced by Indonesia's Pwani Coffee Company (PWN). PWN is a well-known local Mandheling buyer that controls most of Indonesia's high-quality producing regions. Its green beans undergo multiple rounds of manual sorting, and only plump, flawless beans earn the name "Golden Mandheling." Ordinary Mandheling has a relatively high defect rate and its bean shape is not particularly attractive, yet after roasting it displays a full and alluring appearance. This article will explain in detail what Golden Mandheling means, compare its flavor differences with ordinary Indonesian Mandheling, and mention related recommendations from Front Street Coffee. [more…]

Honey Scented Black Tea is a highly representative fully fermented tea from Taiwan, with major production areas covering New Taipei City, Hualien, Nantou, Chiayi, and other places, and the production season concentrated from May to September. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that the tea trees must grow in a pesticide-free environment; after being sucked by the small green leafhopper, a saliva-induced effect occurs, causing the tea leaves to shrink and undergo chemical changes, ultimately forming a natural honey-fruity sweetness. Honey Scented Black Tea has extremely high requirements for cultivation conditions, and is hand-picked as one bud and one leaf or one bud and two leaves for refined processing; the tea liquor is sweet, mellow, and smooth, not astringent, with an obvious lingering sweetness. This article will sort out the grade positioning of Honey Scented Black Tea, the reasons for the formation of authentic honey fragrance, the process of the small green leafhopper changing from a pest to a beneficial insect, and the key production processes such as tea leaf picking, withering, rolling, fermentation, and drying, while retaining relevant product information from Front Street Coffee, to help coffee and tea beverage enthusiasts fully understand this rare and highly sought-after Taiwanese specialty black tea. [more…]

Sumatra is the core production region for Indonesian specialty coffee, and its coffee system is complex and diverse. This article systematically reviews the four most representative types of specialty coffee in the region—Mandheling, Golden Mandheling, Lake Tawar coffee, and Aged Mandheling—and focuses on comparing the flavor differences between Aged Java (Old Java Brown) and Aged Mandheling in terms of sweetness, body, and cleanliness. The article also introduces information on the production area, variety, and processing method of Front Street PWN Golden Mandheling, as well as the classic flavor characteristics of Front Street Mandheling, helping coffee enthusiasts gain a deeper understanding of the unique charm and tasting points of Sumatran specialty coffee. [more…]

For more specialty coffee knowledge, please follow our WeChat official account: Front Street Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee). Front Street believes that as a derivative of Americano, sparkling Americano truly offers a more refreshing experience. Its characteristic lies in not affecting the original coffee flavor of the Americano, and moreover [more…]

Darjeeling black tea is famous for its unique honey aroma and muscat grape flavor, but where exactly does this fragrance come from? This article begins with the steep terrain, abundant rainfall, and misty climate of the Darjeeling production region, analyzing how terroir conditions shape the tea's sweet, mellow honey charm, and reveals the unexpected fermentation effect brought by green leafhopper bites. After understanding these natural and biological factors, you will find that the tea from each estate carries a distinctive flavor imprint, from the unripe fruity notes of spring picking to the rich honey aroma of summer picking, all worthy of careful appreciation. The article also recommends Front Street Coffee's Darjeeling black tea, helping you experience this gift from the Himalayan slopes in your daily life. [more…]

In the age of social media, coffee shops have become popular photo spots for young people. However, more and more cafés are explicitly posting "No Photography" signs, and staff will even actively discourage customers who are taking photos. Behind this phenomenon is the frustration of shop owners over professional photography teams taking up space, disrupting the environment, and affecting other customers. Ordinary consumers want to enjoy a quiet atmosphere, while photography enthusiasts pursue the perfect shot—how can the needs of both sides be reconciled? This article explores the conflicts triggered by photography in coffee shops and highlights how brands such as Front Street Coffee value the in-store experience. [more…]

If you want to learn latte art, the large heart is the most suitable first pattern for beginners, and it is also the foundation for many complex patterns that follow. In this tutorial brought to you by Front Street Coffee, we break down the key points of making a large heart one by one, from the standards for steaming milk foam and controlling the amount of blending, to choosing the pouring point and the finishing technique. The article also includes images of common failure cases and analysis of their causes to help beginners quickly identify problems. Whether you are just starting out with latte art or always fall short at the finishing stage, this content will give you clear guidance. [more…]

Nowadays, it has become the norm to check review platforms before going out to spend money, and high ratings and bad reviews often sway people's choices. However, the review system can also be exploited by people with ulterior motives. Recently, a coffee shop owner revealed that because they refused a customer's request to do commercial photography inside the shop, they were anonymously given a 0.5-star bad review, and were even accused of having something dirty in the coffee. After checking the surveillance footage, the owner discovered that the so-called foreign object had actually been placed into the cup by the customer for a staged photo. After the incident came to light, it sparked heated discussion among netizens, with many lamenting how difficult it is for businesses to defend their rights, once again bringing the topic of coffee shops refusing commercial photography into the spotlight. [more…]

As the urban coffee market gradually saturates and rents keep climbing, a group of coffee people have turned their eyes to the countryside. Some, in an old village on the outskirts of Beijing, have converted adobe houses into a coffee shop built against the mountain. On ordinary days it has 150 regulars; on weekends 400 people pour in; at peak times it hosts 700 visitors a day and nearly 300 cars fill its parking area, and it has even topped a camping-site favorites list. Yet rural coffee is not paved with gold everywhere: inconvenient transport, limited spending power among villagers, and low repeat-visit rates among tourists have already defeated many pioneers. Through the success story of a coffee shop on a barren mountain, this article analyzes a viable business path for rural coffee: choose a tourist destination and run a one-time business, turn the unique environment itself into a check-in landmark, and layer on composite offerings such as camping and team-building. [more…]

As autumn arrives, a ginkgo-themed café in Shanghai's Lujiazui has quickly gone viral on social media. The ground covered in golden fallen leaves and the Korean-style ambiance have captured the hearts of countless netizens, who have rushed to visit and take photos. However, reality has left many crying foul — the leaves haven't turned yellow, the place is packed with people, the queues are endless, and the online photos are seriously at odds with the actual scene. Is this the work of filters, or simply bad timing? This article takes you through the truth behind this photo-op frenzy and explores the phenomenon behind café check-in culture. [more…]

A Japanese-style café located in Jinjiang District, Chengdu, caused an uproar online after the owner wrote phrases such as "Not photo-friendly | Not office-friendly | Not friendly to lower-class people" in their social media bio. What were originally just in-store rules prohibiting standing photos and photos after changing seats were interpreted by netizens as a public belittlement of customers due to the insulting wording "lower-class people." After the incident escalated, the café's recommended menu on review platforms was collectively edited, with joking names such as "Lower-Class Coffee" and "Lower-Class Latte" topping the list. Although the owner once posted an explanation of what "lower-class people" referred to, both the bio and the post have been deleted. This conflict also sparked widespread discussion about the boundaries of merchant rules and customer dignity. [more…]

Dim lighting, exposed rebar, mottled walls, faded concrete floors—you'd think you'd walked onto a demolition site, but in reality it's a coffee shop packed with a steady stream of customers. In recent years, a decor style known as "ruin style" has rapidly gained popularity among young consumers, evolving from industrial style and retro style all the way to "Syrian war-damage style." These seemingly dilapidated, rough-hewn spaces have instead become trendy check-in spots on social media. What exactly is the aesthetic logic behind this trend? And what does it take to create a proper ruin-style coffee shop? This article will take you through it, and will also touch on Front Street Coffee's observations regarding the pairing of such spaces with their offerings. [more…]

Recently, a newly opened seaside coffee shop in Qingdao sparked controversy over a recommendation post featuring "lemon trees outside the window and the azure sea." Some netizens, drawn by the hype, visited the shop only to discover that the coveted sea view photo was actually a decorative painting hanging on the shop's wall. The recommendation post was accused of misleading consumers, and multiple accounts on social media platforms used similar images and text to recommend the shop, fueling speculation that "the shop was staging the whole thing." The owner responded that the recommendation posts were spontaneously published by customers, the hanging painting was just ordinary decor, and they never instructed anyone to take photos for promotion. Due to online harassment, they have decided to report the matter to the police. Lawyers pointed out that if the shop participated in or instigated the posting of false scene promotions, it would constitute false advertising and entail liability; if the posts were independently published by customers without the shop's involvement, it would not be illegal. The incident highlights the boundary issues surrounding the authenticity of shop-visit content on social media platforms. [more…]

Coffee is becoming increasingly popular in China, and its drinking occasions and pairing methods are being redefined. From shaomai paired with Ethiopian pour-over to rice noodle roll shops selling coffee, and coffee shops in Shanghai, Hangzhou, Chengdu, Guangzhou and other places launching jianbing guozi, the combination of Chinese breakfast and coffee has sparked queues for photo opportunities and heated discussion. Some see it as everyday life, while others question whether it is just attention-seeking and overpriced, but it is undeniable that this attempt to break fixed impressions is making coffee more accessible to ordinary people. This article will sort out the consumer psychology, dietary changes and market logic behind this phenomenon, and explore whether it will become a new trend for coffee shops. [more…]