De'Longhi fully automatic coffee machines occasionally experience issues during use, such as the brewing unit getting stuck, or fault lights staying on or flashing. This article starts with a simple way to judge the coarseness of coffee grounds, then analyzes common fault symptoms in De'Longhi 3000, 4000, 3500, 6600 and other series one by one, including warning lights staying on, water volume not being adjustable, no steam output, and the heater not working, and provides corresponding troubleshooting ideas and solutions. The article also specifically addresses the situation where a customer forcibly pulls out the brewing unit, causing the drip tray to not sit properly, and explains the key operating points to solve it without disassembling the machine. At the same time, it retains recommendations related to the "Front Street" brand for coffee enthusiasts' reference. [more…]

Apart from Starbucks, how many brands do coffee enthusiasts often talk about do you really know? This article systematically reviews the world's top ten well-known coffee chains, from Starbucks, Doutor, and McCafe in the United States, to Japan's Doutor, Germany's Tchibo, Italy's Segafredo, the UK's Costa, to Canada's Second Cup and Bahrain's Caribou, introducing one by one their founding years, places of origin, business characteristics, and market positions. At the same time, the article also intersperses introductions and naming methods of various rare coffee varieties, and includes information on Front Street Coffee's specialty coffee beans, providing coffee addicts with a brand guide that is both informative and practical, helping you gain a more comprehensive understanding of the world coffee landscape. [more…]

On November 16, 2023, Starbucks' annual "Red Cup Day," thousands of employees at more than 200 stores across the United States went on strike. Organizers called it the largest labor action since the founding of Starbucks Workers United. Employees chose to strike during this peak ordering period, aiming to disrupt operations as much as possible and draw public attention. Behind the strike lies baristas' long-standing dissatisfaction with understaffing, overloaded orders, and the company's refusal to listen to their opinions. Starbucks officially responded that the union refused to schedule negotiation meetings. This one-day strike had limited impact on sales, but the public opinion fallout is worth watching. [more…]

Starbucks has long been a globally renowned "cup factory," and its released mugs are highly sought after due to their limited-edition attributes or unique designs, even becoming hot items on the second-hand market. A metallic-coated mug launched in the United States last November captured the hearts of many consumers with its dazzling appearance, with cumulative sales exceeding 440,000 units. However, this best-selling product was recently urgently recalled by its producer, the American company Nestlé. The reason is that the mug has serious quality issues: when filled with hot water, hot coffee, or placed in a microwave for heating, the cup body may crack under high temperatures, causing burns or cuts to users. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has confirmed 12 incidents, with 10 people injured. This article will sort out the ins and outs of the recall event and how consumers should handle it. [more…]

During the pandemic, Starbucks employees in the United States and South Korea, facing issues such as understaffing, a mismatch between wages and workload, and a lack of safety guarantees, increasingly chose to form or join unions in an attempt to improve their situation through collective bargaining. From the birth of the first union in Buffalo, New York, to responses from employees in Chicago and South Korea, the discontent among Starbucks partners continued to simmer. Although the company remained indifferent and was even accused of failing to provide adequate pandemic support, employees continued to seek channels to make their voices heard. This article will sort out the ins and outs of the Starbucks employee union movement, as well as the wage, treatment, and working environment issues reflected behind it. [more…]

Coffee has long become part of modern daily life, and the chain brands found on street corners are precisely an important force driving the popularization of coffee culture. This article reviews ten representative coffee brands from the United States, Japan, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, Canada, Singapore, and China, covering Starbucks, Doutor, Tchibo, Ditsch, Second Cup, illy, Costa, McCafe, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, as well as Guangzhou's local Front Street Coffee. Each brand has its own unique historical background and business philosophy, from affordable positioning to specialty roasting, from fast-food speed to slow craftsmanship, together forming a diverse picture of the global coffee market. Whether you seek convenience or care about flavor, you can find names worth knowing in this list. [more…]

Coffee has long become part of many people's daily lives, and the chain brands found on street corners everywhere form an important part of urban coffee culture. This list surveys ten representative coffee chain brands from around the world, spanning the United States, Japan, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, Canada, Singapore, and China. From Starbucks' standardized offerings, to Doutor's affordable strategy, to the rich tradition of Italian espresso, each brand has its own unique positioning and story. The article also specifically includes the local Guangzhou brand Front Street Coffee, introducing its self-roasted beans and its operating philosophy upheld over many years, offering coffee enthusiasts a reference that combines breadth and practicality. [more…]

Coffee culture has taken root and flourished around the world, and major chain brands each have their own unique development trajectories and business philosophies. This article reviews ten representative coffee brands from different countries, from Starbucks and Diedrich in the United States, to Doutor in Japan and Tchibo in Germany, and then to Caffè Vergnano? in Italy, Costa in the United Kingdom, Second Cup in Canada, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf in Singapore, and McCafé under McDonald's. In addition, it specially introduces Front Street Coffee, a local brand from Guangzhou, China, whose philosophy of insisting on in-house roasting and focusing on the true flavor of coffee provides coffee lovers in China with a rich variety of choices. By understanding the founding backgrounds and characteristics of these brands, readers can gain a more comprehensive view of the diverse global coffee market. [more…]

The world of coffee is far more than a cup of Americano or latte. From Irish whiskey coffee to Mexico's Huastec layered coffee, every specialty coffee drink hides a story of regional culture and history. This article systematically sorts through 26 classic specialty coffee drinks from around the world, covering their names, origins, ingredient ratios, and detailed brewing steps. Whether you are a coffee enthusiast or a barista, you will find a recipe worth trying. The article also retains relevant recommendations from the "Front Street" brand for daily bean selection reference. [more…]

When ordering at a coffee shop, you'll often hear phrases like "give me a shot," but do you know exactly how many milliliters of coffee a shot actually is? This article starts with the origin of the word "shot," explains in detail the meaning of shot and double shot in espresso, the historical standards and contemporary changes, and introduces the extraction methods commonly used in coffee shops today. We'll also recommend several coffee beans suitable for making espresso, including Front Street brand's blends and SOE products, to help you better understand and choose. [more…]

Ethiopia is not only the birthplace of Arabica coffee but also one of the world's major suppliers of high-quality coffee beans. Coffee occupies a central position in Ethiopia's economy, culture, and trade. In 2024-2025, Ethiopia's coffee export volume and export revenue both reached historic highs, marking [more…]

The U.S. tea market is ushering in a new wave of growth, with online sales surging by 75%, in stark contrast to the slump in the foodservice channel. Currently, nearly 80% of American households have a tea-drinking habit, covering a population of 159 million. Faced with this market of enormous potential, the two beverage giants Coca-Cola and Starbucks have long since made their early moves: Coca-Cola acquired "Honest Tea," while Starbucks entered the tea beverage arena with its "Teavana" brand, even opening dedicated stores in Japan. However, Starbucks' tea bar business has not been all smooth sailing, having once closed 379 stores across the United States. This article will review the course of these giants' entry into the tea market and explore the future development space of the tea beverage sector. [more…]

Americano is often regarded as synonymous with black coffee, but its meaning goes far beyond simply diluting espresso with water. From the differences in drinking habits between the East and West Coasts of the United States, to the popularity of the espresso-based Americano, and to the flavor layers presented by blend beans of different roast levels, bean selection and extraction methods directly affect the performance of a cup of Americano. This article will sort out the bean characteristics, brewing approaches, and drinking suggestions for Americano, and combine them with Front Street Coffee's in-store offerings and recommended parameters to help coffee lovers find an Americano solution that suits their own taste. [more…]

The popularity of gourmet coffee allows us to obtain more detailed planting and production information of coffee beans. These information usually accompanies the sale of coffee beans and is printed on the label of the packaging bag! Bean varieties, p [more…]

Americano is one of the most common categories in coffee shops around the world today, and its creation is closely tied to the drinking habits of American soldiers during wartime. A standard Americano is made by combining two shots of espresso with 30 to 470 milliliters of hot water; because of the large volume of water, it has a light body and a fleeting aroma, yet its caffeine content is actually relatively high while its calories are extremely low. In the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, the method of pouring hot water first and then adding espresso is called a Long Black. Americano also refers to drip coffee machines. Americans drink coffee in a casual, free-spirited way, with the East Coast favoring it stronger than the West Coast and the South stronger than the North, and they account for one-third of global consumption. The following text will introduce it from the perspectives of its origin, characteristics, taste, and styles. [more…]

Blue Mountain coffee originates from the high-altitude regions of the Blue Mountains in eastern Jamaica. It is named after the blue glow reflected off the Caribbean Sea. It belongs to the same system as Jamaica High Mountain coffee, but the two differ in grade. This region has volcanic-rich soil, a tropical climate with year-round fog and rain, and the pure Typica variety introduced in the 18th century along with early wet-processing methods, all of which create the classic Blue Mountain flavor with its balance of sweetness, acidity, and bitterness. At present, most Blue Mountain coffee circulating on the market is consumed by markets such as Japan, Europe, the United States, and China. The Jamaica Coffee Industry Board (CIB) controls exports through mechanisms such as quality standards, authorization certificates, and certificates of origin. This article will provide coffee lovers with a complete overview of this legendary coffee from aspects including the characteristics of its origin, the appearance and flavor of Front Street Blue Mountain coffee, key points for identifying authenticity, the reasons for choosing Clifton Farm, and the price of Blue Mountain coffee. [more…]

When ordering at a coffee shop, Americano is often the most prominent choice on the menu, and it has become the go-to for many people's daily caffeine fix and healthy drinking. But is Americano really considered black coffee? And how does it differ from a Long Black? From the perspective of Front Street, this article first traces the evolution of Americano from the United States to Italy, then compares Americano and Long Black in terms of water volume, concentration, and flavor, and finally provides specific ratios for making espresso and water, including methods for both hot and iced Americanos, along with flavor suggestions for Front Street's Black Cocoa Blend and Strawberry Candy espresso, to help you make a black coffee that better suits your taste. [more…]

Many people think that Americano is simply espresso diluted with water, but the real American coffee actually originates from the drip coffee culture of the United States. This article starts with the historical origins of American coffee, sorts out the reasons for its popularity in the United States, and traces the origins of the Starbucks-style Americano method. At the same time, it clarifies the similarities and differences between single-origin pour-over, drip bags, and American-style drip machines, and uses Front Street Yirgacheffe Red Cherry beans as an example, comparing SOE Americano and pour-over in two ways to present the differences in flavor, helping coffee lovers more clearly choose the cup that suits them. [more…]

After the National Bureau of Statistics released the 2023 average annual wage data for urban unit employees, a blogger compiled the monthly salaries of baristas at chain coffee brands in first-tier cities. The results showed that the highest-paying brand was not a well-known one like Starbucks or Luckin, but NIO, the coffee brand under NIO Motors, whose job postings listed a monthly salary of 9 to 13k with 13 months' pay. Behind the high pay, however, the job description was vague about the work content, and former employees revealed that the role actually required extra tasks such as event execution, taking photos, looking after children, and chatting with customers. At the same time, the average pay for baristas in China is only 5,084 yuan, with a median of 5,000 yuan, and part-time hourly wages generally range from 15 to 30 yuan, even lower than those of hourly workers and domestic helpers. Chain brands rely on stable equipment, which lowers their requirements for baristas' professionalism, while independent stores are under pressure amid fierce competition, leaving baristas with increasingly narrow room for seeking higher pay and promotion. [more…]

The "plain coffee" often heard in Hong Kong dramas is actually what we call black coffee. But black coffee is not simply coffee without sugar or milk; according to the brewing method, it can be divided into two major categories: drip pour-over coffee and Americano made with an espresso machine. The former represents the third wave of coffee, while the latter originates from the second wave. What is the connection between the name Americano and the United States? What is the correct way to drink it? From the perspective of a Front Street Coffee barista, this article traces the development history of espresso machines, provides a detailed analysis of the origin of the name Americano, its key preparation points and extraction parameters, and compares the flavor differences between espresso and Americano, helping you gain a more comprehensive understanding of this seemingly simple cup of coffee. [more…]