The “Joy+Mental” collab coffee jointly created by the Shanghai Mental Health Center and the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra sold out instantly upon launch. This creative special blend, combining chocolate and cayenne pepper, not only delivers a surprising taste experience but also incorporates expert psychological commentary and music therapy elements. This article provides an in-depth analysis of the popular coffee’s flavor profile, exclusive merchandise design, and the urban coffee consumption trends it reflects, helping you understand why this product quickly took the market by storm. [more…]

Not sure where to start when opening a neighborhood coffee shop? This article breaks down the key success factors — from identifying your target customer base and selecting a prime location, to planning operating hours and product strategy. It not only explores how to craft approachable yet professional beverages, but also shares practical business insights to help you stand firm in the competitive market. [more…]

Have you noticed that in the hustle and bustle of café operations, even if you carefully calibrate your espresso extraction parameters in the morning, as the number of drinks served increases, the flow rate gradually speeds up, causing the extraction time to fall short of the standard? This common yet often overlooked issue is frequently related to changes in pressure within the grinder’s bean hopper. This article will take you deep into understanding how hopper pressure interferes with grind uniformity, thereby affecting extraction rhythm and the consistency of coffee flavor, and will provide practical adjustment strategies to help you stabilize... [more…]

Thanks to its refreshing taste and low acidity, cold brew coffee has become the go-to choice for many coffee enthusiasts in recent years. However, compared to traditional hot-brewed Americanos, the two differ significantly in caffeine content, stimulation effects, and flavor profiles. This article will explore the key differences between cold brew and Americano starting from the extraction principles, and provide practical brewing tips and parameter settings to help you choose the most suitable coffee drink based on your needs. [more…]

Established in 2019, Nowwa Coffee has recently opened 120 new stores simultaneously, bringing its nationwide total to over 1700 outlets, covering more than 100 cities. How has this affordable coffee brand, which focuses on a competitive price point of 15 RMB, rapidly risen under the shadow of giants like Starbucks and Luckin Coffee with its asset-light model driven by 75% delivery orders? This article analyzes its expansion path from Shanghai to penetration in third-tier cities, as well as the operational keys behind its co-branding marketing and quick-service small-store model. [more…]

On Starbucks’ annual Red Cup Day, employees at over 100 stores across the United States launched simultaneous strikes to protest low wages and inadequate staffing. This action became the largest collective protest since the formation of the Starbucks union and brought the global coffee giant’s labor disputes to the forefront. This article details the background of the incident, the current state of Starbucks’ global operations, and the financial and management factors behind the employees’ demands. [more…]

When making espresso at home with an espresso machine, adjusting parameters can often be a headache. A slight misstep not only wastes coffee beans but also makes it hard to achieve the desired flavor. Even professional baristas need multiple attempts when working with new coffee varieties. This article will take you deep into the three key parameters that affect espresso flavor—grind size, coffee dose, and yield—combining the 1:2 coffee-to-water ratio and the 25–30 second extraction time framework to teach you how to quickly judge grind status by observing extraction time. [more…]

Luckin Coffee sponsored the 2022 Chengdu Marathon just one month after its first store opened, and has previously sponsored the Argentina national football team in China, showcasing a strong brand exposure strategy. This new coffee brand, founded by Lu Zhengyao and Qian Zhiya, aims to open 10,000 stores within three years and is rapidly capturing market share through top-tier sports event marketing. This article delves into its sports marketing strategy and expansion roadmap, and explores how Luckin is establishing a differentiated position in the fiercely competitive coffee market. [more…]

Heytea once again grabs the spotlight with a collaboration, this time partnering with the popular office software WPS Office to launch limited-edition cup sleeves and badges themed around 'Monday', along with Heytea material templates now available on the WPS DaoKeEr Mall. This article takes an in-depth look at the creative design of this collaboration, WPS’s market positioning, and the insights reflected in online user feedback regarding how emerging tea beverage brands are leveraging cross-industry collaborations to break into new scenes—while also examining Heytea’s recent moves in the coffee category. [more…]

As poured-over coffee cools over time, its flavor profile also changes. Many coffee enthusiasts wonder: is it still drinkable if you reheat coffee that has already gone cold? This article conducts practical tests on two specialty coffee beans from different regions—the Gesha Village Gold Label Gesha and the Guatemala Huehuetenango—to observe their flavor performance at various temperatures and explore whether reheating can truly improve taste, especially in addressing issues like excessive acidity or unpleasant aftertastes. [more…]

Heytea breaks its decade-long tradition of direct operation by announcing franchising opportunities, attracting attention from numerous potential investors, including new tea drink franchisees looking to switch from other brands. However, Heytea has set strict and high-cost franchising thresholds with clear requirements in terms of capital and management capability. This article provides an in-depth analysis of the details of Heytea’s franchising policy and compares the scale differences with major market competitors such as Café One, helping you assess feasibility and market prospects. [more…]

In 2022, 2015 WBC Champion Sasa Sestic introduced the revolutionary Paragon device at the Australian Brewing Championship. It uses specially made ice stones in the filter to lock in the volatile aromas of coffee, with an official price tag of up to $4,292. However, YouTube tests have revealed that its core technology is similar to common stainless steel ice cubes, and budget-friendly alternatives in China cost just a few dozen yuan. This article delves into how the Paragon enhances the TDS and flavor profile of Geisha coffee, and compares... [more…]

Adding a pinch of salt to coffee not only helps neutralize bitterness but also highlights flavor layers? This article delves into the actual impact of salt on pour over coffee, explores how it alters taste from a scientific perspective, and provides practical ratios and steps for adding salt. Whether you're a coffee enthusiast pursuing precise extraction or simply looking to improve the flavor of your daily brew, you'll find useful tips and inspiration here. [more…]

Blue Bottle Coffee has officially opened its third store on the Chinese mainland at Zhang Garden in Jing’an District, Shanghai, continuing its strategy of deeply integrating brand spirit with local culture. This article delves into how this new store, nestled within a historic building, evokes urban memories through its spatial design and signature drinks, while also sharing Blue Bottle Coffee’s unique considerations in global site selection and menu development. [more…]

In recent years, the cross-border combination of coffee and Chinese breakfast has sparked a wave of enthusiasm across the country. From croissant-style fried dough sticks to latte paired with jianbing, this East-meets-West dining style is redefining the breakfast experience. This article delves into the consumer psychology and market dynamics behind this trend, and introduces creative pairing examples from various regions, providing practical references for coffee enthusiasts and industry professionals. [more…]

The flavor profile of pour over coffee is largely shaped by the dripper. From the first trapezoidal filter cone designed by Frau Melitta in 1912, inspired by blotting paper, to today’s popular V60 and Kono, how has the evolution of drippers impacted extraction? This article explores the differences in water flow speed and channeling performance between two popular drippers through a practical test using Mandheling beans, and provides suggestions on grind size and pouring adjustments to help you find your ideal brewing tool. [more…]

The fresh fruit tea brand Heytea successfully sparked social media buzz by releasing ten consecutive “I don’t want to work anymore” themed posters. This suspense marketing campaign, which appeared to show a collective workplace meltdown by employees, was actually a strategic buildup for the launch of their new Fresh Stewed Pear Series. This article delves into the tactics behind the campaign, exploring how the tea beverage industry can leverage internet memes familiar to young people to bridge the gap with consumers, while also providing practical marketing insights. [more…]

In recent years, more and more coffee enthusiasts have grown dissatisfied with commercially roasted beans and have turned to roasting green beans at home. From traditional slow frying in iron pans and roasting on black sandstone, to creative methods using rice cookers, ovens, air fryers, and even bold experiments with deep frying, a variety of non-professional techniques continue to emerge. This article provides an in-depth analysis of the feasibility and characteristics of these home roasting methods, with a special focus on the deep-fried coffee bean experiment conducted by James Hoffmann, the 2007 World Barista Champion. [more…]

Have you ever sipped a pour over coffee that felt more like tea in your mouth? In fact, the "tea-like" character in coffee isn't accidental — it's closely related to the roast level, processing method, and regional flavor profile. This article delves into the origins of tea-like notes in coffee, explores how tannins and polyphenols influence taste, and explains how medium to light roasts can bring out a refreshing experience reminiscent of tea. With common bean varieties like Yirgacheffe and Geisha as examples, it helps you identify and describe the layers of tea aroma in coffee more precisely. [more…]

A bubble tea shop in Heilongjiang was ordered to shut down by market regulators within less than a minute after its staff greeted a customer with “Welcome” without first asking them to scan a health code. The official follow-up report determined that the enforcement officers had abused their power, and those involved have been held accountable. This article provides an in-depth analysis of the incident and reminds coffee professionals to be aware of the legal and regulatory boundaries of enforcement during the pandemic, while also discussing how to avoid similar situations. [more…]