Luckin Coffee’s early-release Christmas series paper cups this year have successfully resonated with office workers, thanks to the double-sided emotive design of the sleeves and cup bodies. From hidden frowns to pressing the logo to hide unhappiness, these details not only add fun for collectors but also precisely tap into emotional needs. This article dissects the interactive ingenuity of Luckin’s Christmas cups, comparing them to last year’s “Hold the Luck” design, and analyzes how they’ve become a small source of joy for workplace professionals. [more…]

Many coffee enthusiasts often face the dilemma of how to properly store freshly roasted beans. This article delves into common myths about coffee bean storage, including whether to use airtight containers, seal the degassing valve, and the pros and cons of freezing. We’ll analyze the difference between flavor and taste, the concepts of the resting period and shelf life, and provide practical storage tips to help you preserve the best flavors of your coffee and avoid wasting good beans. [more…]

In recent years, it has become increasingly common for coffee brands to branch out into the alcoholic beverage business. From Starbucks to Luckin, and emerging brands such as Seesaw and M Stand, many have experimented with the “day coffee, night alcohol” model. Luckin Coffee has even established a new company in Xiamen, officially stepping into the alcoholic beverage market. This article will detail Luckin’s trademark strategy and latest moves, review cross-industry attempts by major brands, and analyze overall trends in the beverage market, helping you understand the opportunities and challenges behind this wave of cross-industry enthusiasm. [more…]

Want to easily whip up coffee with a hint of alcohol at home? This article features 10 uniquely styled alcoholic coffee beverages — from easy-to-make convenience store mashups, to creamy creative coffee cocktails, to richly boozy cocktail-inspired specials. It covers a variety of base spirits including Baileys, whiskey, and gin. Each recipe provides detailed ingredient ratios and practical tips to help you craft your own signature flavors, along with important drinking precautions. [more…]

During the extraction process of espresso, pressure is one of the most critical yet often overlooked parameters. This article delves into why the industry universally adopts 9 bar as the standard pressure—covering pump types, extraction principles, and the actual flavor performance under different pressures—to give you a comprehensive understanding of how pressure affects the taste and quality of espresso, while also exploring the emerging trend of variable pressure extraction. [more…]

The established health supplement brand Brain White Gold has entered the coffee market with its youthful sub-brand "Brain White Gold + Café." Its first store has officially opened in Songjiang District, Shanghai. By combining its classic brand image with a diverse selection of beverages, it transitions from sleep-aid supplements to energizing coffee. Is this a brand transformation or a market test? This article will take you through the actual performance and product positioning of Brain White Gold Coffee, as well as current market trends in cross-industry coffee ventures. [more…]

Starbucks’ latest financial report reveals that cold drink sales account for as much as 76% of total revenue, with younger demographics becoming the main drivers of growth—Gen Z and Millennials contribute over half of the total income. By offering high-margin customized syrups and sauces, the brand steadily generates approximately $1 billion in annual revenue. This article delves into how its customization strategy captures the interest of young consumers, as well as the market trends and practical insights behind the cold drink boom. [more…]

When tasting coffee, in addition to flavor and mouthfeel, aftertaste is a key indicator for evaluating the quality of a cup. This article delves into the formation principles of coffee aftertaste, how to perceive it, and how to assess its quality based on duration and flavor texture. Through classic coffee bean examples such as Golden Mandheling and Washed Yirgacheffe, you'll master professional aftertaste evaluation techniques for a more complete experience with every sip. [more…]

As coffee culture gradually becomes integrated into daily life, an increasing number of young people are choosing to enjoy a cup of coffee in the evening. It’s not just about staying alert—it has become a lifestyle. This article explores the background of the rise in nighttime coffee consumption, the current state of night market coffee shops across different regions, the actual contribution of evening hours to revenue, and analyzes the key success factors of the "small shop + outdoor" business model. [more…]

How did Luckin Coffee, once embroiled in allegations of financial fraud, stage a remarkable comeback to become the market darling? This article delves into the reasons behind Snow Lake Capital’s shift from short-selling to strong endorsement, analyzing how Luckin achieved rapid revenue growth through internal restructuring and precise market strategies, ultimately emerging as a leader in China’s coffee market. [more…]

Many coffee enthusiasts wonder whether pre-ground coarse coffee can be ground again to achieve a finer extraction. Although the idea seems intuitive, actually doing it may damage your grinder. This article delves into the principles behind regrinding, explores the potential risks, and shares how WBC and WBrC competitors use special techniques to improve particle uniformity—helping you assess whether it’s worth trying and how to do it safely at home. [more…]

Is adding milk to pour over coffee ruining its flavor or creating a unique charm? This in-depth guide starts with 18th-century French Café Au Lait, taking you through the historical roots of pairing pour over coffee with milk, analyzing the compatibility of different roast levels, and providing practical milk-to-coffee ratios and techniques—helping you find your ideal combination based on personal taste. [more…]

Dark roast coffee is often labeled as "bitter" or "monotonous," but with the right brewing techniques, it can actually showcase rich caramel sweetness and a full-bodied mouthfeel. This article delves into the sources of bitterness in dark roast coffee and, using the classic Indonesian Golden Mandheling as an example, provides detailed guidance on grind size, water temperature, brew ratio, and the three-stage pouring method to help you brew a balanced and layered dark roast pour over at home. [more…]

Milk tea has become an indispensable beverage in the daily lives of many young people, but its surprisingly high caffeine content is often overlooked. Did you know? The caffeine in one cup of milk tea may be equivalent to that in three or more Americanos — even exceeding the daily recommended intake limit. This article will delve into the sources of caffeine in milk tea, explore its potential health impacts, and provide practical selection tips, especially for those sensitive to caffeine, to help you make smarter beverage choices. [more…]

In the early hours of 2023, a devastating fire broke out at a café in Kostroma, Russia, claiming 15 lives and injuring 5 others, with flames engulfing an area as large as 3,500 square meters. This article delves into the root causes of the incident—from the misuse of a signal flare that ignited the décor, to the firefighting response process—and highlights critical yet often overlooked aspects of café operations including electrical systems, gas safety, and fire equipment management. It provides practical and comprehensive fire safety recommendations to help both industry professionals and customers enhance disaster prevention awareness. [more…]

Recently, well-known tea drink brands including HEYTEA, Nayuki, and Mixue have collectively adjusted their delivery platform discount strategies, with some brands even directly removing promotions, sparking widespread market discussion. This article delves into the cost pressures behind this move, the commission mechanisms of delivery platforms, and the profit challenges faced by the new tea beverage industry amid price competition, helping readers understand the operational realities and future trends of tea beverage businesses. [more…]

Shi Què Coffee, which once received nearly 100 million yuan in investment, has recently seen multiple store closures. The brand initially gained fame through its subscription model and innovative pour-over drip bags, but after rapid expansion, it now faces operational difficulties at its physical locations. This article traces its development trajectory, analyzes the reasons behind its shift from an online sensation to offline contraction, and explores how boutique instant coffee brands can balance growth and risk in the fiercely competitive coffee market. [more…]

Many people who enjoy brewing coffee with a moka pot have wondered: Are coffee beans with pronounced acidity suitable for extraction with a moka pot? To answer this question, we selected three coffee beans with varying acidity profiles for practical testing, covering light to medium roasts, and observed their crema, flavor performance, and ideal drinking methods under moka pot extraction. This article will guide you on how to choose suitable coffee beans for moka pot brewing based on bean characteristics, and provide practical parameters and operation tips so you can also brew flavorful coffee. [more…]

Changes in coffee-drinking habits due to the pandemic, coupled with fluctuations in coffee bean prices, have led more consumers to brew coffee at home. Domestic coffee machines have rapidly risen in popularity thanks to their intelligent controls and affordable pricing, not only seeing explosive growth in domestic sales but also experiencing a simultaneous surge in overseas orders. This article delves into market trends, technological highlights, and consumer purchasing directions to help you stay updated on the latest developments in home coffee equipment. [more…]

In just half a month, Cotti Coffee has established 13 new branches across nine major cities nationwide, plus one in its headquarters city of Tianjin—amounting to 14 new branches in total—demonstrating a strong momentum of expansion. Starting with its first store in Fuzhou, the brand has made high-profile sponsorship of the Argentina national football team and declared a bold goal of opening 10,000 stores within three years. Whether this team led by Lu Zhengyao can replicate Luckin’s successful path again is worth a deeper analysis. [more…]