When a milk tea product packaged to resemble a laundry detergent bottle stirred online debate, a creative item from a Nanjing eatery briefly went viral but was soon investigated by regulators and removed from shelves due to potential risks of accidental ingestion by children. This article delves into the full story of the incident, exploring the compliance and risk management of food packaging design, and offers practical advice for consumers to identify safe packaging — helping businesses and parents avoid similar controversies. [more…]

In 2021, Shanghai experienced a peculiar phenomenon where the entire city was filled with the aroma of coffee overnight. Initially mistaken by the public as a fragrance chemical leak from a factory, this incident unexpectedly sparked discussions about the chemical components of coffee aroma and the sensory atmosphere of urban life. This article provides a detailed review of the event, analyzes the possible chemical substances that could produce such scents, and supplements it with basic knowledge on identifying coffee aromas, helping readers better understand the complexities of coffee flavor. [more…]

Freeze-dried coffee has become a market favorite in recent years, but do you know the fundamental differences between it and traditional instant coffee? This article delves into the two core production processes—spray drying and freeze drying—to help you understand how freeze-drying technology preserves more of coffee’s flavor. It also explores how ingredient upgrades and packaging innovations have helped this category stand out. [more…]

As summer approaches, Luckin Coffee has launched a new Watermelon Latte series, which quickly sparked heated discussions in the market and trended on social media. This article provides an in-depth analysis of the specific formulations, flavor profiles, and market feedback for the newly released “Drama Watermelon Latte” and “Drama Watermelon Mini Latte,” explores the background behind the “tea-fication” trend in coffee beverages, and examines how Luckin has maintained its leading position in China’s coffee market through innovative products and community marketing. Ideal for those keeping up with coffee market trends and new product developments. [more…]

The second branch of China Post's Postal Cafe has officially opened in Xiamen's Cat Street, combining local cultural elements with animal-friendly themes. It has also collaborated with oat milk brand OATLY to launch a hidden eco-friendly special drink. This article delves into the store’s unique features, the recipe for the collaborative beverage, as well as OATLY’s sales performance and product strategy in the Asian market, offering insights into the highlights behind this cross-industry collaboration. [more…]

A Thai milk tea that closely resembles laundry detergent has sparked heated discussion on social media platforms. Priced at 18 yuan per bucket, its novel packaging has attracted many young consumers eager to try something new. However, its extreme similarity in appearance to everyday household products has also raised concerns about the risk of accidental ingestion by children. This article delves into the market phenomenon of such creative packaging, explores its potential legal and safety issues, and provides consumers with advice on identification and selection. It also reflects on the balance between innovation and responsibility in the realm of coffee and tea beverages. [more…]

Learning coffee latte art? The big heart pattern is the perfect starting point for beginners and the foundation for more advanced designs. This guide breaks down everything you need to know—how to control milk foam thickness, set the right pouring ratio, choose the optimal pouring position, and master finishing techniques—step by step. It also includes visual examples and explanations of common mistakes to help you quickly identify issues and improve. Whether you're just starting out or struggling with the finishing touches, you'll find practical tips here. [more…]

Have you ever heard that adding a pinch of salt to your coffee can make the overall flavor more balanced and the bitterness smoother? This brewing practice, originating from Europe and the Middle East, is not only rooted in cultural tradition but also backed by food science. This article will delve into how salt alters the taste experience of coffee, exploring its effects on bitterness, sweetness, and overall flavor profile. We’ll also provide practical advice and recommended ratios for adding salt to help you tailor your coffee to your ideal taste. [more…]

Deep-roasted coffee beans, with their loose structure and pronounced degassing, are well-suited for extraction using the unique meteor drip method, which can bring out a rich and full-bodied flavor. This article provides an in-depth breakdown of the operation process of this pour over technique, covering everything from grind size and water temperature control to the details of staged pouring, along with practical suggestions for coffee-to-water ratios and key considerations. It will help you master the distinctive characteristics of medium-dark roasted beans and craft a pour over coffee with a multi-dimensional flavor profile. [more…]

At the 2022 Alishan Estate Coffee Competition & Auction, Taiwan set a new record for green coffee bean auctions. The sun-dried category’s Grand Prix lot was sold for NT$520,000 per 5kg, won by the Lion Group, far surpassing the Geisha category’s Grand Prix in the same event. This article delves into how this non-Geisha coffee earned its place among the elite, detailing the evaluation process, auction highlights, and the rising potential of Taiwan’s specialty coffee scene. [more…]

Do you often encounter issues like improper grind size or lack of coffee bed expansion when making pour over coffee? Don't rush to pour it out just yet. By understanding how five core elements—grind size, water temperature, coffee-to-water ratio, and more—interact with each other, and by flexibly adjusting parameters and pouring techniques, you can effectively improve the flavor of your coffee. This article will take an in-depth look at the practical effects of these variables, providing useful troubleshooting methods and scientific reasoning to help you stabilize your brewing performance. [more…]

Manner Coffee’s salary policy during the pandemic sparked heated discussion, with practices such as wage cuts and reduced working hours trending on Weibo. Did the company violate labor laws? What were the considerations behind employees’ choice of options? This article provides an in-depth analysis of the incident, official responses, and legal perspectives to help readers understand the salary rights of coffee industry workers and the current state of the industry under the pandemic. [more…]

The suspension of coffee shop operations in cities like Shanghai has led to a sales decline in the once-booming oat milk market. This article delves into how oat milk transitioned from a niche plant-based milk to a coffee shop staple, examines the risks of its over-reliance on B2B channels, and analyzes whether oat milk is truly as healthy as marketed—from a nutritional perspective—to help coffee enthusiasts make more informed choices. [more…]

Making a high-quality espresso shot is not about the moment extraction begins, but rather what you do before locking in the portafilter. The seemingly simple steps of distributing and tamping the coffee grounds are actually the foundation for ensuring a stable puck structure and even water flow. This guide takes an in-depth look at the entire process from dosing to distribution to tamping, compares manual methods with the use of distribution tools, and offers practical tips to avoid channeling—so you can brew balanced espresso shots at home. [more…]

Faced with declining sales and intensified competition in the Chinese market, Starbucks has announced plans to launch a brand NFT series and create a virtual 'third place', attempting to seek a brand breakthrough through the metaverse. This article delves into the background, goals, and challenges of Starbucks' NFT initiative, and explores the practical value and future potential of NFTs in the coffee industry. [more…]

Espresso extraction time is a core factor influencing flavor—just a few seconds of difference can turn a balanced and smooth cup into one that’s sharp and unbalanced. This article delves into the evolution from the traditional standard of 20–30 seconds in the early days, to the modern, science-based parameters using a double basket, a 1:2 coffee-to-water ratio, and an extraction window of 25–30 seconds. It also explores how to adjust time to master the intensity and layering of espresso, while providing practical application advice for two classic blends to help you find your ideal cup. [more…]

A long-time Luckin Coffee customer in Hangzhou, known for consistently using specific discount ordering methods, has drawn dissatisfaction from a store employee, who even publicly complained that “you can’t just keep milking one place.” This incident not only reflects the delicate relationship between consumers and coffee shops but also involves practical issues such as the rules for using coupons and the division of responsibility for delivery. This article details the course of the event, analyzes the positions of all parties involved, and provides practical advice to help coffee lovers enjoy discounts more wisely. [more…]

High-purity cocaine was detected in Brazilian coffee beans imported to a Swiss Nestlé factory, although it did not enter the production line, sparking consumer concerns about coffee safety. On May 9, the Asian Coffee Association and the Yunnan Coffee Industry Association jointly issued a statement, emphasizing the need to strengthen control across the entire industry chain. This article details the incident, the specific recommendations from the associations, and explores response measures in the Chinese market to help you understand how to avoid potential risks. [more…]

The beloved Canadian coffee brand Tim Hortons has recently stirred up major controversy due to its vaccination policy at summer camps, with the hashtag #BoycottTimHortons quickly trending on Twitter and prompting a wave of boycotts from netizens. What exactly is this vaccine policy that has turned this locally adored brand into public enemy number one? This article delves into the full story behind the incident and explores the key points of contention and public reaction. [more…]

Following in the footsteps of cross-industry brands such as China Post and Tongrentang, Li-Ning has officially announced its entry into the coffee market under the brand name "NING COFFEE." The company plans to offer coffee services across its more than 7,000 nationwide stores. If fully implemented, the number of NING COFFEE outlets could rival or even surpass that of Luckin Coffee. This article provides an in-depth analysis of NING COFFEE’s strategic layout, brand motivations, and how it aims to break through in the highly competitive coffee market by leveraging its existing resources. [more…]