An influencer café was fined 25,000 yuan by market regulators for using imported coffee beans without Chinese labels and of unknown origin. This case highlights common compliance blind spots in the specialty coffee industry: self-roasted or sourced coffee beans lacking proper documentation are not only illegal but may also damage the business’s reputation. This article breaks down key regulatory points to help businesses avoid common pitfalls. [more…]

Luckin Coffee has recently been rumored to be planning a listing in Hong Kong, but the company quickly clarified that there are currently no such plans, emphasizing its continued focus on the US stock market. This article delves into the full process of Luckin’s journey from a financial fraud scandal and trading suspension to debt restructuring, revealing how it turned the crisis around within two years, surpassing Starbucks China in store count, and explores the potential paths and challenges for its future return to the capital markets. [more…]

The way you pour water in pour over brewing directly affects extraction efficiency and flavor expression. This article provides an in-depth comparison of center pour and circular pour techniques in both single-pour (一刀流) and three-stage (三段式) brewing methods. We analyze the differences between the two based on key factors such as extraction efficiency, temperature retention, and coffee grounds contact, and explore how a hybrid three-pour approach (三刀流) can optimize overall flavor balance. Whether you’re a pour over beginner or a coffee enthusiast aiming for precise extraction, you’ll find practical tips for adjusting your brewing technique. [more…]

The emerging tea beverage brand Yihe Tang has recently been hit by multiple food safety issues. Not only were expired ingredients discovered, but a consumer also found a 7-centimeter-long machine part in their bubble tea. This article provides an in-depth analysis of the incident, the brand’s response, and the consumer rights process, along with practical advice to help readers avoid potential food safety hazards while enjoying coffee and bubble tea. [more…]

In recent years, coffee beverages have seen numerous creative variations, from garlic paste and cilantro to now the spicy flavor. The live-streamed spicy coffee at the Sichuan-style Coffee Festival sparked heated discussions. This article takes an in-depth look at this specialty drink that combines cold brew coffee with elements of green Sichuan pepper and chili, detailing its preparation process and taste experience. It also traces historical examples of the combination of chili and coffee, bringing you the backstory behind this bold, taste-bud-challenging creative beverage. [more…]

Ever wondered why the same coffee beans can yield such drastically different flavor profiles? This in-depth analysis will guide you through how water temperature, grind size, and pouring techniques regulate the release of acidic, sweet, and bitter compounds. By comparing the differences between single-pour (一刀流) and multi-pour (三刀流) methods, we uncover the scientific logic behind baristas' parameter adjustments and offer practical advice prioritizing bean selection over technique tweaks—helping you better harness the full potential of single-origin coffee. [more…]

In recent years, more and more takeaway coffee has adopted a packaging format where the espresso shot and milk are separated, requiring customers to mix them themselves upon receipt. This "pouch-insertion separation" not only solves issues such as the dissipation of milk foam and flavor loss during delivery, but also caters to the younger generation’s desire for a more hands-on experience. This article delves into the consumer psychology, practical advantages, and potential challenges behind this design, helping you better understand the new trend in takeaway coffee. [more…]

Starbucks China has recently faced challenges such as declining sales and limited store operations, with younger demographics gradually removing it from their list of top choices. This article analyzes the reasons behind Starbucks’ difficulties in the Chinese market from aspects such as brand positioning, product innovation, market competition, and the impact of the pandemic, while also exploring the changing coffee preferences of the new generation of consumers to help you grasp market trends and purchasing directions. [more…]

Many coffee packages are labeled "100% Arabica," but does that automatically mean high quality? This article delves into the core differences between the two major coffee varieties—Arabica and Robusta—explains the true meaning behind the "100% Arabica" label (which doesn’t necessarily equate to specialty coffee), and introduces two representative branches within the Arabica family: Typica and Bourbon. This includes their historical origins, plant characteristics, and flavor profiles, helping readers build a foundational understanding of coffee flavors based on variety. [more…]

A 105-year-old grandmother from Lishui, Zhejiang, claims to have been drinking coffee for a century, sparking widespread public interest in coffee culture and health-related discussions. This article reviews the development trajectory of coffee in China since the Qing Dynasty, delving into its transformation—from the early term “black wine,” the flourishing of Shanghai coffeehouses during the Republican era, to modern medical advice on children’s caffeine intake—helping readers understand the shifting social role of coffee in China and rationally analyzing the differences between traditional habits and contemporary health perspectives. [more…]

The well-known tea beverage brand Yihetang was exposed for serious food safety violations at multiple Zhengzhou outlets, including the use of expired ingredients and moldy fruits, with instances where insects were found in drinks that were still being sold. This article delves into the operational chaos behind the incident and analyzes relevant regulations to help consumers understand how to avoid potential food safety risks. [more…]

There is a wide variety of coffee beans on the market, with significant differences in price and specifications, often leaving beginners unsure of how to choose. This article will analyze single-origin coffee beans, espresso beans (including SOE and blends), as well as their suitable brewing methods, helping you select the most suitable coffee beans based on your brewing needs and budget. It also compares different regions and roast flavors to give you a better understanding of each bean’s characteristics and recommended usage. [more…]

Cold drip coffee is renowned for its low-temperature slow extraction, making it a refreshing yet profound coffee choice for summer. However, within its seemingly simple brewing process lie several easily overlooked key details — from the selection of coffee beans and the treatment of the coffee bed, to water quality and drip rate control — all of which directly impact the final flavor profile. This article will take you through an in-depth analysis of five important yet often neglected aspects of cold drip coffee preparation, helping you improve extraction efficiency and taste complexity, so that every drop of cold drip coffee reaches its full potential. [more…]

Have you ever been puzzled by the lack of clear roast level labeling on coffee packaging? In fact, professional roast classification follows more precise standards — from Agtron color values to roast stages, each number corresponds to distinct flavor characteristics. This article provides an in-depth analysis of eight common roast levels, including their corresponding Agtron values, ideal drop timing, and typical flavor profiles. It also explains how to choose the right coffee beans based on your preference for acidity, sweetness, or bitterness, while offering practical pour over brewing parameter suggestions to help you [more…]

Recently, a branch of Honey Snow Ice City in Guilin, Guangxi was caught using expired roasted coffee powder by local market supervision authorities and was fined 2000 yuan, drawing public attention to the quality control of the supply chain for affordable coffee. How does low-cost coffee strike a balance between cost and food safety? This article dissects the shelf life of roasted coffee powder, common risks of expiration, and analyzes the quality control challenges faced by new-style tea beverage brands amid rapid expansion. [more…]

During a routine unloading operation at a Nestlé factory in Switzerland, workers unexpectedly discovered over 500 kilograms of high-purity cocaine hidden inside a container of coffee beans imported from Brazil. The street value of the narcotics is estimated to be around 330 million RMB. Authorities suspect this was an accidental mix-up by drug traffickers, misloading the wrong shipping container — a type of smuggling “misdelivery” case that has occurred repeatedly at ports worldwide. This article details the incident, analyzes how drugs infiltrated the international logistics chain, and provides practical information on identification and prevention. [more…]

During the May Day holiday, Shanghai was rocked by a food safety incident involving over 8,000 cups of Yi Dian Dian milk tea that were delivered across provinces and arrived the next day. These milk teas were resold by group-buying agents at doubled prices, sparking consumer health concerns and market chaos. This article delves into the details of the incident, revealing the risks of bacterial growth caused by delayed delivery and improper storage, and extends the discussion to draw insights for coffee enthusiasts—helping readers make smarter choices when purchasing beverages. [more…]

Luckin Coffee has recently relaunched several zero-sugar drinks that were popular last year, including Young Coconut Cold Brew and Tangerine Sparkling Americano, sparking widespread discussion in the market. Although the new formulas are marketed as low-calorie and healthy, many consumers have complained that the “taste has changed drastically,” with some even questioning the off-flavors from artificial sweeteners and potential health concerns. This article delves into the details of the product updates, real consumer feedback, and cites research from the University of Southern California to help you understand whether zero-sugar drinks are truly healthier, and how to view the trend of artificial sweeteners rationally. [more…]

Do you drink coffee every day to stay alert, or have you already developed an ingrained habit that’s hard to break? The latest research finds that for most people, drinking coffee is more often driven by daily routines than by actual physiological need. Through in-depth analysis of psychological mechanisms and real-life cases, this article helps you understand your relationship with coffee and reveals how habits shape our everyday choices without us even realizing it. [more…]

As trendy cafés in cities gradually lose their appeal, an increasing number of young people are choosing to return to the countryside to open “three-no” cafés—those without signs, without fanfare, and with low-key operations—which have unexpectedly sparked a new wave of social media attention. This article takes you from the trend of refined urban coffee culture, analyzes how countryside-style homestay cafés have risen against the odds, and explores new trends and possible directions in future coffee consumption. [more…]