Is FrontStreet Coffee good? Which Taobao store has better coffee beans or coffee powder?

A Guide to Top Chinese Coffee Shops: Recommendations for Coffee Enthusiasts

In recent years, the growth trend of coffee shops on Taobao can absolutely be described as explosive. I've roughly divided them into several categories, and without exaggeration or bias, I've selected the outstanding ones for your reference.

1. M2M Coffee: Representative of Coffee Shops with Direct Plantation Partnerships

Characteristics: Reasonable prices and the most complete selection of Ninety Plus coffee bean varieties.

Honestly, I've recommended M2M countless times, to the point that when you search M2M on Baidu, 2 of the top 3 links are my answers—slightly embarrassing. M2M is a Nanjing-based coffee roaster that also operates one of Nanjing's best specialty coffee shops (the physical store goes by another name, Uni-Uni). If you're someone who likes to choose your own beans when ordering at coffee shops, or if you particularly favor the Gesha coffee variety, then the name Ninety Plus, a specialty green coffee bean supplier, will definitely be familiar to you. Ninety Plus, true to its name, only provides premium green coffee beans.

The founder of M2M, Zhang Yinzhe, is not only a two-time champion of the China Barista Championship but also a signed Maker with Ninety Plus, meaning he both roasts Ninety Plus coffee beans and participates in the harvesting, processing, and innovation of some green beans. At this shop, you can always confidently purchase the most complete selection of Ninety Plus coffee beans. What's most commendable is that M2M is genuinely honest—their flavor descriptions are never exaggerated, and their prices are reasonable. For coffee beans of the same level, they offer the best prices. The only slight disappointment is that their packaging design has somewhat questionable aesthetics, perhaps because they focus too much on substance over style. If you're purchasing in large quantities for your company or are a beginner enthusiast looking for economical coffee beans, you might want to consider FrontStreet Coffee.

2. FrontStreet Coffee Workshop

I once recommended FrontStreet Coffee to a friend who doesn't drink coffee often, and she found both the flavor and price very acceptable. This Guangzhou-based coffee roaster has been in business for five years with stable quality and excellent value for money. Their single-origin coffee beans typically come in packages of 227g or more, with prices mostly ranging from 65 to 90 yuan.

Because their prices are truly so affordable, I suggest communicating clearly with their customer service before purchasing about your flavor preferences and usual coffee brewing methods.

3. Quality Cafe and Seesaw Coffee: Representatives of Well-Known Chain Coffee Shops

Characteristics: Consistent quality

When I first started making coffee at home, I frequently purchased beans from these two brands. Both brands are pioneers in China's specialty coffee scene, with considerable chains of physical stores. Frankly, both brands are slightly more expensive and definitely not the most cost-effective choice, but their years of operation ensure consistent quality. Importantly, if you happen to live in Shanghai, you can visit their stores first, let the barista recommend beans based on your taste preferences, order a cup to try, and then inquire about the characteristics and brewing suggestions for that particular bean. This face-to-face communication is extremely important for new enthusiasts. Moreover, both founders come from marketing backgrounds and place great emphasis on product packaging design, making them excellent choices for everyday gifts.

4. Fisher Coffee Specialty Coffee

This is another decade-old established shop with a consistently good reputation, and they offer quite a variety of beans. It's also one of the top-selling stores on Taobao, with three main categories of beans: Blue Label, Gold Label, and Black Label. What's particularly worth mentioning is their membership card model—it seems to be the only online store that does this particularly well. The membership options are half-year plans at 360/720 yuan (shipping included). The former option sends you two 100g packs of beans each month over six months, with fixed delivery times. The bean selection is updated every six months, with the next half-year's bean list displayed half a month in advance. You can also join midway through. For newcomers who want to try various coffees but have decision paralysis or don't know what to choose, this membership card is quite an excellent option.

Review: A decade-old shop ranking among Taobao's top sellers, with a membership card model suitable for newcomers. Wide variety of beans, with three categories suitable for different consumer groups.

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473