BEIJING — Chinese coffee chain Luckin Coffee is set to contend with Starbucks' upscale roastery line, unveiling its flagship store in southern China, emphasizing premium beverage offerings.
This Shenzhen establishment signifies Luckin's strategic pivot from its initial approach of economical coffee kiosks, a method that allowed it to surpass Starbucks in terms of the number of Chinese locations.
Amidst Starbucks' divestment of its struggling Chinese ventures, Luckin is reasserting itself following the recovery from a 2020 fraud scandal, which led to its Nasdaq delisting.
Officially opened on Sunday, the two-story Luckin Coffee Origin Flagship is located near Hong Kong and introduces elevated pricing for a selection of pour-over and cold brew coffees. The store's offerings emphasize beans sourced from Brazil, Ethiopia, and China's Yunnan, aligning with the geographic origin theme popularized by Starbucks and other upscale coffee brands.
Unique concoctions like the "tiramisu latte"—served with a pastry—feature on the menu, attracting substantial attention on Chinese social media platforms like Xiaohongshu. Posts detail waits ranging from 1 to 3 hours since the store's initial soft opening on January 20.