If you’re a coffee drinker, you’ve probably heard the term “Starbucks of China”. That term refers to China’s largest coffee chain, Luckin Coffee, which has just made its international debut in Singapore. Their first two stores opened on March 31 at Ngee Ann City and Marina Square, with plans to open more stores throughout the year. I’m an avid fan of Starbucks, so I wanted to try Luckin Coffee’s more unique offerings and experience its innovative, technology-driven retail concept.
Upon entering the minimalist blue and white cafe, I’m impressed that a cashier-less experience is available. You can order and pay for your drinks through the Luckin Coffee app, a welcome process in my books. The Coconut Latte is constantly pushed into the spotlight, so we had to try it. The combination of fragrant coffee beans and creamy coconut milk was refreshing and definitely worth a try if you enjoy cold coffees.
I also tried their Little Black Cup Specialty Single Origins Espresso (SOE) Series, specifically the Yirgacheffe and Hambella variations. Both had their own characteristics and are available with milk and syrup if required. I enjoyed the floral notes and hints of peach in the Yirgacheffe. In contrast, the clean and intrinsic flavours of bergamot, chocolate, and peach in the Hambella were great for black and milk-based coffees.
Technology-driven retail concept
Its innovative technology-driven retail concept sets Luckin Coffee apart from other coffee chains. The user journey is centred around the smartphone, and there are no cashiers in their minimalist coffee shops. Instead, diners order and pay on the Luckin Coffee app for both dine-in and take-away options, presenting a seamless, hassle-free experience. I found this concept very interesting, and I appreciated the convenience it offered.
Luckin Coffee’s coffee is brewed from sustainably-sourced Arabica beans of the highest quality, harvested from Yunnan, China, Columbia and Ethiopia. The coffee beans have won the Gold Medal in the IIAC International Coffee Tasting Competition for five consecutive years from 2018-2022. Luckin Coffee also has a team of WBC champions from coffee capitals of the world, including Poland, Italy, Japan, Australia and China, who bring with them their unique expertise and passion for crafting more than 180 variations of international-level coffee recipes to match the tastebuds of even the most discerning customer.
Luckin Coffee offers a wide range of coffee-based lattes made with cold-pressed raw coconut milk in variations like Coconut Latte, Coconut Velvet Latte and Coconut Mocha. The Coconut Latte is so popular that it has achieved record-breaking sales of over 10 million cups sold in the first month of launch. They also have a Little Black Cup Specialty Single Origins Espresso (SOE) Series that spotlights two varieties – Yirgacheffe and Hambella – that will entice in all variations of the americano, latte, flat white, dirty or coconut dirty.
Overall, Luckin Coffee’s quality coffee and innovative technology-driven retail concept make it a leading new retail coffee chain. It is worth trying Luckin Coffee and experiencing its unique offerings.
Opening promotion: First in-app order at only $0.99
Try your first Luckin beverage at only $0.99 when you download the Luckin Coffee app and make your first in-app order.
Luckin Coffee: Facebook | Instagram
Luckin Coffee
Ngee Ann City
Address: 391 Orchard Road #01-K2, Civic Plaza, Ngee Ann City, Singapore 238872
Open Daily: 9am – 9.30pm (last order 9.30pm)
Nearest MRT: Orchard
Marina Square
Address: 6 Raffles Blvd, #02-153, Marina Square, Singapore 039594
Open Daily: 8am – 10pm (last order 9.30pm)
Nearest MRT: Esplanade
