In China today, coffee shops are everywhere, creating a completely different world compared to the past. In the early days, Starbucks was the only option, and later, many coffee shops seemed to target Starbucks as their benchmark. Whether it was imitation or outright copying, the familiarity was undeniable. When stepping into those early coffee shops, the atmosphere often felt like another version of Starbucks. However, such establishments usually didn’t last long. At least, some of the coffee shops I saw in Dongguan back then no longer exist. Many started with decent business but eventually disappeared into the flow of time.
Later on, the most famous Chinese coffee chain was undoubtedly Luckin Coffee. It once aimed to go public overseas but ran into some issues. Luckin expanded rapidly, opening thousands of stores in a short time. However, its business model differed from Starbucks. While it evolved through imitation, it introduced innovations. Luckin stores had almost no seating, and customers couldn’t place orders on-site. Instead, all orders and payments had to be made via mobile apps, after which customers would receive a queue number and wait to pick up their drinks.
Luckin Coffee offers a weekly membership coupon, making it very affordable to get a cup of coffee. I have friends who only buy Luckin Coffee when there’s a discount and opt for other hand-shaken drinks the rest of the time. Starbucks, however, still maintains its market share. Despite its relatively high prices, the advantage lies in its environment—something many Chinese coffee shops struggle to surpass. Sometimes, people visit coffee shops not just for the coffee but for a comfortable space to chat. In this aspect, Starbucks remains a top choice for many.
On this trip to China, I got to try Starbucks flavors that aren’t available in Taiwan, which was quite interesting. Some seasonal or holiday-exclusive flavors are truly rare opportunities, making it fun to try something new every now and then.
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