What Luckin Coffee does

Luckin Coffee operates a technology-driven new retail coffee platform that combines a cashier-less mobile app-based ordering system with a globally scaled network of pickup stores. Founded in 2017 in Xiamen, China, the company has grown to over 35,000 stores globally as of May 2026, having overtaken Starbucks as China's largest coffee chain by store count in November 2023. The core mobile app serves 120+ million registered users and handles 100% of in-store transactions, supporting AI-powered recommendations, dynamic pricing, and process automation across supply chain, inventory, and customer engagement. The product portfolio spans premium single-origin espresso (Luckin Black Cup), signature lattes (led by Coconut Latte with 2.1B+ cumulative cups), non-coffee beverages, ready-to-drink canned coffee (launching April 2026 in convenience stores), and alcoholic beverages (Scarlet Moon cocktail).

Name

Luckin Coffee

Legal name

Luckin Coffee Holding Singapore Pte. Ltd.

Website

https://luckincoffee.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Luckin Coffee is a technology-driven coffee retailer operating 35,000+ cashier-less pickup stores globally, serving 120M+ registered app users with affordable mass-market beverages, premium single-origin espressos, and an expanding non-coffee and RTD portfolio.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Coffee Retail Chain

NAICS

Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (31192), Convenience Retailers and Vending Machine Operators (44513)

SIC

Retail-Eating Places (5812), Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Coffee Chains & Franchise Cafes (THAFADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Instant Coffee & Coffee Extract Manufacturing (AFAFADAD), Breakfast & Coffee QSR (THAFAAAI)

Keywords

• Coffee retail chain
• Mobile app ordering
• Specialty espresso beverages
• Ready-to-drink coffee
• Pickup store operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Xiamen

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Beverage Product Sales: Primary revenue from direct sales of coffee and other beverages through company-owned stores and mobile app orders
2. Delivery Services: Revenue from delivery fees charged through third-party delivery platforms
3. Ready-to-Drink Products: RTD canned and bottled beverages sold through convenience stores and retail channels, launching April 2026
4. Membership Program: Loyalty program revenue from registered app members with exclusive offers and promotions

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Luckin Coffee operates a tech-driven coffee retail platform combining a mobile app ordering system with 33,596+ pickup stores globally. The company sells freshly made coffee beverages, non-coffee beverages, ready-to-drink bottled products, and cocktails, anchored by Signature Lattes and the premium Luckin Black Cup Single Origin Espresso series. Its integrated smart roasting supply chain and AI-driven operations enable aggressive pricing and rapid scale.

Product overview

Luckin Coffee is a technology-driven new retail coffee company operating a platform of over 33,000 pick-up stores globally, complemented by a mobile app with over 120 million registered users. The core offering centers on freshly made coffee beverages including Signature Lattes (led by the Coconut Latte), Barista Coffee classics, and the premium Luckin Black Cup Single Origin Espresso series crafted with World Barista Championship champions. The company has expanded into non-coffee beverages (tea, matcha, fruit drinks), ready-to-drink bottled coffee, and alcoholic cocktails. The mobile app serves as the central engagement platform enabling 100% cashier-less transactions, personalized recommendations, and seamless digital payments. Through its controlling shareholder Centurium Capital, Luckin acquired Blue Bottle Coffee for premium segment expansion. The company operates integrated supply chain operations from bean sourcing (Brazil, Ethiopia, Colombia, Indonesia, Yunnan) through its industry-leading smart roasting infrastructure with capacity exceeding 155,000 tons annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Luckin Black Cup: Premium Single Origin Espresso (SOE) series featuring high-quality beans sourced from renowned regions worldwide, crafted under guidance of World Barista Championship champions
• Lucky Cup

Products and services

• Signature Lattes Luckin's signature latte lineup anchored by the Coconut Latte (over 2.1 billion cumulative cups sold), with Velvet Latte, Little Butter Latte, Creamy Dreamy Latte, and Coconut Velvet Latte varieties. Targeted at mass market and premium consumers seeking signature-flavored coffee beverages.
• Barista Coffee Classic Italian coffee beverages including Americano, Latte, Cappuccino, Flat White, Caramel Macchiato, and Caffe Mocha. Made with IIAC Gold Medal coffee beans and SCHAERER Swiss coffee machines for freshly roasted and ground quality. Targeted at traditional coffee drinkers.
• Luckin Black Cup (Single Origin Espresso Series) Premium Single Origin Espresso series under the Luckin Black Cup brand featuring rare beans from renowned regions including Gesha (Ethiopia), Sumatra Gayo (Indonesia), Yirgacheffe, and Hambella varieties. Crafted under guidance of World Barista Championship champions and priced from $4.50 in Singapore. Targeted at premium coffee enthusiasts.
• Fruity Americano Collection Fruit-infused coffee beverages including Orange Americano, Pomelo Americano, Apple Fizzy Americano, and Grape Fizzy Americano with varying juice content. Targeted at younger and trend-driven consumers seeking novel coffee flavor combinations.
• Matcha Series Matcha-based beverages including Matcha Latte, Matcha Oat Latte, Coconut Matcha Latte, Matcha Frappe, and Matcha Jasmine Frappe. Targeted at non-coffee beverage seekers and tea enthusiasts.
• Oat Milk Series Plant-based coffee beverages made with OATLY Barista Edition oat milk. Includes Oat Milk Latte and Oat Shakerato for lactose-free options. Targeted at health-conscious and dairy-averse consumers.
• Ready-to-Drink Bottled Coffee Bottled ready-to-drink coffee products including low-sugar coconut latte, grapefruit C Americano, and classic Americano in 300ml bottles. Sold through convenience store retail channels. Targeted at grab-and-go consumers seeking off-premise coffee consumption.
• Scarlet Moon Cocktail First alcoholic beverage launched by Luckin Coffee, made with Tanqueray gin. Sold simultaneously across all stores. Targeted at adult consumers seeking new beverage categories beyond coffee.
• Non-Coffee Beverages Diversified beverage portfolio beyond coffee including various tea and fruit-based drinks. As of May 2026, cumulative non-coffee beverage sales surpassed RMB 20 billion, with 22 products each exceeding 100 million cups sold. Targeted at consumers seeking variety beyond coffee.
• Blue Bottle Coffee Premium specialty coffee brand acquired from Nestlé by Centurium Capital (Luckin Coffee's controlling shareholder) for under $400 million. Operates high-end cafés in the US and East Asia, generating approximately $250 million in annual revenue. Targeted at premium specialty coffee consumers seeking high-end café experiences.

Quantifiable outcome

• 35,000+ stores globally as of May 2026
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• GrabFoodminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDelivery partner in Singapore for food and beverage delivery services.
• OATLYminorOthersSupplier partnership providing oat milk as a dairy alternative option for customers.
• Air ChinaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-branded experience partnership for customer engagement initiatives.
• Australian OpenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSports sponsorship partnership for international brand building and marketing visibility.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Starbucks: Starbucks is Luckin's primary global coffee chain competitor; Luckin surpassed Starbucks by store count in China in November 2023. Both operate coffee-focused chains at scale with mobile ordering, loyalty programs, and premium positioning.
• Cotti Coffee: Cotti Coffee is Luckin's most aggressive low-cost Chinese coffee chain rival, employing an almost identical pickup-store, app-driven, discount-led model. Both were named in the 2025 Chinese antitrust probe into delivery subsidies.
• Blue Bottle Coffee: Premium specialty coffee chain acquired by Centurium Capital (Luckin's controlling shareholder) from Nestlé for under $400M in March 2026. Operates high-end cafés in the US and East Asia, ~$250M revenue, and is expected to support Luckin's premium SOE and overseas expansion.
• Tim Hortons China: Tim Hortons operates a coffee chain in China under a JV with Cartesian Capital, directly competing with Luckin in the urban Chinese coffee market with similar digital ordering and pickup offerings.
• Costa Coffee: UK-based coffee chain with global footprint including China stores, offering comparable espresso-based beverages and café-format stores. Competes with Luckin for urban coffee consumers in tier-1 Chinese cities.

Broad incumbents

• Dunkin': US-based QSR coffee and donut chain with ~9,500 stores. Comparable to Luckin's tech-driven pickup model at scale and a direct competitor in the US market Luckin entered in July 2025.
• McCafé: McDonald's in-store coffee bar concept operating globally inside McDonald's restaurants. Competes with Luckin on affordable, convenient coffee in urban locations, particularly in China and Southeast Asia.
• Peet's Coffee: US specialty coffee chain (subsidiary of JDE Peet's) operating retail cafés and packaged coffee. Comparable in its premium positioning and SOE offerings, though primarily US-focused versus Luckin's Asia-centric footprint.

Regional players

• Pacific Coffee: Hong Kong-based coffee chain with presence across Hong Kong, Mainland China, Singapore, and Malaysia. Competes directly with Luckin in Hong Kong and parts of Southeast Asia with similar urban café positioning.

Emerging players

• % Arabica: Japan-origin specialty coffee chain expanding globally with single-origin focus and premium positioning. Comparable to Luckin's SOE Black Cup series and premium coffee store strategy in markets like Singapore and Hong Kong.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds6 records

Investors7 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Luckin Coffee