Growing up fast: The new generation of tech-first coffee chains

App-based transactions, automation and convenience are propelling a new wave of rapidly expanding coffee chains around the world. Isabelle Mani investigates the start-ups courting a new generation of coffee consumers – and attracting significant investment on the way

A new wave of coffee shop start-ups is making waves in the international branded coffee shop market. Young and rapidly growing chains, such as China’s Luckin Coffee, Indonesia’s Kopi Kenangan, Singapore’s Flash Coffee, Blue Tokai in India, US-based Blank Street, 5 to go in Romania, and The Coffee in Brazil, have set themselves apart by catering to growing demand for premium coffee combined with affordability and speed of service.