Luckin Coffee’s beverage all-rounder bid signals a broader shift

Luckin’s direction of travel highlights how more coffee chains are positioning for future growth

From popularising the coconut latte in 2021 to generating $13.7m in first-day sales for its Moutai alcohol-infused coffee in 2023, Luckin Coffee has a strong track record of beverage innovation.

Newly released sales data from across the Chinese coffee giant’s tens of thousands of stores demonstrates how the boundaries between beverage categories are becoming increasingly porous in 2026.

Luckin’s non-coffee beverages, ranging from milk teas and matcha to fruity refreshers and creamy frappes, have now surpassed RMB 20bn ($3bn) in cumulative sales, according to the chain’s first Tea Beverage Report Card.