Chinese Coffee Giant Luckin Launches in New York with Two Initial Stores
The popular Chinese chain makes its U.S. debut, beginning with soft openings in Brooklyn and Manhattan.
A new competitor has entered the bustling U.S. coffee market. Chinese coffee chain Luckin Coffee, one of the fastest-growing brands in Asia, has officially opened its first stores in the United States, choosing New York City for its debut.
On Monday, the company began soft operations at two locations: 755 Broadway in Brooklyn and 800 6th Avenue in Manhattan. The brand announced its arrival with a simple message via its dedicated U.S. social media channel: “NYC, we’re here. This is just the beginning.”
Luckin Coffee, which was established in Xiamen, China in 2017, promotes a streamlined, cashier-less experience where customers place orders through the company’s mobile app or affiliated platforms. Its physical outlets are typically compact, designed mainly for order pickup and limited in-store seating.
The U.S. launch attracted attention not just from New Yorkers. One enthusiastic customer reportedly drove from Florida to New York — a journey of over 1,400 miles — to be among the first to try the new stores.
With over 24,000 branches globally, the brand has built a strong presence in China, Singapore, and Malaysia, positioning itself as an affordable and tech-forward alternative to traditional café models. In China, Luckin has been noted for offering drinks similar to global competitors — such as lattes, cold brews, and matcha beverages — but often at significantly lower prices.
This isn’t Luckin’s first brush with the American market. The company filed for a U.S. stock exchange listing in 2019, but faced setbacks the following year when it was revealed that revenue figures had been artificially inflated. A settlement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in 2020 required Luckin to pay $180 million to resolve the matter. Despite the controversy, the company quickly rebounded, and by 2021, its China-based revenue outpaced Starbucks, according to reports by The New York Times.
Whether Luckin plans to pursue the same level of expansion in the U.S. remains unclear. Starbucks currently operates more than 17,000 locations across the United States and over 7,700 in China, according to the latest company data. Luckin did not issue a comment on its long-term U.S. strategy.
The American coffee landscape is increasingly crowded. Alongside Starbucks and Dunkin’ — which has over 14,000 outlets — regional chains like Dutch Bros, Biggby Coffee, and Scooter’s Coffee are all actively expanding. Dutch Bros aims to reach over 2,000 locations by 2029, while Biggby has set a target of 1,000 stores by 2028. Scooter’s, already operating more than 850 outlets, also plans further growth.
Meanwhile, Starbucks has undergone several operational changes in recent months. These include discontinuing its olive oil coffee line, removing surcharges for plant-based milks, and revising policies related to menu items and customization charges — including fees for syrups and matcha powder.
With the arrival of Luckin Coffee, U.S. consumers now have yet another player in the rapidly evolving specialty coffee scene — one that brings a tech-driven, cost-efficient model already proven successful abroad.
