The Starbucks rival, in which everyone is talking, is finally in the USA – I tried it first

I take my coffee – and My Starbucks-seriously. While I tend to do so Brew my own drip coffee at home and have a weakness for my lover Dark Italian roastI’m not immune to them Weekly Starbucks run for Special drinksPresent Seasonal coffeeOr an imagination Espresso-based drink. So when I heard this Luckin coffee – a chain that like Our sister brand Food & Wine recently reportedExcessed Starbucks in one of the largest, most populated countries in the world – I knew that I had to try this new competitor for myself.

But does Luckin really deliver the global hype? Here is my honest evaluation.

Luckin Coffee opens the first US locations in New York City

The Chinese chain in summer Luckin coffee opened its first four locations in the USA in New York City. And while the brand may be fresh in the US coffee scene, Luckin Starbucks has already exceeded Starbucks in China. As Food & Wine reported, the chain was founded in Beijing in 2017, more than 26,000 shops in more than 200 cities opened in less than a decade and has almost 92 million customers per month. But now there are some of these millions of customers in NYC.

Since the chain is so young, Luckin was founded with the digital age. The café uses a technically controlled model to increase efficiency and minimize the physical storage space. Payment is digital here. Orders are abandoned online (either via the Luckin website or your mobile app) for collection or delivery, so that the need for conventional cashiers and meters is required.

And in NYC this mobile approach makes Luckin for post-gy pick-me-ups, a grave-and-go latte on the way to work or pre-order before it is done in the city. I was on my way to the U -Bahn mobile order and the experience couldn’t have been better.

My honest evaluation of Luckin Coffee

On my first visit to Luckin, half of my order was offered when I downloaded the mobile app to order instead of scanning the QR code on order on the web. The standard prices are quite comparable to national chains, if not better, but my entire coffee order for half the price? Say less. I ordered an Iced Americano (which regularly costs 5.45 US dollars for only 2.22 US dollars, and an Iced Kyoto Matcha latte that regularly costs 6.45 US dollars. 20 -unzen latte only 3.22 US Matcha Latte at Starbucks.

The total costs for the two drinks? USD 5.92 with the New York sales tax that less than I paid for my single Pumpkin spice latte At Starbucks last week. In addition to my order, I was impressed by the price in just five minutes – but when it comes to quality, you get what you pay for at Luckin for? No, it’s even better.

I was definitely careful with a Matcha latte That only came out a few dollars in NYC, especially in view of the increasing popularity of the green tea and the steadily rising prices. (For context, a “big” Matcha latte at Empty street coffee In the city in retail for 7.45 US dollars before adjustments.) But Luckins Iced Kyoto Matcha Latte, which advertises the chain as “100% Japanese Matcha”, was not only good according to New York standards; It was great.

The tea was rich and earthy, but not excessively grassy. It didn’t need any additional sweeteners or flavors, and it was just so smooth and creamy. I ordered it with milk milk (lactose intolerance is damn) and the Matcha Was thoroughly whisked thoroughly without lumps or powder on the walls of the cup. It was also the absolutely perfect green tone.

In view of the fact that Luckin threw the Matcha out of the park, I was optimistic about the Eced Americano. Instead of a latte or even a drip coffee with milk, I wanted to try the Americano to really taste and see Luckins Espresso Compared to other popular brands and chains. The coffee was brave but non -bitterAnd it was the perfect ratio of espresso to liquid. No light brown bean water or dark motor oil here. Instead, the coffee was light, smooth and light to sip and tasted fantastic for itself. And like the Matcha Latte, the Luckin Iced Americano was cheaper than important chains – especially Starbucks

Although I have brought my new user offer, I still get consistent offers from the Luckin app that mine has conveyed Starbucks rewards Shame. So far, the app has had two reduced coffees for $ 1.99 each (which corresponds to about a third of the regular price), a 99 cent drink for the transfer of a friend and a 50 percent voucher that will be used at any time next month.

Regardless of the incredible shops, coffee and tea speak for themselves -and I am officially a Luckyin coffee convert.