(Yicai) July 2 -- Chinese coffee chain operator Luckin Coffee has entered the US market, home turf to Starbucks, by opening two outlets in New York.

A Luckin Coffee manager told Yicai today that both stores, which opened in Manhattan on June 30 are ‘Grab‑n‑Go’ outlets, and that the equipment, beverage recipes, and payment systems have all been tailored to suit the US market.

The New York stores are an important milestone in Luckin’s globalization strategy, the person noted, adding that the Xiamen-based company aims to gain local experience in site selection, product offerings, and services, providing key insights for its broader international expansion.

Luckin has not replicated its low‑price strategy in China in the United States, it is evident from the company’s local app, though it did offer coupons worth 99 US cents per cup before the official opening of the two outlets in New York.

According to the app, regular pricing for drip coffee ranges from USD3 to USD5 per cup, while coconut latte products are around USD6.50. These prices are similar to those of Starbucks in the US and in line with Luckin’s stores in Singapore, the manager said.

Founded in 2017, Luckin first ventured overseas in 2023 when it opened a store in Singapore. It entered the Malaysian market earlier the year. As of March 31, Luckin had 24,097 stores worldwide, including 57 self-operated cafes in Singapore and eight franchised outlets in Malaysia.

Editors: Tang Shihua, Futura Costaglione