Luckin Coffee x JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean Collaboration Fails?! Netizens: I'll Design It Myself!

How Strong is Luckin Coffee's Execution Capability?

In mid-August, Luckin Coffee asked its social media followers, "Who do you hope to see Luckin collaborate with!?" - and the comment section drew more than 40,000 replies. Alongside Doraemon and Stitch (both blue-themed), the most popular suggestions included JoJo, Oriental Leaf Tea, Starbucks... (wait, that's off track!) One comment stood out in particular: "Get the Cheese Latte available nationwide first, then we'll talk!"

And so! In late September, Luckin officially announced a collaboration with "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean" launching on October 10th, sending JoJo fans into a frenzy. Beyond the collab itself, Luckin generously catered to netizens by bringing back the long-missed Cheese Latte! A move that perfectly captured the hearts of many loyal fans! But before October 10th arrived, internal "spoilers" from Luckin stirred up intense reactions... especially among JoJo fans, once they saw the collaboration design:

First, a set of unofficial "spoilers" that had surfaced days earlier, in this artistic style:

And now the "spoilers" of the final product, courtesy of Luckin's internal sources:

The bag design puts protagonist Jolyne Cujoh and her Stand front and center, with a color scheme of tiled quadrilaterals and circular patterns meant to channel the manga's passionate energy!

But! But! Everything was fine until the Cheese Latte and its pun-based wordplay came along - and many fans "broke down." The tagline "Long (Jo) time coming! Cheese Latte!" alongside the product's cutout image dragged the whole design's aesthetic down considerably.

Though it fell short of netizens' expectations, many conceded: it's acceptable! Better than the initial unofficial spoilers (just slightly). Some netizens admitted they'd assumed Luckin would use real models for the official photos and had already braced themselves not to buy...

On Luckin's design this time, some netizens noted that previous collaborations and limited-edition packaging had all looked very comfortable - so an ordinary approach on a collab with the famously stylish JOJO left them somewhat disappointed.

Others pushed back: "Anyone who thinks it's ugly is probably a fake fan - JOJO has always been like this!" Still others argued Luckin shouldn't take the blame, since many domestic "Stone Ocean" collab merchandise uses the same set of images - genuinely ugly and lacking sincerity...

Faced with these leaked designs, netizens couldn't sit still! They took matters into their own hands and began creating their own versions, promptly "outshining" the official ones.

We have to admit it - the netizens' designs are genuinely gorgeous! Absolutely stunning! The DIY collaboration designs were instantly flooded with praise and even won recognition from many JoJo fans!

Although the packaging fell short of JoJo fans' expectations, the promotional effect was outstanding! It sparked discussion and reposts across social media, and the wave of DIY creations amplified the buzz even further.

Beyond receiving redesigned versions from fans, the original packaging has also been transformed into all kinds of badges - and even adapted into wallpapers for eco-friendly cups!

Wow! Hopefully Luckin takes some inspiration from these next time! And maybe branch out beyond just bags and cup sleeves!

Image source: Xiaohongshu

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

All this talk of lattes is making us thirsty - and the secret to a great cheese latte, or any milk coffee, is the espresso base. FrontStreet Coffee's Classic Blend was designed precisely for this: an outstanding crema even from entry-level home machines, built on the traditional Mandheling-Brazil formula with a touch of Robusta for extra golden foam, mellow body, and caramel aroma. Lattes, cappuccinos, Dirty - it nails them all.

If you prefer complex nuttiness in your milk coffee, the Brazil-dominant FrontStreet Coffee Premium Blend brings almond, walnut, and macadamia layers with a silky, lingering finish, while the value-minded Black Cocoa Blend delivers the same rich body and generous crema at a friendlier price. And for drinkers who fear bitterness altogether, the fruit-forward Strawberry Candy Blend recreates strawberry-gummy sweetness that turns cold brew into a stunning iced latte with just a splash of milk. Design your own perfect cup - no collaboration required.