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7-Eleven Introduces Self-Serve Alcohol-Coffee Mixing Station! Can Alcohol and Coffee Be Consumed Together?

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/27, For professional coffee knowledge exchange and more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat official account: cafe_style). For more specialty coffee beans, please add FrontStreet Coffee's private WeChat account: qjcoffeex As people's lifestyles change, the trending beverages of the past two years have been neither holiday specials nor

For professional coffee knowledge exchange and more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat official account: cafe_style).

For more specialty coffee beans, please add the private WeChat account of FrontStreet Coffee, WeChat ID: qjcoffeex.

The Rise of Convenience Store Cocktails

With changes in people's lifestyles, the trending beverage sensation of the past two years hasn't been holiday specials or brand collaborations, but rather personalized convenience store creations—convenience store cocktail mixing.

A box of soft drink, a cup of coffee, and a miniature bottle of liquor. As the saying goes, "Nothing is difficult in this world if you dare to do it," and netizens have embarked on creating "violent" cocktail concoctions.

The method involves first buying a box of soft drink, taking a couple of sips, then digging a larger circular opening next to the straw, and forcefully inserting an entire miniature liquor bottle. Voilà—a cocktail is complete! Alternatively, you can buy a cup of Americano or latte from a coffee shop, take a couple of sips, then insert an entire miniature liquor bottle through the straw hole, and you've got a mixed coffee cocktail!

Why This Trend Went Viral

Simple to make, inexpensive, and visually appealing! With mutual imitation and continuous innovation among netizens on social platforms, convenience store cocktail mixing has garnered over 400 million views since its emergence.

7-Eleven's Official Response

As demand grew, 7-Eleven recently couldn't sit still anymore! Unable to bear watching the "violent" methods of netizens, 7-Eleven recently began trialing a self-service cocktail mixing station at a Beijing store! The self-service area features four base spirits: Jameson Irish Whiskey, Kahlua Coffee Liqueur, Havana Rum, and Malibu Coconut Rum—these are the most popular DIY base spirits among netizens.

Compared to netizens previously having to buy a cup of coffee or other soft drink at full price (3-20 yuan), and then buy a miniature liquor bottle at full price (20-40 yuan/50ml), 7-Eleven's self-service cocktail mixing station has significantly reduced the cost of DIY. For just over ten yuan on average, you can create many popular convenience store cocktail variations. Meanwhile, 7-Eleven thoughtfully included popular cocktail coffee and cocktail recipes in the self-service area. All you need to do is purchase a cup of 7-Eleven Americano or latte, and for an additional 3 yuan, you can add one pump (approximately 30ml) of base spirit (4 choices available).

How It Works

For those who don't like coffee, you can also buy an ice cup and add a pump of base spirit for an additional 7 yuan, then mix in soft drinks according to your preference. Of course, you can also mix ice directly with the liquor. If one pump isn't enough, you can add another pump for an additional 7 yuan. After purchasing your coffee or ice cup, simply press the cup against the top of the dispenser, and the stand will release a measured amount of base spirit. Compared to the "violent insertion" method, this design is clearly much more elegant.

Public Reaction

Upon its launch, netizens from other regions became envious! They passionately requested 7-Eleven to quickly roll out self-service cocktail mixing stations in more stores. Some netizens expressed that the reason convenience store cocktail mixing became so popular is precisely because people enjoy the "violent" process of inserting liquor bottles. Although it's much cheaper, the mixing station is too gentle.

The Cultural Significance

Convenience store cocktail mixing may seem like youthful mischief, but it actually reflects how people today no longer care about the context when consuming either coffee or alcohol. This will likely be a future development trend for both the coffee and alcohol industries.

Changing Consumer Behavior

Today, the main consumer force in both industries is dominated by those born in the 1990s. Convenience, cost-effectiveness, and DIY are what this generation of young people wants. Compared to the past when drinking alcohol and coffee were primarily for work and social purposes, more people now focus on the products themselves. Drinking is no longer about getting drunk, but seeking a pleasant buzz to relax and heal oneself. Drinking coffee is no longer for showing off, but for staying alert, accompanying breakfast, or aiding digestion after lunch—it's just an ordinary daily beverage. Compared to the offerings and prices of many coffee shops and bars, convenience store cocktails are clearly more appealing to young consumers. DIYing it yourself—whether it tastes good or not isn't important. What matters is that the creation process brings joy.