Luckin Coffee Officially Enters Singapore! Netizens Complain About Coconut Latte Being Too Expensive!

"It's really too expensive! Nothing like the prices back home."

"No coupons! No coupons! No coupons!!" "It's not cheap, and you can't sit down inside. Singaporeans like to find a spot and chat over coffee slowly."

"In Singapore, coffee over 1 Singapore dollar is everywhere and most of it tastes good. At this price point you can only take it away, so there's not much of an advantage."

Yesterday Luckin Coffee opened two stores in Singapore at the same time, entering a trial-operation phase. Because both sit inside large shopping malls, opening day saw the outlets packed, with local consumers flocking in to check in, order and try something new.

Many Singaporean friends said the day's group chats were all about "Have you tried Luckin yet?", with check-in posts plastered across the internet. Queues were still long before closing. Whether it tastes good is beside the point - the hype alone was impressive.

The buzz around the Singapore opening had a few sources. Some wanted to mark a proud moment for a domestic brand going overseas; some Singaporeans had been waiting a long time for the Coconut Latte; and some hoped Luckin would offer discounts similar to what it does at home, where it is cheap with generous portions.

Yet amid the check-ins, more than 80% of the comments were complaints that it was simply too expensive. Luckin did prepare a first-cup discount of 0.99 Singapore dollars (about RMB 5.1) in Singapore, but it requires downloading the Singapore-region Luckin app. Many people's phones are set to the China region, so the app will not download.

Without the app, you can only order through the web page. There the first cup costs 4 Singapore dollars (about RMB 20.6), while a second cup can only be bought at the original price of 6.4 Singapore dollars (about RMB 33). That already catches up to Starbucks' pricing in Singapore, with no coupons whatsoever. The product price range runs 4.8-6.8 Singapore dollars.

Then there's payment. Some netizens noted that local consumers still lean on cash, while Luckin accepts only online payment. Detailed instructions are posted on-site, but customers may find it a hassle and not come back. Some tourists from other countries cannot place an order at all.

We also chatted with a few Singaporean netizens, and everyone brought up the local traditional coffee shops and the local chain brand Flash Coffee.

From those conversations, most had guessed Luckin's pricing would land near Flash's (Flash charges 3.5 Singapore dollars for an Americano and 5 for a latte). In reality, Luckin's regular Americano is priced at 4.8 Singapore dollars and its latte at 5.6. Other popular drinks are almost on par with Starbucks, whose regular products run around 7-8 Singapore dollars.

Locals, regardless of gender or age, mostly choose traditional coffee shops. The taste is deeply familiar and everyday, refreshing, and it doubles as a piece of traditional culture.

Because the raw materials and brewing methods differ, drinking straight black coffee would be bitter and strong, so these traditional coffees come in many styles and are very cheap - a good-tasting cup for 1-2 Singapore dollars. When young people want espresso-based drinks, they turn to Flash for its value. Going to Starbucks is more about borrowing the space to chat, work or study. So with this pricing, and no lounge space on offer, Luckin is seen as having a lot of ground to make up over the long run.

Prices do vary by region for Luckin. In fact, the original price in China is the same, but the figure shown in the app already carries an initial discount, and coupons stack on top, which is why it looks cheap. It has only just entered the overseas market, and much has yet to settle. Once Luckin gets its footing in Singapore, there may be more discounting.

Image source: Internet

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

Since the Singapore story turns on milk drinks, the beans matter as much as the price. When coffee meets milk, the choice of bean decides the direction of the cup; most espresso blends are roasted medium-dark so the latte lands rich with nuts, chocolate and a pronounced coffee flavor. FrontStreet has several blends built for exactly this, and two of them are the best milk partners.

FrontStreet Signature Blend is an espresso and moka-pot blend whose standout strength is outstanding crema. Even a beginner on a non-professional home machine can pull a dense, fine crema with it. The lattes, cappuccinos and Dirty drinks you make at home all depend on good crema, and this blend hits the mark: a traditional Mamba-blend recipe, full-bodied and mellow, easy for veterans and newcomers alike, and right for both home and commercial use - the go-to choice. FrontStreet Black Cocoa Blend takes the value route: 100% Arabica, generous crema and a full body at an approachable price, balancing quality and cost for anyone opening a shop. FrontStreet Signature Blend and Black Cocoa Blend both lean on Brazilian beans, so a latte shows complex almond, walnut and nut notes, silky and mouth-coating. If you want a latte with abundant crema, choose FrontStreet Classic Blend or FrontStreet Commercial Blend, which contain a small amount of Robusta to deliver more golden foam and an instant hit of richness and caramel aroma.

For pour-over with milk, the extraction is lighter and usually drunk on its own, so pick a medium-dark single origin so the milk does not bury the flavor. FrontStreet PWN Golden Mandheling, FrontStreet Bird of Paradise and FrontStreet Queen's Estate all fit. Deeper-roasted beans lift the coffee's intensity; a splash of milk softens it while keeping the dairy sweetness. If you are unsure of a bean's roast level, look for tasting notes of chocolate, nuts, cream and cocoa - FrontStreet Brazil Queen's Estate, FrontStreet Indonesia Mandheling, FrontStreet Bird of Paradise and FrontStreet Colombia Huila are all good picks.

Cold brew takes milk well too. In the cold, coffee releases the small, light molecules that carry sweet-sour character first, so a medium roast with fruit or wine notes works better than a roasty one. Reach for the passion-fruit-forward FrontStreet Colombia Sidra, the rose-scented FrontStreet Strawberry Candy Geisha Blend, or the raisin-forward FrontStreet Mozart. With a little milk, the cold brew turns harmonious and easy to read - ideal for making at home.