Can DIY Customization Reshape the Coffee Industry?

Luckin Coffee has piloted a drink DIY menu in selected stores, letting customers pick their milk base and add extra milk or espresso. The add-on options vary by drink. Customers welcomed the move and asked for a nationwide rollout, while employees raised concerns about already heavy order volumes.

Staff noted the service exists only at pilot stores, not across the chain, and warned that unclear messaging leads customers to expect it everywhere. Luckin also announced on January 22 that it completed core functions of its HarmonyOS native app. Starbucks China and independent cafes already offer similar customization.

In recent years, consumers' demand for personalized coffee has continued to climb, and many chain brands and independent cafés have rolled out customization options. Recently, a netizen revealed that Luckin Coffee has piloted a "drink DIY" menu in some stores, allowing customers to choose their milk base and even add extra milk or espresso. As soon as the news broke, Luckin fans cheered, "Roll it out nationwide, fast," while some employees worried that order volumes are already huge and that a full rollout could leave them "run ragged." Meanwhile, on January 22, Luckin announced it had completed development of the core functions of its HarmonyOS native app. Is this exploration of coffee customization a blessing or a burden? This article takes you through it.

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Office workers' demand for everyday coffee keeps rising, along with a growing appetite for fresh flavors. To cater to this personalized consumption trend, some coffee chains and independent shops have begun offering customized flavor options. For example, some private cafés and Starbucks China allow customers to adjust drinks to their personal preferences.

Recently, a netizen posted on social media that Luckin Coffee has launched a "drink DIY" menu, letting consumers choose the milk base used in their coffee according to taste and add extra milk base, though the add-on options vary by drink.

In the comments, someone joked, "If orders blow up, you won't be able to see straight." Some Luckin fans said outright that the DIY menu should be "rolled out nationwide fast." For consumers, Luckin's DIY service is undoubtedly a boon, meeting many people's personalized needs. But some netizens speculated whether DIY drinks will become a common trend in coffee shops nationwide in the future.

On this, one Luckin partner worriedly said it must be made clear that this is only offered at pilot stores, not nationwide. Otherwise, many consumers will ask, "Why can't you do it? Xiaohongshu says you can customize drinks," mistakenly assuming all Luckin stores offer this customization service.

At the same time, another Luckin Coffee employee pointed out that although Starbucks also offers customization options, Luckin's order volume is enormous, and introducing this service could cause a surge in workload; they fear customization will leave them "run ragged," especially during peak periods like Mondays.

Later, a netizen said that the current Luckin DIY menu is only being piloted at a few stores, and customization stores only need to scan a code on the machine to produce the drink without memorizing recipes.

Second, many consumers previously felt coffee always tasted a bit weak, so this time Luckin Coffee's DIY menu offers the option to add espresso. For many office workers, coffee is an essential daily drink. However, different groups of office workers have different tastes and needs when it comes to coffee.

In addition, on January 22, Huawei Terminal Cloud Services announced that Luckin Coffee had successfully completed development of the core functions of its HarmonyOS native app. This collaboration means Luckin Coffee's app will run smoothly on various terminal devices in the HarmonyOS ecosystem, making it easier for users to order coffee.

Overall, the DIY service Luckin Coffee has rolled out in pilot stores is undoubtedly a beneficial innovative attempt, letting consumers better craft their own personalized drinks. In the time ahead, we may see more coffee brands join this ranks, offering consumers more diverse and personalized drink choices.

Image source: Internet

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The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.