Why Is Americano So Bitter and What Went Wrong With the Apple C Version

Luckin Coffee released the Apple C Americano as part of its fruit coffee C series, marketed with a seven-zero standard covering fat, lactose, colors and other additives. On launch day it drew heavy criticism: buyers said the concentrated apple juice tasted too sweet and the coffee flavor did not blend with the fruit.

The formula stays close to earlier C series drinks, a simple mix of concentrated juice and espresso, which is often the source of bitterness complaints when the two parts separate. KFC's apple sparkling Americano drew more favorable comparisons because added sparkling water lightened the coffee taste.

Luckin Coffee has recently launched another collaborative new product, the "Apple C Americano," continuing its fruit coffee C series product line, highlighting a "7 zeros" health standard. However, unlike the previous refreshing fruit coffees that received praise, this apple-flavored specialty drink encountered a flood of negative reviews on its launch day. Consumers generally reported that the concentrated apple juice was too sweet and the coffee flavor was poorly integrated, with some even describing it as "rotten apples soaked in ash water." Meanwhile, KFC's previously launched apple sparkling Americano was more favored for its taste due to the addition of sparkling water, leading netizens to bluntly say "KFC wins completely" in comparison. This article reviews the new product's formula, consumer feedback, and differences from competitors, presenting the true reputation of this controversial new item.

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Looking back at Luckin's new products from the past two years, fruit coffees have taken up almost half the lineup. Especially after the popularity of coconut latte, every time Luckin introduces a "fruit + coffee" specialty combination, coupled with the buzz from cross-industry collaborations, it quickly becomes a hot topic of discussion among consumers.

Take the "Fruit Coffee C Series," which is quite popular on social media, as an example. With relatively positive reviews, it successfully attracted more customers to try it, which also prompted Luckin's R&D team to continuously build on this with new formulas.

Just yesterday, Luckin unveiled its new season collaboration "Drink Apples with Pingu," simultaneously launching an apple-flavored specialty drink, the "Apple C Americano," adding another member to the "C Series." Amid the growing call for healthier beverages, Luckin directly promotes the "7 zeros" label, claiming the product has "0 fat, 0 artificial colors, 0 aspartame, 0 lactose, 0 trans fatty acids, 0 non-dairy creamer, 0 hydrogenated vegetable oil."

According to official promotional materials, the formula structure of the new collaborative Apple C Americano is not much different from the previous "Fruit Coffee C Series," still a simple blend of concentrated juice and coffee. Although the approach is not new, under the dual appeal of the new flavor and collaborative merchandise, many Luckin fans are still willing to order and try it as soon as possible.

However, based on feedback appearing on social media, unlike the refreshing impression given by previous "C Series fruit coffees," the reputation of this Apple C Americano has clearly declined. Not only did it frequently receive "negative reviews" on the first day of launch, but even under the topic of the new collaboration, "warning posts" and "dissuasion posts" about this new product keep popping up.

Summarizing the negative reviews from these fruit coffee enthusiasts, the reasons they find Luckin's Apple C Americano "hard to drink" mainly focus on three aspects: First, the concentrated base providing the apple flavor is too sweet, with a cloying sensation on the palate; second, the flavor integration between the apple juice and coffee is poor, making the two seem particularly disjointed, so many find it both sweet and bitter when drinking, and some compare it to "the taste of rotten apples soaked in ash water."

Additionally, Luckin's "apple + coffee" combination this time also reminds many consumers of KFC's previously launched apple sparkling Americano. It is understood that the KFC version, in addition to NFC juice and coffee, also adds a sufficient amount of sparkling water, making the coffee overall sweet and sour with a stimulating sensation, thus accumulating many "word-of-mouth" positive reviews on social platforms.

In contrast, Luckin's formula has a noticeably higher proportion of water. Shortly after the brand released the new collaboration news, a staff member wearing a Luckin uniform demonstrated online the process of making the Apple C Iced Americano: First pour in 100ml of apple juice, then fill with drinking water to seven-tenths full, stir it, add ice to the top, and drizzle in the coffee liquid.

Because a large amount of drinking water is added during production, although it dilutes some of the sweetness of the concentrated apple juice, it also weakens the coffee flavor, making the overall taste "watery." Consequently, netizens who have compared the two unanimously agree: "This time KFC wins completely."

Image source: Internet screenshot

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