Why is the Luckin Coffee Coconut Americano so divisive?

Luckin Coffee's Raw Coconut Americano arrived with an official promise of lower sweetness, a more prominent coffee flavor and a lighter mouthfeel. Many buyers disagreed. On social media the drink was compared to a Raw Coconut Latte thinned with plain water, described as watery and thin, and some customers said a half-finished latte topped up with water would taste the same.

The original Raw Coconut Latte, launched in 2021, remains a signature seller and set high expectations for the line. Reviews of the new Americano split along habit lines: occasional drinkers found it more refreshing than the latte but noticeably bitter, while regular Americano drinkers called it greasy. The question of whether the coffee should taste bitter sits at the center of that disagreement.

After Luckin Coffee successfully emerged from its slump thanks to the Raw Coconut Latte, every update to the Raw Coconut series has attracted considerable attention. The recently launched Raw Coconut Americano was officially claimed to have lower sweetness, more prominent coffee flavor, and a refreshing taste, drawing in many consumers eager to try something new. However, after the product hit the market, social media was flooded with complaints. Some people bluntly said it was like "Raw Coconut Latte diluted with plain water," with a watery, lackluster mouthfeel, and even joked that you could make your own Raw Coconut Americano simply by pouring out half a Raw Coconut Latte and topping it up with water. Some longtime customers felt it was more refreshing than the Raw Coconut Latte, but with a noticeable bitterness, and for those used to Americanos, it came across as greasy. This article compiles evaluations from various sides and explores the possible reasons behind this new product.

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When it comes to Luckin Coffee, many people immediately think of the Raw Coconut Latte that once helped it turn things around. This drink, introduced in 2021, won over a large following with its coconut flavor and remains firmly among Luckin's signature products.

Precisely because of this, whenever a new member joins the Raw Coconut family, Luckin's loyal customers can't help but place an order to try it, hoping the new product will surpass its predecessor. The same goes for the Raw Coconut Americano launched today—even before it officially went on sale, many fans were eagerly anticipating it.

According to the official description, the Raw Coconut Americano incorporates Luckin's self-developed Light Raw Coconut Milk, with reduced sweetness and a more prominent coffee flavor, making it quite friendly to those who don't like sweet drinks. At the same time, the officially emphasized "refreshing taste" also won over a group of customers who found the Raw Coconut Latte too heavy, so after the new product launched, quite a few people gave it a try.

But once people got their hands on it and took a sip, some buyers immediately regretted it, unable to resist asking, "What's the difference between this and the Raw Coconut Latte?" From photos posted on social media, this new product called an "Americano" actually looks closer in color to what people think of as a latte.

As for the taste, many who tried it offered sharp reviews, saying the Raw Coconut Americano might as well be renamed "Raw Coconut Latte dishwater," bluntly stating it tastes like Raw Coconut Latte mixed with plain water—"completely watery," "a wishy-washy watery feeling." Some netizens even joked: "Just buy a cup of sugar-free Raw Coconut Latte, pour out half, then top both halves up with water, and you and a friend each get a Raw Coconut Americano."

A longtime Luckin customer said after reviewing it that compared to the rich and sweet Raw Coconut Latte, the Raw Coconut Americano is indeed much more refreshing, and because no extra syrup is added, the bitterness is quite noticeable throughout the cup. But when compared with a regular Americano or coconut water Americano, this new product seems "greasy," leaving some Americano-loving consumers saying they simply can't accept it.

Luckin's speed of launching new products has always been obvious to all, making it a well-known "new product maniac" in the coffee circle. Precisely because of this, Luckin uses an endless stream of new products to firmly capture the attention of users who are always chasing novelty, and it always manages to draw attention with all kinds of unexpected flavors.

However, regarding this new product, some netizens joked that they could taste "the resentment of Luckin's R&D department" in it, speculating that perhaps the researchers couldn't come up with new ideas and, in order to meet KPIs and maintain the frequency of product iteration, forced this drink into existence.

Others think it may be that the Raw Coconut Ceylon Milk Tea made with Light Raw Coconut Milk didn't sell well, so Luckin launched this drink specifically to clear out materials as quickly as possible, giving stores' leftover ingredients one more way to be used up.

Of course, these claims are merely netizens' guesses about the reasons behind the new product's birth and have no actual basis. But they also said that no matter why the Raw Coconut Americano came about, as consumers, they would rather the brand develop truly creative drinks, not a cup of "Raw Coconut Latte mixed with water."

Image source: Xiaohongshu

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