New York City, better known as the “city that never sleeps,” can never have too many coffee shops. That’s simply a fact. The Big Apple continues to be at the epicenter of an ongoing caffeine war as coffeehouses, both large and small, establish their storefronts across the five boroughs. As of June 30, 2025, a new chain has entered the villa.
Luckin Coffee, the fast-growing Chinese coffee chain that bested Starbucks in domestic sales, opened its first two U.S. locations in New York City. The stores are located in Greenwich Village, a quick walk from the New York University campus, and in Chelsea. Founded in Beijing in 2017, Luckin became known for its technology-driven retail model, appealing to a young consumer base with its app-focused ordering, cashless payments, loyalty programs, deep discounts and promotions. Speed and convenience are the coffeehouse’s forte, which is underscored by its “grab-and-go” model and lack of indoor seating.
I visited Luckin’s Greenwich Village location this week, which was packed with eager patrons ordering — and waiting for — their drinks. As part of its opening promo, Luckin’s drinks were between 50 to 69 percent off, meaning some drinks cost as low as $1.99. Inside, customers were glued to their phones, while the baristas were hustling behind the counter, hurriedly making drinks or warming up food. The space itself was small with only a few tables and chairs available. It was missing that welcoming community coffeehouse feel that Starbucks is best known for.
Luckin’s menu includes cold brews, lattes, hot coffee, matcha and fruit-focused drinks called “Refreshers.” They also offer pastries, like a chocolate chip brownie, sausage egg & cheese croissant and a banana yogurt loaf.
Here’s everything I tried:
Iced Velvet Latte
As someone who’s vehemently lactose intolerant, I was pleased — no, elated — to see that Luckin offers not one, but three different options for non-dairy milk: Coconut, Oat and Almond. Their Iced Velvet Latte is typically made with whole milk, which I swapped out for coconut milk, along with two shots of Dark roast espresso and Velvet Milk, made with a blend of sweetened condensed milk, heavy cream, whole milk and an ice cream milk mixture that gives the drink its milkshake-like texture. I didn’t realize that Velvet Milk has dairy in it until after I ordered my drink. So if you’re looking for a completely lactose-free, vegan beverage, perhaps opt for a regular latte.
That being said, the Iced Velvet Latte was incredibly delicious. The coconut flavor from the milk was mild and the drink’s overall sweetness was perfect, not saccharine in the slightest. As for its texture, the drink wasn’t thick like traditional American milkshakes, but more so a hybrid of an iced coffee and a milkshake — smooth and fluid with a subtle creaminess.
Raspberry Cold Brew
During a recent trip to Japan, I tried my very first iced espresso lemonade, which made me fall in love with the rather unconventional flavor combination. Never did I think to combine coffee with cold citrus or fruit juice. Luckin’s Raspberry Cold Brew may sound a bit eyebrow-raising at first, but it’s worth giving the drink a chance. Raspberry and coffee are already a perfect pairing. Mix fresh raspberry juice with cold brew and you’ve got a refreshing drink that’s both bold and robust with a hint of tartness.
If you’re looking for a more citrus-heavy option, Luckin also offers a Blood Orange Cold Brew.
Pink Sunrise
Made with coconut milk, two shots of mango juice and strawberry sweet cold foam, the Pink Sunrise is described as a “mango coconut refresher” that has a consistency similar to a fruit smoothie. It’s creamy and incredibly fruity. The drink itself is also quite colorful, with shades of pink, orange and yellow, making it the epitome of summer in a cup.
Solar Breeze
Similar to Starbucks’ signature Refreshers, Luckin’s Solar Breeze is more juice-heavy and features a citrus blend of blood orange and grapefruit juices. It’s light, refreshing (as its name suggests) and mildly sour. I sipped on this drink during a midday walk and it kept me cool, quenched and satisfied.
Additional Refreshers include Ruby Ocean (a strawberry refresher) and Golden Summer (a pineapple refresher).
Iced Matcha Coconut Latte
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