China's Starbucks rival could be eyeing up UK next amid rapid expansion

You may be used to picking up your morning coffee from Starbucks, Costa or whatever chain is closest to your office - but soon your go-to local may be a chain you've never even heard of.

The Chinese coffee chain that’s quietly taking over the world is Luckin Coffee - the brand that’s already knocked Starbucks off its perch in China and is now popping up everywhere from Singapore to New York.

Known for its speedy, app-only ordering and prices that won’t make your bank account cry, Luckin has built a cult following in record time. Forget plush sofas and jazzy playlists - this is coffee stripped back to basics: order on your phone, pick it up fast and go.

And the formula is clearly working. Originally founded in Beijing in 2017, Luckin has grown faster than any coffee challenger could have expected.

By 2023, it surpassed Starbucks in China with over 20,000 stores, expanding to more than 24,000 globally by mid-2025 - including outlets in Singapore, Malaysia and now New York City.

The chain successfully launched in the US in June (VCG/Contributor/Getty)

So, could the UK be next?

Luckin has already made its American debut in June 2025 with two app-driven locations in New York, which caused a minor stir with dollar-priced launch promotions - just ahead of Starbucks’ more hospitable, community-style stores.

“This is just the beginning,” Luckin posted on Instagram at the time.

A Companies House listing from 22 July this year for 'Luckin Coffee Limited' could be a hint that a UK takeover may be imminent...

And while Starbucks is known for it's caramel frappes and pumpkin spice lattes, Luckin is known for bestsellers like the coconut latte, the velvet latte and apple fizzy americano - that's apple juice, fizzy water and coffee, over ice.

Backed by cutting-edge tech, a lightning-fast supply chain and a business model built for scale, Luckin isn’t just playing catch-up with Starbucks anymore - it’s rewriting the coffee rulebook.

While the Seattle giant still pulls in $36 billion a year globally, it’s clear the fight for your morning latte is only just heating up.

The chain uses app-only ordering (Zhang Peng/Contributor/Getty)

If Luckin does land in the UK, expect slick app-based ordering, aggressive launch discounts and grab-and-go shops in city centres and near transport hubs. Basically, it's coffee on tap, without the Starbucks price tag.

FOOBible contacted Luckin Coffee about a UK launch, to which they said: "We currently do not have specific details to share. Should there be updates in the future, we will share them."