NUMBER OF THE DAY
That’s the size of China’s coffee market in 2024 (~USD 42 billion).
☕ Coffee becomes a habit: Average annual consumption has climbed from 6 to 22.24 cups per person in just seven years — still far below Europe or Japan (>300 cups), but in extremly fast pace (avg. growth 15% vs. 2%).
📦 Boom from bean to machine: Coffee bean imports have nearly tripled in five years, reaching 130,800 tonnes. China is building a full coffee supply chain, from popular Yunnan beans to smart coffee machines.
Watch: China’s coffee consumption keeps growing at double digits (+18% YoY), while Luckin and Cotti blanket the country with US$ 1 lattes. The market is shifting toward cheap hybrid drinks — less origin story, more price, convenience, and flavor experimentation. High-end specialty coffee is feeling the squeeze.
The China Survival Guide for Western Businesses
Entity setup, WeChat strategy, hiring your first local team. 12+ years on the ground in Shanghai.
