Duolingo Is Teaming Up With a Fast-Growing Coffee Chain
I tried all four drinks in the collab, and here's my honest review.
Image Courtesy of Luckin Coffee
If you haven't tried Luckin Coffee yet, now's a great time to check it out. The chain — which is already everywhere in China — is bringing its first brand collab to the United States. I got to try all four of the new drinks.
What is Luckin Coffee?
The Chinese coffee chain, founded in 2017, is more popular than Starbucks in China. It opened its first two U.S. locations — both in New York City — last summer. It markets itself towards Gen Z, with a menu full of colorful, fruity drinks and exclusively mobile ordering. It now has 21 locations in New York.
What are the Luckin x Duolingo drinks?
Luckin is partnering with another playful brand, Duolingo, on four summery drinks. This marks the first Luckin collab in the U.S., though it has already teamed up with Duolingo in China more than once.
"As brands that naturally resonate with Gen Z, this collaboration felt like an authentic way to connect with our communities through experiences they'll genuinely enjoy," Mai Shi, Head of Marketing at Luckin Coffee, says in a press release. "We're excited to bring together Duolingo's playful energy with Luckin Coffee's innovative menu to create something that's fun, shareable and perfectly timed for both summer adventures and the return to school."
(Also, according to a brand rep, the Luckin and Duolingo mascots are friends. How cute is that?)
There are four featured drinks — two new and two returning:
- Piña Colada Mocktail (new), "featuring a vibrant pineapple puree and creamy coconut milk blend infused with sweet cane syrup" and topped with whipped cream.
- Pineapple Coconut Refresher (new), made with "a zesty pineapple puree blended with smooth coconut milk for a tangy yet creamy profile" and topped with strawberry cold foam.
- Pink Sunrise Refresher (returning), "featuring rich coconut milk and sweet mango puree" and topped with strawberry cold foam.
- Mango Cloud Frappe (returning), "featuring a blend of rich mango puree, creamy coconut milk and sweet cane syrup" and topped with whipped cream.
The drinks are all caffeine-free and customizable. I got to try them all at a media event at one of the chain's New York locations.
Sabrina Choudhary
My honest review of the Luckin x Duolingo drinks:
I genuinely enjoyed all of the drinks. You can tell that they're made with real fruit and coconut milk. They don't taste artificial at all. I'd describe all four as refreshing.
I tried the Pink Sunrise Refresher first, and it was easily my favorite. The gradient is pretty, but I'd recommend giving it a good stir — my straw went straight to the bottom, so I got just mango juice at first. (Not a bad thing.) Even though it's made with mango and simple syrup, I didn't find it overly sweet. It's basically juice, but more of a treat. Once I tried them all, this is the one I finished. I'd order it again.
The Pineapple Coconut Refresher was a similar format but with pineapple instead of mango. It tasted the sweetest to me. It's made with real pineapple bits, giving it more texture and lots of concentrated pineapple flavor.
The Mango Cloud Frappe was less sweet than the Pink Sunrise Refresher and also had less mango flavor. It was kind of like a creamy mango smoothie. Not bad, but personally, if I'm going for a frozen mango drink then I'd prefer a tangy mango lassi instead.
The Piña Colada Mocktail is similarly less sweet and less flavorful than the Pineapple Coconut Refresher, so it wasn't my favorite, but it's good if you prefer something light. It would be a nice frozen drink for a hot day.
Sabrina Choudhary
What else is in the Luckin x Duolingo collab?
The brands are also releasing limited-edition merch.
"Guests will find specially designed hot and iced cups, Duolingo-themed stickers, notebooks and bookmarks inspired by the collaboration, and more," the press release says.
(I got a sheet of stickers and a notebook from the media event, and they're both super cute.)
When can you order the Luckin x Duolingo drinks?
You can order the drinks now at participating New York City locations while supplies last. The Refreshers are normally priced at $6.45 for a regular size, while the Frappe and Mocktail are each $7.45.
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