China
China's coffee landscape is incredibly dynamic and diverse, reflecting a rapid evolution from a traditional tea-drinking nation to one with a booming coffee culture. You'll find a wide array of options, from mass-market instant coffee to sophisticated specialty cafes and innovative local chains.
Here's a breakdown of the different ways to order coffee in China and what's in them:
General Ordering & Common Terms:
Hot (热的 - rède) or Iced (冰的 - bīngde): Iced coffee is extremely popular, especially among younger generations.
Sweetness (甜度 - tiándù): Chinese palates generally prefer sweeter drinks. You can specify:
少糖 (shǎotáng): Less sugar
无糖 (wútáng): No sugar (lit. "sugar-free")
不加糖 (bù jiā táng): Don't add sugar
Sugar packets or syrup are almost always available.
Milk (牛奶 - niúnǎi):
加牛奶 (jiā niúnǎi): Add milk (usually fresh milk in cafes)
燕麦奶 (yànmài nǎi): Oat milk (increasingly popular alternative)
椰奶 (yē nǎi): Coconut milk (very popular in unique Chinese coffee creations like Coconut Latte)
Size (大小 - dàxiǎo):
小杯 (xiǎobēi): Small cup
中杯 (zhōngbēi): Medium cup
大杯 (dàbēi): Large cup
超大杯 (chāo dàbēi): Extra large cup (popular with chains like Luckin Coffee)
For Here (在这儿喝 - zài zhè'r hē) or To Go (带走 - dàizǒu):
Takeaway and delivery services are extremely popular in China.
Instant Coffee (速溶咖啡 - sùróng kāfēi):
Still the most consumed coffee format in homes, offices, and rural areas.
Plain Instant Coffee:
Ingredients: Instant coffee powder, hot water. Sugar and milk (powdered or fresh) added to taste.
3-in-1 Sachets: Very common, convenient.
Ingredients: Instant coffee powder, sugar, and non-dairy creamer, pre-mixed.
Traditional / Older Style Coffee (Less common, but can be found in specific regions):
Yuenyeung (鸳鸯 - yuānyāng) (Hong Kong style, but can be found in Cantonese-speaking areas):
What it is: A unique blend of strong black coffee and strong black milk tea. Often a 3 parts coffee to 7 parts tea ratio.
Ingredients: Brewed black coffee, black tea, evaporated milk or condensed milk, sugar. Can be served hot or cold.
"Old-school" Brewed Coffee: Some older cafes or eateries might offer a simple, strong brewed coffee, often using a "sock" filter method (similar to Southeast Asian "Kopi").
Ingredients: Dark roasted coffee, hot water, often served with condensed milk or sugar.
Modern Cafe Style Coffee (Espresso-Based & Brewed):
This is the dominant form in major cities like Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, propelled by both international giants and powerful domestic players.
Espresso (意式浓缩 - yìshì nóngsuō):
Ingredients: Finely ground espresso beans, hot water.
Americano (美式咖啡 - měishì kāfēi): Extremely popular, often ordered iced.
Ingredients: Espresso, hot water.
Latte (拿铁 - nátiě): A ubiquitous choice, often with various flavorings.
Ingredients: Espresso, steamed milk, thin layer of foam.
Flavored Lattes: Vanilla Latte (香草拿铁 - xiāngcǎo nátiě), Caramel Latte (焦糖拿铁 - jiāotáng nátiě), Hazelnut Latte (榛子拿铁 - zhēnzǐ nátiě).
Coconut Latte (生椰拿铁 - shēng yē nátiě): A massive hit, especially popularized by Luckin Coffee.
Ingredients: Espresso, coconut milk (often a special, creamy blend), sometimes a touch of condensed milk for sweetness.
Cappuccino (卡布奇诺 - kǎbùqínuò):
Ingredients: Espresso, steamed milk, thick layer of foam.
Mocha (摩卡 - mókǎ):
Ingredients: Espresso, steamed milk, chocolate syrup/powder.
Flat White (澳白 - àobái or 馥芮白 - fùruìbái): Gaining popularity.
Ingredients: Espresso, finely textured steamed milk (microfoam), less foam than a latte or cappuccino, stronger coffee taste.
Macchiato (玛奇朵 - mǎqíduǒ):
Espresso Macchiato: Espresso "stained" with a dollop of foamed milk.
Caramel Macchiato (焦糖玛奇朵 - jiāotáng mǎqíduǒ): Steamed milk with vanilla syrup, topped with espresso and caramel drizzle.
Cold Brew (冷萃咖啡 - lěngcuì kāfēi): Increasingly trendy, especially in specialty cafes.
Ingredients: Coarsely ground coffee steeped in cold water for an extended period, resulting in a smooth, low-acid concentrate.
Pour-Over / Hand Drip (手冲咖啡 - shǒuchōng kāfēi): Found in specialty coffee shops for connoisseurs, focusing on bean origin and brewing technique.
Ingredients: Freshly ground coffee (often single-origin Arabica), hot water, brewed through a filter cone.
Frappe-style / Blended Iced Coffee (冰沙咖啡 - bīngshā kāfēi): Extremely popular.
Ingredients: Coffee, ice, milk, syrups, blended to a slushy consistency, often topped with whipped cream and various drizzles.
Unique & Innovative Chinese Coffee Creations:
Chinese coffee brands are known for their rapid innovation and fusion of traditional Chinese flavors with coffee.
Dirty Coffee (Dirty咖啡 - Dirty kāfēi): A popular trend, especially in independent cafes.
What it is: A shot or double shot of hot espresso poured directly over cold milk (often milk straight from the fridge) in a small glass, creating a layered, "dirty" effect as the coffee slowly mixes.
Ingredients: Hot espresso, cold milk.
Cheese Coffee (芝士咖啡 - zhīshì kāfēi): Inspired by cheese tea, a thick, savory cheese foam topping.
Ingredients: Coffee (often a black coffee or latte base), topped with a foamy layer made from cream cheese, cream, and sometimes a hint of salt.
Brown Sugar Latte (黑糖拿铁 - hēitáng nátiě): Blends the popular brown sugar boba trend with coffee.
Ingredients: Espresso, steamed milk, brown sugar syrup (often a rich, caramelized variety).
Osmanthus Coffee (桂花咖啡 - guìhuā kāfēi): Incorporates the fragrant osmanthus flower, common in Chinese desserts and teas.
Ingredients: Coffee (latte or Americano base), infused with osmanthus syrup or dried flowers.
Red Bean Latte (红豆拿铁 - hóngdòu nátiě): Utilizes sweet red beans, a popular Asian dessert ingredient.
Ingredients: Espresso, steamed milk, and a paste or pieces of sweetened red beans.
Cremé Brûlée Latte / Velvet Latte / Little Butter Latte (Luckin Coffee specialties): Luckin Coffee is known for its constant innovation with creamy, rich, and often dessert-inspired lattes.
Ingredients: Espresso, often special "velvet-flavored thick milk," various syrups or toppings to create the desired flavor profile.
Places to Order Coffee in China:
Home/Office: Instant coffee is still the norm for convenience.
Street Stalls / Small Eateries: Simpler, often instant coffee-based drinks.
Independent Cafes: Found in abundance in major cities, offering artisanal brews, unique atmospheres, and often highly creative, locally inspired coffee concoctions.
China's coffee market is one of the most exciting globally, constantly innovating and adapting Western coffee traditions to local tastes and preferences.
*The content in this document was generated using artificial intelligence, drawing from various online sources, and subsequently refined for accuracy and conciseness in 2025. Users are advised to consult multiple sources to corroborate information and should not rely solely on this document for comprehensive research.