Starbucks Raises Prices for 5 Basic Coffees in 12 Chinese Cities

If you've bought a latte or caramel macchiato in Tianjin or Chongqing recently, you might have noticed something: your usual cup now costs 2 yuan more. On November 6, Starbucks adjusted the prices of five of its most popular basic coffee drinks in 12 Chinese cities—but not in Beijing.

Yes, Starbucks raised the price of five basic drinks—latte, vanilla latte, cappuccino, mocha, and caramel macchiato—by 2 yuan in 12 cities including Tianjin, Dalian, Chongqing, Chengdu, and Xi’an. The price hike took effect November 6, 2023. Beijing was not affected.

What Drinks Were Affected by the Price Increase?

The price increase applies to five of Starbucks’ most ordered basic coffee beverages:

• Latte
• Vanilla Latte
• Cappuccino
• Mocha
• Caramel Macchiato

Each of these drinks now costs 2 yuan more in the 12 affected cities. That’s a straightforward price bump, not a percentage-based adjustment or tiered change.

Which Cities Saw the Price Hike—and Why?

The 12 cities where prices increased are: Tianjin, Dalian, Chongqing, Chengdu, Xi’an, Suzhou, Jinan, Changsha, Shenyang, Zhengzhou, Deyang, and Wuxi.

These cities had historically been priced lower than the national average for these five drinks since Starbucks first entered the Chinese mainland market. According to a Starbucks China spokesperson, this adjustment is meant to “align” the pricing in those cities with the rest of the country. Beijing was not part of the original lower-price group and thus was not adjusted.

How Many Price Increases Has Starbucks Done in China This Year?

This is the second price adjustment Starbucks has made in China during 2023. Earlier in the year, the company raised prices for several beverage categories, including espresso-based drinks and freshly brewed coffee, by 1 to 2 yuan. The 2023 price changes occurred in two separate adjustments: one earlier in the year and this second round in November affecting just five basic drinks in select cities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Starbucks drinks had their price raised in November 2023?

The five drinks that went up in price are: latte, vanilla latte, cappuccino, mocha, and caramel macchiato. Each increased by 2 yuan in the affected cities.

How much did Starbucks coffee prices go up in November 2023?

The price increase was 2 yuan per drink. This applied only to the five basic coffee beverages listed and only in the 12 specified cities.

Which 12 Chinese cities saw a Starbucks price hike in November 2023?

The cities are: Tianjin, Dalian, Chongqing, Chengdu, Xi’an, Suzhou, Jinan, Changsha, Shenyang, Zhengzhou, Deyang, and Wuxi.

Why were only certain cities affected by the Starbucks price increase?

These 12 cities had previously been priced lower than the national standard for these five drinks since Starbucks entered the Chinese market. The November 2023 adjustment was made to align their prices with other cities.

Was Beijing included in the Starbucks November 2023 price increase?

No, Beijing was not part of the November 2023 Starbucks price adjustment. It was not among the 12 cities where prices were raised for the five basic drinks.

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