How China Fell in Love With Coffee

Published: Oct 24, 2026 Author: World Gafei Last Updated: Oct/24/2026 96 views

From tea drinkers to coffee enthusiasts: How Starbucks and rising incomes turned coffee into a status symbol in China.

It wasn’t long ago that ordering a cup of coffee in China meant spending what could buy a full meal. For decades, tea was the national drink—practical, cultural, and cheap. But today, walking into a Starbucks or independent café in Beijing or Shanghai is a common sight, especially among younger, urban consumers. The transformation raises a key question: how did China go from a tea-dominated culture to one where coffee is increasingly seen as a daily indulgence—or even a status symbol?

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