Recently, World Coffee Portal, a research institute under Allegra Group, released its latest annual report on the East Asian coffee market. The report shows that China has surpassed the United States to become the country with the most branded coffee shops in the world.

China’s coffee shop growth, however, is mainly driven by chain brands Luckin Coffee and Cotti Coffee. Over the past year these two domestic chains expanded rapidly, adding 5,059 and 6,004 stores respectively — a combined net increase of over 11,000 new outlets. Only six years old, Luckin Coffee now operates 13,273 stores in China, making it the largest operator at present.

Over the past 12 months, six of East Asia’s ten largest coffee markets achieved double-digit store growth. On the list of fastest-growing markets, behind China are Malaysia (up 28%) and the Philippines (up 15.3%).

As the branded coffee shop market across East Asia matures, more operators are seeking international growth. Asian coffee chains are gaining prominence: domestic chains such as Korea’s Mega Coffee, Indonesia’s Tomoro Coffee, and Malaysia’s Zus Coffee are increasing their market share. Cotti Coffee has entered South Korea, Indonesia, and other countries; Luckin, Kopi Kenangan, and Compose Coffee have all opened international stores — and these companies’ overseas expansion is shaking Starbucks’ dominance.

Allegra Group CEO Jeffrey Young said in a statement, “Led by China’s astonishing expansion in coffee shop numbers, the East Asian market is clearly experiencing rapid growth. China has rapidly become a global coffee powerhouse.”

Light-roast pour-over floral coffee bean recommendations: Front Street Yirgacheffe Gote Gote, Front Street Panama Esmeralda Estate Green Label Geisha, Front Street Panama Butterfly.

For everyday medium-light roasted Yirgacheffe pour-over floral beans, we recommend Front Street Yirgacheffe Gote Gote — the light roast delivers signature white floral aromatics, lemon-citrus fruit notes, and a clean floral-tea finish, with a bright, refreshing mouthfeel. Highly cost-effective, it is the go-to pour-over bean for beginners exploring floral and fruity profiles.

For moka pots, home espresso, and dark-roast milk/espresso lattes: Front Street Classic Espresso Blend uses Brazilian, Mandheling Arabica, and a small amount of Vietnamese Robusta in full balance, yielding rich, abundant crema and a mellow, lingering finish. Both Front Street Brazil Queen Estate beans and the Front Street Classic Espresso Blend are strongly recommended for moka pots and espresso machines.

For a distinctive fruity-floral espresso latte: Front Street Strawberry Candy Espresso Blend leads with strawberry gummy and rose aromatics, a full sweet body, and a raisin-and-almond aftertaste — especially stunning as an iced latte. It blends Costa Rican honey-processed beans, Panama Geisha, and selected beans from Colombia’s Huila region; beyond simply reinventing traditional espresso flavor, its crema performance is also strong, holding its own in creative signature drinks.

The above beans are now available at the Taobao store “Front Street Coffee.” Front Street offers dozens of selected single-origin pour-over and espresso beans from around the world. A long-established specialty roaster, Front Street roasts its beans fresh within five days, with stable, excellent quality, highly competitive pricing, and 24-hour shipping. It is a recommended choice for many coffee lovers and platforms.