The coffee market heats up in China: Power of the young consumers and diversifying sales methods

The coffee market heats up in China: Power of the young consumers and diversifying sales methods

The popularity of coffee has been growing in China, becoming a part of everyday life. Younger consumers “updating” their coffee consumption style and the diversification of sales methods are major factors. We will provide an overview of China's coffee market using data and introduce the main factors behind its growth.


China's coffee market is heating up

The coffee market is currently booming in China. According to a study by the American business consulting firm Frost & Sullivan, China's coffee market grew rapidly from 2013 to 2018, recording an average annual growth rate of 29.54%. Based on the forecast that the average annual growth rate of 25.99% will continue, the market size is expected to reach CNY 180.6 billion in 2023.

Graph of China's coffee market size (unit: billion yuan)

The number of coffee shops is also growing. According to the 2022 China On-Site Coffee Product Development Report (2022中国现制咖啡品类发展报告) conducted by Meituan-Dianping (美团美食) and Kamen (咖门), there are 117,300 coffee shops in China as of May 2022, and there was a 14.6% increase compared to the same period last year. In one year, 15,000 new coffee shops were opened.

Not only is China seeing the number of coffee shops increasing but coffee-related businesses are also growing. According to data from Tianyancha (天眼查), as of 2022, there are more than 170,000 coffee-related companies in China, of which more than 23,000 companies were newly registered in 2021. The rate of increase in the number of newly registered companies is 18.9%. In terms of the period of establishment, more than 42.2% of the companies were established within the last 1 to 5 years, indicating the coffee market has been “heating” up in recent years.

Changes in coffee consumption styles among young consumers

According to data from RED (Xiaohongshu [小紅書]), which has many young users in China, more than 70% of accounts on RED have the habit of drinking coffee, and more than 50% of accounts drink at least one cup of coffee every week. We found that drinking coffee has already become a daily habit among RED users.

One of the RED Coffee Life Activities held at Taipingqiao Park in Shanghai in June. Many coffee shops held a coffee stand, and there were many young visitors.

Additionally, “Chinese-style coffee” is becoming popular among young people. According to the data, the number of people searching “Chinese coffee” on RED in the first quarter of 2023 increased by 331% compared to the same period the previous year. This new Chinese-style coffee is called "chaka (茶咖)." The fusion of Chinese tea and coffee culture, “chaka,” has led to an increase in the number of coffee shops designed in a Chinese style, making it a new and popular trend in 2023. From the raw coffee beans, processing techniques, flavors, and in-store aesthetics, there is a growing trend towards Chinese localization, and the appeal of coffee is reaching beyond to include tea lovers.

Furthermore, coffee is no longer a drink only available in coffee shops. It can now be found in a variety of places, including temples, the post office, gas stations, and even the police station. Taking advantage of the high demand for coffee, various places are devising ways to attract young visitors.

A coffee shop built by the public security bureau in Chengdu in Sichuan Province. There are many customers.

More importantly, for young people, coffee is not only a favorite beverage but a new tool for socializing. There is a growing trend where people interact with each other over coffee, connecting with others and, in turn, society, so much so to coin the term “咖啡社交,” meaning “social coffee.” Additionally, in today's highly competitive China market, coffee shops have become a “third place” among young people, a place where they can relax between work and their personal life.

Diversifying coffee sales methods

The diversification of sales methods for coffee is one of the major reasons behind the booming coffee market.
Diversifying the sales methods is a business approach that increases the number of people visiting the physical brick-and-mortar store by attracting attention online. On Douyin, a video-sharing service provided from ByteDance, the enthusiastic discussions surrounding "#咖啡 (hashtag coffee)" has reached 27.39 billion views, and as of April 2023, there are many posts about visiting coffee shops on Douyin. The number of accounts that did so increased by 328% compared to the same period the previous year. This high level of attention to coffee presents significant commercial opportunities for companies in the coffee business.

In 2022, Nowwa Coffee (挪瓦咖啡) has started opening in cities considered third-tier and fourth-tier in China's city tier system, where, previously, there aren’t too many coffee shops. It would have been difficult to attract customers by simply opening the store, but in 2022, a video called “挪瓦咖啡敲椰子 (Nowwa Coffee cracks a coconut)” was posted on Douyin capturing footage of coffee being brewed using a real coconut that is cracked in front of customers garnered more than 260 million views, and it had a huge impact on the newly opened store's rapid customer acquisition. As a result, Nowwa Coffee has now ranked first among coffee shops across many cities on Douyin’s ranking of trending coffee shops.

The actual video of “挪瓦咖啡敲椰子 (Nowwa Coffee cracks a coconut)” posted on Douyin

In addition, Douyin not only allows you to post videos and livestream but it also allows you to purchase products directly from the live broadcast screen or from the Douyin Mall store.
According to the 2023 Coffee Circuit Special Research Report (2023年咖啡赛道专题研究报告) released in collaboration with Douyin Life Clothing (抖音生活服务), etc., it was found that sales through short-form videos and livestreams are on the rise. In particular, the number of purchases made via live broadcasts in April 2023 increased by 22 times compared to the same period the previous year.

The number of coffee-related purchases made through Douyin's short-form videos and livestreams. The green line represents sales made via livestreams, and the red line are those via short-form videos.

In this way, by effectively utilizing Douyin, coffee shops are able to increase their popularity and sales in a short period of time. Customers who visit the store or purchase products after seeing them on Douyin then also share their own experiences on Douyin, creating a positive image of the brand and creating a high-quality cycle.

Another example of diversified sales methods is the sale of coffee via food trucks. There have been more than 1.13 million posts about coffee trucks on RED, and they have been viewed more than 65 million times. Being able to go out and buy a cup of coffee anytime and anywhere gives consumers a sense of convenience and comfort.

Summary

We introduced the rise of the coffee market in China and the events that played a major role in its growth. Changes in the coffee consumption styles among young consumers and various places starting to sell coffee with the aim of answering to the demand for coffee among young consumers are expanding the coffee market.
Furthermore, by utilizing social media, such as Douyin and RED, coffee sales methods are diversifying, such as creating a positive cycle that leads to increased customers and sales.
The coffee market in China is expected to continue expanding. It will be interesting to see how coffee consumption styles and the sales methods of coffee-related companies evolve in the future.

Reference URLs

中国的咖啡市场现状如何 2022中国咖啡市场数据分析报告
https://www.mitsublshi.com/h/37486.html
市场规模2023年将超1800亿!中国咖啡消费迈向日常化刚需化
https://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1750267337635375282&wfr=spider&for=pc
2023咖啡行业发展趋势及市场现状分析
https://think.szonline.net/zhbd/20230114/202301557840.html
咖啡成年轻人新型“社交货币”
https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_23508593
咖啡市场线上化?是资本野心还是风口锚点
https://www.digitaling.com/articles/943809.html 

※日本語での記事はこちらをご確認ください

中国でコーヒー市場が活性化 若者の力と多様化する販売方法

https://manamina.valuesccg.com/articles/2511

近年中国ではコーヒー市場が盛り上がりを見せ、コーヒーは市民の生活の一部となっています。中国におけるコーヒー市場の盛り上がりには、主に2つの要因が挙げられます。一つは、若者世代が人々のコーヒー消費スタイルをアップデートしていること。もう一つは、コーヒーの販売方法の多様化です。以下ではまず、数字データを基に中国のコーヒー市場を概観した後、コーヒー市場の盛り上がりの主要因について紹介していきます。

この記事のライター

Born and raised in the Bay Area, U.S.A, I was fascinated by the different social and purchasing behaviors between Japanese and American consumers. I studied communication for undergrad and international marketing for my graduate studies. My professional background is in bilingual recruitment and Japanese-English translation.

関連する投稿


レシピサービス利用率、第1位はYouTube!自炊とレシピサービスの実態を調査 | ホワイトペーパー

レシピサービス利用率、第1位はYouTube!自炊とレシピサービスの実態を調査 | ホワイトペーパー

相次ぐ値上げやテレワークの定着により、自炊をする人はコロナ禍前と比較して40%以上増加。そんな自炊を支えるのが、レシピサービスです。レシピサイト、レシピアプリ、レシピ本、SNS、料理番組など様々な媒体が存在する中で、生活者の利用率ランキング1位はYouTube。コロナ前からの利用増加率ではInstagramやTikTokが目立ちます。本レポートでは、各媒体のユーザー像を明らかにするとともに、自炊とレシピサービスの実態を探ります。


中国の若者世代で「精致抠」の消費観が普及。消費スタイルの変化を調査

中国の若者世代で「精致抠」の消費観が普及。消費スタイルの変化を調査

現代中国の若者世代が持つ独特な消費観に、「精致抠」というものがあります。できる限り無駄遣いを減らして、自分が本当に欲しい物を買うという価値観です。本記事では、「精致抠」はどのような考えか、そして「精致抠」の消費観のもと、若者世代を中心とした中国の人々の消費スタイルがどのように変化しているかを紹介します。


中国のZ世代に最も流行している社交方法「搭子」を探す

中国のZ世代に最も流行している社交方法「搭子」を探す

2023年中国のネット上で話題になった「搭子」社交は、中国のZ世代に最も人気がある社交方法と言われます。ところで、「搭子」とは何でしょうか。昔の社交方法とどのよう違いがあり、中国の若者はどのように人と人との付き合いをしているのでしょうか。今回の記事で詳しく紹介していきます。


中国で人気急上昇の「シティウォーク」。その理由は?|中国トレンド記事

中国で人気急上昇の「シティウォーク」。その理由は?|中国トレンド記事

中国では2022年から「シティウォーク」が大流行し、若者の生活に浸透しつつあります。「シティウォーク」とは何ですか?単に新たな観光方式ですか?人気急上昇の理由は何ですか?今回の記事で詳しく説明します。


「下沈市場」はコロナ禍後どのように変化した?最新のトレンドトピックを調査

「下沈市場」はコロナ禍後どのように変化した?最新のトレンドトピックを調査

中国の三級都市以下の都市および農村のことを指す「下沈(かしん)市場」。中国経済の新たなマーケットとして、近年強い注目を集めています。本記事では、主にコロナ禍後の下沈市場の新たなトレンドに注目し、紹介していきます。


最新の投稿


Since ChatGPT first launched, how have its users changed? Investigating the actual situation regarding ChatGPT users

Since ChatGPT first launched, how have its users changed? Investigating the actual situation regarding ChatGPT users

ChatGPT emerged as the pioneer of generative AI in November 2022, and the number of users continued to grow. We conducted research on the number of users and their personas for March 2023 (4 months after its release). Now (after approx. 9 months), we look to see if there have been any changes in ChatGPT's user base.


サイバーエージェント、Webサイト上で3DCGを活用し顧客に新しい体験を提供するバーチャルストアサービスを開始

サイバーエージェント、Webサイト上で3DCGを活用し顧客に新しい体験を提供するバーチャルストアサービスを開始

株式会社サイバーエージェントは、AI事業本部において3DCGを活用し、企業の販促活動を支援するバーチャルストアの開設・運営サービスを開始したことを発表しました。


BYDのコンパクトEV「ドルフィン」。初速の反応や関心層は?

BYDのコンパクトEV「ドルフィン」。初速の反応や関心層は?

EV業界でトップを走るテスラに続いて日本に参入した、EVメーカーのBYD(比亜迪)。2023年9月20日に日本市場向けEVの第二弾としてコンパクトEVの「ドルフィン」を発売しました。車体価格は363万円と、一般的に高額なEVの中では手頃な価格帯でありながら高い機能性が注目されています。 今回は、BYD「ドルフィン」Webページの訪問者の調査を行い、初速の反応やどのような人が関心を持っているか調査していきます。


年末年始、これさえ見とけば大丈夫!2023年のトレンド振り返り

年末年始、これさえ見とけば大丈夫!2023年のトレンド振り返り

マナミナでは、国内最大規模の消費者オンライン行動データを活用して、世の中のトレンドを調査しています。2023年も様々なトレンドが生まれ、個別に記事として取り上げてきました。今回はそんな調査記事の総集編として、2023年の重要トレンドを振り返ります。


トレンドワードに「麻布台ヒルズ」「アニヤハインドマーチ」など...「週間」検索キーワードランキング(2023/11/19~2023/11/25)

トレンドワードに「麻布台ヒルズ」「アニヤハインドマーチ」など...「週間」検索キーワードランキング(2023/11/19~2023/11/25)

行動ログをもとに週次の検索急上昇ワードランキングを作成し、トレンドになっているワードについて取り上げます。2023年11月19日~11月25日は、11月24日に開業した日本一の超高層ビル「麻布台ヒルズ」や、11月23日から発売開始のユニクロとのコラボ商品で話題の英国ブランド「アニヤハインドマーチ」などが検索急増していました。


競合も、業界も、トレンドもわかる、マーケターのためのリサーチエンジン Dockpit 無料登録はこちら

ページトップへ