China Millennials Switch to Coffee as Starbucks Pushes East

  • Demand growth above global average lures Nestle, Dunkin’
  • China’s coffee-shop expansion is paving way for premium sales
Photographer: Qilai Shen/Bloomberg
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At a Starbucks in downtown Beijing, Du Beibei is getting her lunch-break caffeine fix. Like many young Chinese, she’s chosen to sip a cup of coffee instead of the more traditional tea.

“I drink coffee three or four times a week and usually go to coffee shops to meet friends,” she said. “They are more comfortable than tea houses.”