Introduction:Luckin Coffee is set to launch the new HuaKui PLUS series of single-origin espresso (SOE), with reports suggesting a procurement volume of up to 250 metric tons, making it potentially the largest buyer globally. This sun-dried G1 heirloom variety from the Buku Abel washing station in Ethiopia’s Sidamo region is hailed by the industry as the “Queen of HuaKui.” This article details its origin, differences from HuaKui 5.0 and 6.0, shares insights from the procurement process, and explores its flavor profile to help coffee enthusiasts better understand this popular SOE.
Luckin Coffee’s previously launched HuaKui 5.0 SOE sparked widespread market discussion—not only because of its consumer-friendly pricing that shook the market, but also due to repeated sell-outs caused by supply shortages, which became a hot topic in the industry. Now, Luckin plans to release the HuaKui PLUS series of SOE in the second half of 2022. It is understood that this procurement will exceed 250 tons, potentially placing the company among the top global buyers of HuaKui PLUS green beans. So, what exactly is this HuaKui PLUS? How does it differ from the previous HuaKui 5.0 and 6.0? We’ll take you behind the scenes of this sun-dried heirloom coffee bean from Sidamo’s Buku Abel washing station, also revered by domestic green bean traders as the “Queen of HuaKui.”
Looking back at the initial launch of HuaKui 5.0 SOE, Luckin introduced this premium-grade SOE at a relatively affordable price, which not only garnered an enthusiastic response from consumers but also put pressure on some industry players, even sparking debate over whether it was a “waste of specialty beans.” However, due to insufficient initial stock, HuaKui 5.0 sold out in less than ten days after hitting the shelves. Despite emergency restocking, supply remained tight and the product sold out again just days later, leading many consumers to question whether it was an intentional “hunger marketing” tactic.
In response to public concerns, Luckin’s management explained that the total volume of HuaKui 5.0 coffee beans for the 2021 harvest season was originally only slightly over 90 tons, and even with subsequent emergency allocations, only an additional 39.2 tons were secured, which were roasted just before the Lunar New Year and gradually distributed to warehouses nationwide. In total, Luckin ultimately obtained 129.6 tons of HuaKui 5.0, making it the brand that purchased the largest quantity of that particular batch in the Chinese market. It is worth noting that the period from October 2021 to February 2022 marked Ethiopia’s new harvest season, and the HuaKui beans produced during this time were classified as the new 6.0 series, expected to arrive in China progressively starting in March 2022.
In recent years, global shipping has been tight, with a shortage of container supply. Even when a container is successfully booked, transit times are at least half a month, and securing a container is highly uncertain. Against this backdrop, Luckin’s ability to “snag a container” and secure an additional 39.2 tons of HuaKui 5.0 was no small feat. Based on the sales rate at the time, this extra stock is also expected to be depleted quickly. Coffee lovers who enjoy this flavor are advised to seize the opportunity to try it.
Faced with the issue of insufficient supply of HuaKui 5.0, the Luckin team admitted that it was a valuable lesson and also recognized a key fact: if the total volume of green beans is below 200 tons, launching an SOE-grade product will struggle to meet market demand. According to the latest procurement agreement signed on December 21, 2021, Luckin planned to purchase up to 3,000 tons of high-quality green beans in Ethiopia in the first quarter of 2022, including 80 tons of Sidamo HuaKui coffee beans. However, 80 tons is still insufficient to meet market demand, so Luckin decided to collaborate more actively with the origin, focusing on increasing production capacity and selecting premium bean sources to ensure stable supply.
The visit to the Ethiopian Ambassador to China was aimed at leveraging official channels to secure a larger procurement quota of HuaKui beans, with plans to launch the HuaKui PLUS series of SOE in the second half of 2022. It is reported that this HuaKui PLUS is not the 2022 new harvest HuaKui 6.0, but rather another sun-dried Ethiopian heirloom variety from the same Buku Abel washing station in Sidamo. This bean has been named the “Queen of HuaKui” by a well-known domestic green bean trader, with its green bean information labeled as Ethiopia Hambella Buku Abel Queen Plus G1 Natural—meaning it is a G1 grade sun-dried bean from Ethiopia’s Sidamo Hambella region.
This Queen of HuaKui bean is a sun-dried heirloom variety produced at high altitudes, characterized by rich fruity aromas and sweet flavors. Common tasting notes include blueberry, red wine, honey, and a smooth caramel finish. It is well-suited for coffee lovers who enjoy intense fruitiness and full-bodied taste. For brewing recommendations, a medium-light roast parameter is suggested for pour over: water temperature around 90–92°C, a coffee-to-water ratio of 1:15 to 1:16, and a medium-fine grind size (similar to granulated sugar), to fully highlight its floral-fruity character and layered complexity.
The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.
