Introduction:Luckin Coffee recently launched its Marble Iced Americano, which sparked discussion due to the discrepancy between its promotional images and the actual product. Netizens jokingly compared its appearance to tofu pudding or spicy soup. This article details the formulation design of this new drink, explains the science behind the cream swirl pattern, compares it with a variation of Starbucks' Caffè Corretto, and provides practical tips for recreating the marble effect at home. It also analyzes taste reviews and common issues.

Starbucks once gained popularity with its hidden menu item "Iced Americano with Heavy Cream," where the cream slowly sinks into the iced coffee, creating an elegant marble-like pattern. This way of drinking actually originates from the classic Italian Caffè Corretto and Wiener Melange. Recently, Luckin launched three new drinks, one of which is an iced coffee promoted as a Marble Americano. Its premium look in official images quickly caught attention, but many customers found that the cream had a strange texture resembling egg drop soup, tofu pudding, or even spicy soup upon receiving it, creating a stark contrast with the promotional photos.

A deeper comparison of the formulations reveals that the Luckin version actually adds light cream and water to a regular iced Americano, rather than pouring heavy cream directly on top as in Starbucks' hidden menu. This key difference causes the cream to fail to sink evenly, often resulting in scenarios such as the cream floating on the surface like egg drop soup ()、A tofu-like mass forms at the bottom of the sediment, or when stirred, it suspends in the coffee like spicy soup. A few customers have caught fleeting glimpses of marble-like patterns when baristas prepare it on-site, but if not stirred and blended promptly, the cream will solidify and separate again after a few minutes of settling.

In terms of taste experience, because the light cream remains in the cold iced coffee environment for an extended period, it is still difficult to fully integrate with the coffee even after stirring, often resulting in a noticeable flavor disconnect. Professionals suggest that if you want to recreate the ideal marble pattern at home, you can use espresso as the base, pour ice cubes to fill the cup about seven-tenths full, and then slowly pour pre-chilled fresh cream. Use gravity to allow the cream to naturally settle and form patterns. Note that the temperature of the cream should be close to that of the iced coffee to avoid rapid solidification due to a large temperature difference.

It is worth noting that due to the addition of water, the overall flavor of the Luckin version is more refreshing but less layered compared to Starbucks' hidden menu. If you prefer a richer taste, you can try increasing the proportion of cream to 15–20% of the coffee amount, or switch to a higher-fat fermented cream for a smoother texture. For the common issue of cream separation, experts recommend consuming the drink immediately after preparation or gently stirring it with a straw to evenly mix the cream and coffee, achieving a balanced taste similar to a latte.

The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.