Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the recent opening of two Luckin Coffee stores in New York, coinciding with news of potential ownership changes in Starbucks' China operations, highlighting the competitive dynamics between the two coffee brands in the U.S. market. Group 1: Luckin Coffee's U.S. Expansion - Luckin Coffee opened its first two stores in New York City on June 30, located at 755 Broadway and 800 Sixth Avenue [1] - The pricing of Luckin's beverages ranges from $3.45 (approximately 24.7 RMB) to $7.95 (approximately 57 RMB), with specific drinks like American coffee priced at $4.45 (approximately 31.9 RMB) and lattes at $5.75 (approximately 41.2 RMB) [1] Group 2: Competitive Landscape - The prices of Luckin's drinks in the U.S. are generally higher than in China but comparable to Starbucks' pricing, with Starbucks' large American coffee priced at $4.65 and large latte at $5.65 [2] - Starbucks China recently announced a price reduction for several products, marking the first time in 25 years it has lowered prices, with an average price drop of about 5 RMB [2] - Luckin Coffee's CEO, Guo Jinyi, emphasized the importance of the U.S. market in Luckin's global strategy, noting its status as the largest coffee consumption market with a rich coffee culture [2] - Analysts view Luckin's rapid expansion as a significant threat to Starbucks, especially given that Luckin has surpassed Starbucks in the number of stores in China despite entering the market nearly 20 years later [2]