Luckin Coffee and Duolingo serve up pandan power in SG collab

Luckin Coffee Singapore has launched a cheeky collaboration with language learning app Duolingo, marking the tie-up with a Singapore-exclusive drink and collectible merchandise.

The campaign kicked off on 5 July with a teaser post featuring Duolingo’s green owl mascot Duo peeking out of a coffee cup, accompanied by the caption “Looking to boost your streak", a nod to the app’s iconic streak mechanic that rewards daily learning.

The brand followed up the next day with a visual tease of ingredients, coconut, grapes, butter, and grapefruit, prompting followers to guess which would be the star of its upcoming drink.

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The answer dropped on 7 July, with the launch of the Pandan Coconut Latte, described as "a true taste of Southeast Asia". The drink blends fragrant pandan with cold-pressed coconut cream and bold espresso and is now available at all Luckin Coffee outlets in Singapore.

With its delicate floral notes and signature green hue, the drink was crafted to “perk up both the mind and the palate,” according to Luckin Coffee, offering a refreshing twist on the typical coffee run.

To mark the collaboration, Luckin Coffee also introduced a range of Duolingo-themed merchandise, including cup sleeves, paper bags, and sticker sheets. Fans can get their hands on a limited-edition “coffee chat” sticker set with every purchase of two drinks, while stocks last. Each item features Duo’s signature charm, tying in Duolingo’s gamified tone and visual style.

“This collaboration promises a shot of flavour and the right amount of smart talk,” said Luckin Coffee. “Whether you’re on your 100th Duolingo streak or just picking up your first phrase, it’s the perfect time to grab a cup, drink smart, and talk sharp.”

MARKETING-INTERACTIVE has reached out for more information.

Duolingo is no stranger to offbeat marketing moves. Just months after “killing off” its green owl mascot, the company brought Duo back in full force, this time as a surprise contestant on Love Island US.

The reveal was teased on social media with images of Duo in fiery beachwear, followed by a dramatic “Meet the islanders” video introducing the green owl’s romantic ambitions. Speaking to MARKETING-INTERACTIVE at the time, a Duolingo spokesperson said the campaign was an official partnership with US streaming platform Peacock, inspired by Love Island contestants “begging to keep their phones just to keep their Duolingo streaks alive”.

However, it hasn’t been all flirty banter for the feathery mascot. In May, Duolingo wiped its usual content across social media and handed the reins to a rogue, three-eyed, hoodie-clad owl in what appeared to be a full-blown AI-themed takeover.

The chaotic pivot followed the brand’s declaration that it was going “AI-first”. In an April LinkedIn post, Duolingo likened the shift to its 2012 leap from desktop to mobile, sharing a screenshot of an all-hands email from CEO Luis von Ahn officially announcing the change.

Not everyone welcomed the move. According to media intelligence firm CARMA, public response has been sharply divided. In Asia, conversations around Duolingo’s AI-first strategy are 26.1% positive and 26.5% negative. Globally, the numbers skew more critical, with 41.1% of sentiment tagged as negative.

CARMA noted that while some users were deleting the app in protest, others were voicing concerns about job losses, with many simply calling for more transparency around the decision.

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