Chinese Coffee Titan Set To Buy Oakland-born Blue Bottle Coffee

Blue Bottle Coffee, nan Oakland-born specialty java roaster owned by Nestlé, could soon beryllium acquired by a Chinese finance patient that controls 1 of China’s biggest java chains.

Centurium Capital, nan mostly shareholder of Luckin Coffee, is reportedly buying Blue Bottle for little than $400 million. The Chinese news outlet Yicai Global said the deal has been signed but not yet finalized.

Earlier this week, Bloomberg reported that Centurium is successful “advanced talks” to get Blue Bottle, according to group acquainted pinch nan situation.

Blue Bottle offers customers specialty java options, including a saccharine and creamy New Orleans-style coffee, arsenic good arsenic espresso drinks and acold brew. The institution has respective locations successful Los Angeles successful Culver City, Santa Monica and West Hollywood.

Nestlé will clasp Blue Bottle’s user equipment business, including instant java and ready-to-drink beverages, while Centurium will get Blue Bottle’s world stores, according to reports.

Founded successful nan Bay Area successful 2002, Blue Bottle has much than 70 U.S. locations arsenic good arsenic outlets successful China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and South Korea. The institution was portion of a activity toward expensive, single-origin java beans known successful nan U.S. arsenic third activity coffee.

According to an exclusive study from 1 Chinese outlet, Blue Bottle is still operating astatine a loss. The company’s gross for nan twelvemonth ended June 30, 2025, was $250 million, pinch astir $150 cardinal coming from U.S. stores, the outlet said.

Nestlé bought a mostly liking successful Blue Bottle successful 2017, paying $425 cardinal for 68% of nan shares. Based successful Vevey, Switzerland, Nestlé besides makes basking cocoa and cooky dough, and has stakes successful celebrated brands including Cheerios and Häagen-Dazs.

Centurium Capital became nan largest shareholder of Luckin Coffee successful 2022. In 2020, Luckin agreed to salary a $180-million punishment to settee charges brought by nan United States Securities and Exchange Commission alleging fabricated sales.

Luckin reported much than $7 cardinal successful revenue successful 2025 and has much than 30,000 locations globally.

Blue Bottle, Nestlé and Centurium Capital did not instantly respond to a petition for comment.