Buddy Apple Butter Latte by Luckin Coffee (iced and hot versions reviewed)

There's yet another super interesting fruit latte by Luckin Coffee. From the app description, it sounded like some caramel apple cheesecake transformed into a latte. It comprises salted cheese foam on top with what seems to be an apple-flavoured version of their Little Butter Latte beneath. Then, it is topped with an apple chip and a drizzle of caramel sauce.
Buddy Apple Butter Latte by Luckin Coffee (iced and hot versions)
I tried both the hot and cold versions side by side, because yes, it makes a noticeable difference which version you go for. And this is a Toy Story collaboration, hence all the cute Toy Story prints and designs on the cups, sleeve and bag. And once again, I went with the "least sweet" option and the standard number of espresso shots (which is 1).

I first sipped the hot version, then the cold, then alternated between both throughout to see whether and how my impression changed.

Hot Buddy Apple Butter Latte
Buddy Apple Butter Latte by Luckin Coffee - hot version
The first impression upon sipping is that it is very cheese forward, because of the topping on top, and how for the hot version you would sip from the top as opposed to from the bottom in an iced version due to the straw. So I was first hit with the satisfyingly savoury and creamy cheese foam, which was done well with a good umami cheese profile. 

After the initial wave of cheese foam, I could taste a slight but distinct apple fragrance, like that of apple chips (and quite different from apple juice, which comes across as a bit more tart). The apple flavour was more of a fragrance in the top notes that leaned more floral, with less fruity tartness, such that it was reminiscent of Japanese Aomori-style apple flavours such as in their apple-flavoured Hichew soft candies or Yakult.

Then came the dark bitterness of the coffee right after. 

When I came back for subsequent sips after trying the iced version, the cheese flavour was much more intense, giving it an almost goat cheese-like intensity, earthiness and flavour that wasn't obvious on the first sip. It was a surprising and delightful effect, because it made the cheese foam more gourmet in flavour with the earthiness in the cheese, as opposed to a cheap commercial cheese flavour such as cheddar or mild cream cheese. 

Iced Buddy Apple Butter Latte
Buddy Apple Butter Latte by Luckin Coffee - iced version
Perhaps because I tried the hot version first, sipping from the cheese foam on top, then tried this iced version sipping from the bottom with the straw, this version came across as very strong on the apple milk flavour. 

The interesting thing is that the relatively less prominent coffee presents mainly with a darkness that comes across as reminiscent of burnt caramel, which blends perfectly well with the apple, caramel and cheese concept.

Unlike in their Little Butter Latte, the drink itself does not have a distinct popcorn-like burnt butter taste. Perhaps it was overshadowed by the cheese foam. 
Buddy Apple Butter Latte by Luckin Coffee - iced version close-up of apple chip
The iced version felt a bit sweet and cloying before mixing, but after mixing, the salt and tang of the cheese created the perfect balance and complexity. 

The coffee felt more prominent than the hot version, possibly because it is less diluted by unmelted ice (which the hot version tops up with milk instead). 

After about 15 minutes of ice melting, the coffee became less obvious than even the hot version.

Overall Comments

For both versions, the thick and distinctly cheesy foam was a highlight that made it feel like a caramelised apple cheesecake and brought good complexity to balance the sugar, milk and coffee. 

The apple chip was also great to eat. It wasn't crispy or crunchy by the time I got to it due to being soaked in the drink, but it wasn't soggy either... a bit like a moist dried apple piece. Taste-wise, it was tart and natural like any standard freeze dried apple chip. It also didn't come across as greasy at all, which was pleasant.

Between the 2 versions, I would go for the hot version if you prefer the intensy cheesy and creamy taste with a good salt-and sugar balance right from the get-go. Or if you are planning to drink it at a later time and don't want it diluted by the ice.

But the cold version might work better for you if you prefer to try the drink separately from the foam first before mixing, and prefer a more coffee-forward dessert experience at the start, and plan to finish drinking it soon after pickup before the ice melts.

For either version, it was overall much more complex and balanced than apple milk teas I've tried, due to the depth added by the coffee, which mimicks a burnt caramel effect. So overall, this was a very interesting and thoughtful dessert coffee drink that I really liked.

Finally, here's a photo of the Toy Story-themed prints.
Luckin Coffee Toy Story Collaboration 2026
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