Andrew Chau (Boba Guys) on Turning Bubble Tea Into a Cultural Movement, the Future of Cafe Culture and Strawberry Matcha

DEC 16, 202568 MIN
Social Currency with Sammi Cohen

Andrew Chau (Boba Guys) on Turning Bubble Tea Into a Cultural Movement, the Future of Cafe Culture and Strawberry Matcha

DEC 16, 202568 MIN

Description

Today, Sammi sits down with Andrew Chau, co-founder of Boba Guys—the brand that helped turn boba from a niche drink into a mainstream American obsession. Andrew takes us back to the very first 2011 pop-up and the early decisions that shaped Boba Guys’ identity: choosing authenticity over gimmicks, educating customers on Asian culture without westernizing it, and designing drinks that were as aesthetic as they were meaningful. He reveals how Boba Guys became the blueprint for modern café trends—and why so many brands copy their drinks without understanding the deeper consumer psychology behind them. Follow Sammi on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter  Find a Boba Guys Location near you Here’s what Sammi covers with Andrew: 00:00 Andrew Chau’s Social Currency 02:05 Sammi’s Personal Tie-In 03:37 The First Pop-Up 08:01 Early Branding Decisions and Being Your Favorite Marketer’s Favorite Marketer 13:51 Educating Customers on a Product vs. Educating  Customers on a Culture 22:24 The Future of Cafés  31:14 Vertical Integration 35:53 Matcha, Aesthetics, and Social Signaling 45:14 Consumer Behavior and Hot Takes 52:37 Social Currency Corner 01:03:17 How to Show Social Currency Some Love Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices