SEOUL, Nov. 11 (Korea Bizwire) – In South Korea’s fiercely competitive coffee market, where a “coffee war” is in full swing, Coffee Bean leads major franchises with the highest prices, charging 5,000 won for an Americano. For context, the true price ceiling in South Korea’s coffee scene belongs to Bacha Coffee’s Cheongdam flagship store, recently opened [...]
GANGNEUNG, Oct. 29 (Korea Bizwire) – With the 16th Gangneung Coffee Festival once again drawing large crowds, experts are recommending quarterly festivals and competitions to reinforce Gangneung’s image as a year-round coffee destination. According to a recent report on “Revitalization Strategies for Gangneung’s Coffee Industry” submitted to the Gangneung City Council by professor Kim Ho-seok’s team [...]
SEOUL, Jul. 18 (Korea Bizwire) – Intelligentsia Coffee, a Chicago-based specialty coffee company, said Thursday it has opened its second global outlet in Seoul to meet a rapidly growing local appetite for specialty coffee experiences. The U.S. coffee chain opened its first global outlet near Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul in February. The second store is [...]
SEOUL, May 2 (Korea Bizwire) – For those sensitive to caffeine or seeking to enjoy coffee without its stimulant effects, Starbucks in South Korea offers a decaffeinated option – one out of every 11 Americanos sold is now a decaf version. Starbucks announced on May 1 that the cumulative sales of decaffeinated coffee in South Korea [...]
SEOUL, Apr. 23 (Korea Bizwire) — Hollys, the coffee business unit of South Korea’s KG Group, said Tuesday it will open its first overseas outlet in Japan next month as part of its expansion strategy. Hollys has set up a business entity in the neighboring country to open the outlet at the Marui Department Store [...]
BUSAN, Apr. 5 (Korea Bizwire) – The city of Busan will become the epicenter of the coffee world next month as it hosts the “World of Coffee & World Barista Championship,” an international event showcasing coffee products and pitting national barista champions against one another. From May 1 to 4, the Bexco Exhibition Center will welcome [...]
SEOUL, Dec. 12 (Korea Bizwire) — Canadian coffee brand Tim Hortons said Tuesday it will open 150 outlets in South Korea within five years as it plans to open its first store in southern Seoul on Thursday. Tim Hortons has decided to enter the Korean market, which has a vibrant coffee market where coffee consumptions [...]
SEOUL, Sept. 18 (Korea Bizwire) – The increasing number of inexpensive coffee shops near schools and hagwons (Korean cram schools) is causing worries about young people consuming too much caffeine. Teenagers mention that they visit these affordable coffee shops because they are everywhere and the beverages there don’t cost much. And affordable, caffeinated coffee can be [...]
SEOUL, Aug. 22 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s coffee imports have declined this year due to reduced global production, dampening the growth driven by coffee’s popularity in the country. The value of coffee imports for the country totaled US$646.7 million in the January-July period, marking a 9.5 percent decrease compared to the previous year, according [...]
SEOUL, May 30 (Korea Bizwire) — The Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to change its policy in Bukchon Hanok Village and Insa-dong in central Seoul, allowing coffee sales in these traditionally tea-focused areas. This shift is driven by changing consumer preferences and the desire to revive the declining traditional tea market. By permitting coffee sales alongside [...]