From fueling the nation’s remarkable rise to third place globally in per capita coffee consumption to brewing a 7.2 trillion KRW market where premiumization is king, South Korea's coffee industry is an extraordinary story of passion, innovation, and staggering growth.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, South Korea's coffee market reached a value of 7.2 trillion KRW, marking a 5.8% year-over-year growth driven by premiumization trends
- The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of the Korean coffee market from 2018 to 2023 was 4.2%, fueled by urban consumer demand
- Ready-to-drink (RTD) coffee segment grew by 12.3% in 2023, accounting for 15% of total coffee sales in Korea
- South Koreans consume 382 cups of coffee per person annually in 2023, ranking 3rd globally
- 68% of South Koreans aged 20-39 drink coffee daily in 2023 survey
- Average daily coffee intake among Korean office workers is 2.3 cups in 2023
- 91,200 coffee specialty shops operated in South Korea as of 2023, up 4.5% YoY
- Starbucks Korea had 1,870 outlets in 2023, commanding 15% market share
- Ediya Coffee expanded to 3,200 branches nationwide by end-2023
- South Korea imported 55,000 metric tons of green coffee beans from Brazil in 2023
- Vietnam supplied 42% of Korea's coffee bean imports totaling 120,000 tons in 2023
- Average import price of Arabica beans to Korea was $4.50/kg in 2023
- 65% of Korean consumers seek sustainable coffee sourcing in 2023 surveys
- Plant-based milk alternatives in coffee rose 35% in popularity 2023
- Cold brew coffee sales grew 28% YoY to become 12% of market in 2023
South Korea’s booming coffee market thrives on high consumption and premium trends.
Cafe & Retail Landscape
- 91,200 coffee specialty shops operated in South Korea as of 2023, up 4.5% YoY
- Starbucks Korea had 1,870 outlets in 2023, commanding 15% market share
- Ediya Coffee expanded to 3,200 branches nationwide by end-2023
- Average monthly sales per cafe in Seoul reached 45 million KRW in 2023
- Mega coffee chains control 42% of the market with over 12,000 stores in 2023
- Independent cafes grew by 6.2% to 45,000 outlets in regional areas 2023
- Drive-thru coffee shops increased 15% to 8,500 locations in 2023
- Vending machine coffee sales volume hit 1.2 billion cups in 2023
- Franchise coffee shop royalty fees averaged 5.5% of sales in Korea 2023
- Take-out coffee orders made up 72% of total cafe sales in urban Korea 2023
- Lotto Coffee chain reached 2,100 stores with 12% market share in 2023
- Coffee truck events numbered 15,000 across Korea in 2023
- Average cafe size in Seoul is 25 sqm, with rent costs at 8 million KRW/month 2023
- Compostable cup adoption reached 40% in major chains by 2023
- Pop-up coffee collaborations with brands totaled 500 events in 2023
- Rural cafe density increased 10% to 1 per 2,000 residents in 2023
- Delivery platform commissions averaged 15% for coffee orders 2023
- Women's only cafes grew to 120 locations nationwide 2023
- Roasting facilities in Korea numbered 450, processing 80,000 tons annually 2023
- Mega Coffee chain outlets at 4,500 with rapid expansion 2023
- Cafe employee turnover rate 35% annually in 2023
- Self-roasting cafes numbered 1,200 in 2023
- Outdoor terrace cafes grew 22% in parks 2023
- Pet-friendly cafes reached 5,000 locations 2023
- 24-hour cafes constitute 18% of total outlets 2023
- Average customer dwell time in cafes 45 minutes 2023
Cafe & Retail Landscape Interpretation
Despite the relentless grind of soaring rents, cutthroat competition, and a delivery app commission that would make a barista weep, South Korea's caffeine obsession has brewed a remarkably saturated yet still-expanding ecosystem where convenience, experience, and sheer variety percolate in every direction.
Coffee Bean Imports
- South Korea imported 55,000 metric tons of green coffee beans from Brazil in 2023
- Vietnam supplied 42% of Korea's coffee bean imports totaling 120,000 tons in 2023
- Average import price of Arabica beans to Korea was $4.50/kg in 2023
- Colombia exported 18,000 tons of washed Arabica to South Korea in 2023
- Roasted coffee imports value surged 22% to $250 million USD in 2023
- Ethiopia's share in Korean specialty coffee imports was 12% or 9,500 tons in 2023
- Instant coffee powder imports from Indonesia reached 25,000 tons in 2023
- Top 10 countries accounted for 92% of Korea's $1.8 billion coffee imports in 2023
- Robusta bean imports doubled to 15,000 tons for RTD production in 2023
- Duty-free coffee imports under FTA agreements saved Korea $50 million in 2023
- Indonesia overtook Brazil as top supplier with 28,000 tons to Korea 2023
- Specialty green beans imports valued at $180 million, 15% growth in 2023
- Average CIF price for Robusta to Korea $3.20/kg in Q4 2023
- Guatemala supplied 7,200 tons of high-grade Arabica to Korea 2023
- Soluble coffee imports from Malaysia hit 12,000 tons in 2023
- Total green coffee import volume 142,000 tons, up 8% YoY 2023
- Fairtrade certified imports grew 20% to 5,500 tons for Korean market 2023
- Honduras exports to Korea reached 4,800 tons in 2023
- Organic coffee bean imports doubled to 3,200 tons amid trend 2023
- Brazil regained top spot with 32,000 tons green beans to Korea 2023
- Peru's premium Caturra variety 2,500 tons imported 2023
- Import tariffs on roasted coffee reduced to 0% under deals 2023
- Kenya AA grade beans 1,800 tons for specialty roasters 2023
- Total coffee import customs value $1.95 billion 2023 peak
- Rainforest Alliance certified volume 18,000 tons imported 2023
- UTZ program beans phased to 4% of imports 2023
- Direct trade deals with farms 2,200 tons premium 2023
Coffee Bean Imports Interpretation
South Korea's coffee market in 2023 brewed a complex narrative of ravenous demand, where Indonesia briefly dethroned Brazil as the top bean supplier, specialty imports soared, and a desperate scramble for both cheap Robusta and premium, ethically-sourced Arabica revealed a nation that wants its fast, convenient caffeine fix without sacrificing its conscience or its exquisite pour-over.
Consumption Patterns
- South Koreans consume 382 cups of coffee per person annually in 2023, ranking 3rd globally
- 68% of South Koreans aged 20-39 drink coffee daily in 2023 survey
- Average daily coffee intake among Korean office workers is 2.3 cups in 2023
- 74% of consumers prefer hot coffee over iced in winter months, dropping to 22% in summer 2023 data
- Americano accounts for 45% of all coffee orders in Korean cafes in 2023
- 52% of Koreans aged 18-29 consume RTD coffee weekly in 2023
- Per capita coffee consumption volume reached 3.5 kg in 2023, up from 3.2 kg in 2020
- Female consumers represent 55% of specialty coffee drinkers in urban Korea 2023
- 61% of daily coffee drinkers in Korea choose black coffee without additives in 2023 poll
- Weekend coffee consumption spikes 28% higher than weekdays among millennials 2023
- 78% of South Korean adults over 19 consume coffee at least once a week in 2023
- Iced Americano preference stands at 58% among under-30s in summer 2023
- Average spend per cafe visit reached 7,200 KRW in 2023 urban areas
- 39% of consumers add syrup or flavors to coffee daily in 2023 survey
- Late-night coffee consumption (after 8 PM) accounts for 22% of daily sales 2023
- Corporate coffee voucher usage totaled 800 billion KRW in 2023
- Seniors over 60 show 25% increase in cafe coffee visits post-2022
- Mobile app orders for coffee hit 65% of total transactions in 2023
- Coffee consumption peaks at 10 AM and 2 PM daily in Korea 2023
- 29% of consumers switched to home brewing to save costs 2023
- Latte art requests in cafes up 15% among Instagram users 2023
- Vegan coffee pairings with plant milks 42% in specialty shops 2023
- Seasonal limited edition coffees sold 20 million cups 2023
- Coffee loyalty programs have 40 million registered users 2023
- Average brewing time at home 4.5 minutes per cup 2023
Consumption Patterns Interpretation
The statistics confirm that South Korea runs on a serious, status-conscious, and ritualistic caffeine dependency, where the average citizen is nearly as much a coffee bean as they are a human bean, meticulously brewing their social identity one overpriced, black, app-ordered Americano at a time.
Emerging Trends
- 65% of Korean consumers seek sustainable coffee sourcing in 2023 surveys
- Plant-based milk alternatives in coffee rose 35% in popularity 2023
- Cold brew coffee sales grew 28% YoY to become 12% of market in 2023
- Nitro coffee introductions in chains increased 40% across Korea 2023
- 47% of young consumers prefer single-origin coffees in 2023 data
- Home brewing equipment sales surged 22% with pour-over kits in 2023
- Decaf coffee demand grew 15% among health-conscious Koreans 2023
- AI-driven coffee recommendation apps adopted by 30% of cafe visitors 2023
- Subscription coffee box services reached 500,000 users in Korea 2023
- Functional coffee with added vitamins launched by 25% of brands 2023
- Espresso-based drinks now 35% of menu options in cafes 2023
- Zero-calorie coffee sweeteners used by 41% of dieters 2023
- Coffee tourism visits to Jeju plantations up 30% to 2.5 million 2023
- Blockchain traceability apps for coffee adopted by 15 chains 2023
- Matcha-infused coffee hybrids gained 18% trial rate 2023
- Capsule coffee pod recycling rate reached 55% in urban areas 2023
- Virtual coffee tasting events online drew 100,000 participants 2023
- Mushroom coffee alternatives tested by 12% of health enthusiasts 2023
- Oat milk coffee orders up 50% in chains 2023
- Ready-to-heat coffee pouches sales +40% 2023
- AI baristas in 50 pilot cafes dispensing 10,000 cups daily 2023
- Coffee with CBD infusions trialed legally 5% adoption 2023
- Upcycled coffee grounds products in 200 stores 2023
- Non-alcoholic coffee cocktails 15% menu share 2023
- AR menu visualization in 300 cafes 2023
- Collagen-added beauty coffees sold 8 million packs 2023
Emerging Trends Interpretation
The modern Korean coffee scene is a fascinating brew of conscientious ethics, tech-infused convenience, and relentless experimentation, where a consumer can hunt for a blockchain-traced, oat milk cold brew with collagen one minute and attend a virtual tasting for mushroom coffee the next.
Market Size & Growth
- In 2023, South Korea's coffee market reached a value of 7.2 trillion KRW, marking a 5.8% year-over-year growth driven by premiumization trends
- The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of the Korean coffee market from 2018 to 2023 was 4.2%, fueled by urban consumer demand
- Ready-to-drink (RTD) coffee segment grew by 12.3% in 2023, accounting for 15% of total coffee sales in Korea
- Instant coffee sales volume in South Korea hit 45,000 tons in 2022, up 3.1% from previous year
- The at-home coffee consumption market expanded to 2.8 trillion KRW in 2023, representing 38% of total coffee market
- Coffee shop industry revenue grew to 5.1 trillion KRW in 2023, with 85,000 outlets nationwide
- Premium coffee bean segment CAGR projected at 7.5% from 2023-2028 in Korea
- Total coffee imports value reached $1.2 billion USD in 2023 for South Korea
- Korean coffee market per capita spend averaged 250,000 KRW in 2023, highest in Asia
- Out-of-home coffee sales surged 8.4% in 2023 post-pandemic recovery
- In 2023, South Korea's coffee market projected to grow at 5.2% CAGR to 2028 reaching 9.5 trillion KRW
- Home coffee machines sales volume increased 18% to 1.2 million units in 2023
- Coffee franchise openings averaged 50 new stores per month in 2023
- E-commerce coffee sales platform revenue hit 1.5 trillion KRW in 2023
- Korean coffee market valued at USD 5.8 billion in 2022, expected 6.2% CAGR to 2030
- Capsule coffee segment grew 25% to 450,000 tons equivalent 2023
- B2B coffee supply to offices reached 1.8 trillion KRW 2023
- Export of Korean instant coffee hit $100 million to Asia 2023
Market Size & Growth Interpretation
South Korea has become a nation so expertly caffeinated that its citizens are simultaneously investing in premium beans for their home espresso machines, chugging convenient canned coffee on the go, and propping up a staggering 85,000 coffee shops—all while spending more per person on coffee than anyone else in Asia, which is frankly the only way to power the hustle required to afford it all.
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