Korea Coffee Industry is still expanding fast enough to make even seasoned baristas pause, with 91,200 specialty shops operating as of 2023 and coffee chains adding outlets at a steady clip. Meanwhile, the 2023 picture gets more telling by the cup, where take out orders make up 72% of urban cafe sales and the average coffee visit lands around 7,200 KRW, even as mega chains control 42% of the market. This post pulls together the full statistical snapshot, from drive thru growth and loyalty program adoption to import volumes and at home consumption, to show what is really reshaping demand.
Key Takeaways
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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 Korea’s coffee scene grew in 2023 to 91,200 shops, led by major chains and booming at-home demand.
Related reading
01 · Category
Cafe & Retail Landscape26 stats
01
91,200 coffee specialty shops operated in South Korea as of 2023, up 4.5% YoY
02
Starbucks Korea had 1,870 outlets in 2023, commanding 15% market share
03
Ediya Coffee expanded to 3,200 branches nationwide by end-2023
04
Average monthly sales per cafe in Seoul reached 45 million KRW in 2023
05
Mega coffee chains control 42% of the market with over 12,000 stores in 2023
06
Independent cafes grew by 6.2% to 45,000 outlets in regional areas 2023
07
Drive-thru coffee shops increased 15% to 8,500 locations in 2023
08
Vending machine coffee sales volume hit 1.2 billion cups in 2023
09
Franchise coffee shop royalty fees averaged 5.5% of sales in Korea 2023
10
Take-out coffee orders made up 72% of total cafe sales in urban Korea 2023
11
Lotto Coffee chain reached 2,100 stores with 12% market share in 2023
12
Coffee truck events numbered 15,000 across Korea in 2023
13
Average cafe size in Seoul is 25 sqm, with rent costs at 8 million KRW/month 2023
14
Compostable cup adoption reached 40% in major chains by 2023
15
Pop-up coffee collaborations with brands totaled 500 events in 2023
16
Rural cafe density increased 10% to 1 per 2,000 residents in 2023
17
Delivery platform commissions averaged 15% for coffee orders 2023
18
Women's only cafes grew to 120 locations nationwide 2023
19
Roasting facilities in Korea numbered 450, processing 80,000 tons annually 2023
20
Mega Coffee chain outlets at 4,500 with rapid expansion 2023
21
Cafe employee turnover rate 35% annually in 2023
22
Self-roasting cafes numbered 1,200 in 2023
23
Outdoor terrace cafes grew 22% in parks 2023
24
Pet-friendly cafes reached 5,000 locations 2023
25
24-hour cafes constitute 18% of total outlets 2023
26
Average customer dwell time in cafes 45 minutes 2023
Interpretation
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.
02 · Category
Coffee Bean Imports27 stats
01
South Korea imported 55,000 metric tons of green coffee beans from Brazil in 2023
02
Vietnam supplied 42% of Korea's coffee bean imports totaling 120,000 tons in 2023
03
Average import price of Arabica beans to Korea was $4.50/kg in 2023
04
Colombia exported 18,000 tons of washed Arabica to South Korea in 2023
05
Roasted coffee imports value surged 22% to $250 million USD in 2023
06
Ethiopia's share in Korean specialty coffee imports was 12% or 9,500 tons in 2023
07
Instant coffee powder imports from Indonesia reached 25,000 tons in 2023
08
Top 10 countries accounted for 92% of Korea's $1.8 billion coffee imports in 2023
09
Robusta bean imports doubled to 15,000 tons for RTD production in 2023
10
Duty-free coffee imports under FTA agreements saved Korea $50 million in 2023
11
Indonesia overtook Brazil as top supplier with 28,000 tons to Korea 2023
12
Specialty green beans imports valued at $180 million, 15% growth in 2023
13
Average CIF price for Robusta to Korea $3.20/kg in Q4 2023
14
Guatemala supplied 7,200 tons of high-grade Arabica to Korea 2023
15
Soluble coffee imports from Malaysia hit 12,000 tons in 2023
16
Total green coffee import volume 142,000 tons, up 8% YoY 2023
17
Fairtrade certified imports grew 20% to 5,500 tons for Korean market 2023
18
Honduras exports to Korea reached 4,800 tons in 2023
19
Organic coffee bean imports doubled to 3,200 tons amid trend 2023
20
Brazil regained top spot with 32,000 tons green beans to Korea 2023
21
Peru's premium Caturra variety 2,500 tons imported 2023
22
Import tariffs on roasted coffee reduced to 0% under deals 2023
23
Kenya AA grade beans 1,800 tons for specialty roasters 2023
24
Total coffee import customs value $1.95 billion 2023 peak
25
Rainforest Alliance certified volume 18,000 tons imported 2023
26
UTZ program beans phased to 4% of imports 2023
27
Direct trade deals with farms 2,200 tons premium 2023
Interpretation
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.
03 · Category
Consumption Patterns25 stats
01
South Koreans consume 382 cups of coffee per person annually in 2023, ranking 3rd globally
02
68% of South Koreans aged 20-39 drink coffee daily in 2023 survey
03
Average daily coffee intake among Korean office workers is 2.3 cups in 2023
04
74% of consumers prefer hot coffee over iced in winter months, dropping to 22% in summer 2023 data
05
Americano accounts for 45% of all coffee orders in Korean cafes in 2023
06
52% of Koreans aged 18-29 consume RTD coffee weekly in 2023
07
Per capita coffee consumption volume reached 3.5 kg in 2023, up from 3.2 kg in 2020
08
Female consumers represent 55% of specialty coffee drinkers in urban Korea 2023
09
61% of daily coffee drinkers in Korea choose black coffee without additives in 2023 poll
10
Weekend coffee consumption spikes 28% higher than weekdays among millennials 2023
11
78% of South Korean adults over 19 consume coffee at least once a week in 2023
12
Iced Americano preference stands at 58% among under-30s in summer 2023
13
Average spend per cafe visit reached 7,200 KRW in 2023 urban areas
14
39% of consumers add syrup or flavors to coffee daily in 2023 survey
15
Late-night coffee consumption (after 8 PM) accounts for 22% of daily sales 2023
16
Corporate coffee voucher usage totaled 800 billion KRW in 2023
17
Seniors over 60 show 25% increase in cafe coffee visits post-2022
18
Mobile app orders for coffee hit 65% of total transactions in 2023
19
Coffee consumption peaks at 10 AM and 2 PM daily in Korea 2023
20
29% of consumers switched to home brewing to save costs 2023
21
Latte art requests in cafes up 15% among Instagram users 2023
22
Vegan coffee pairings with plant milks 42% in specialty shops 2023
23
Seasonal limited edition coffees sold 20 million cups 2023
24
Coffee loyalty programs have 40 million registered users 2023
25
Average brewing time at home 4.5 minutes per cup 2023
Interpretation
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.
More related reading
04 · Category
Emerging Trends26 stats
01
65% of Korean consumers seek sustainable coffee sourcing in 2023 surveys
02
Plant-based milk alternatives in coffee rose 35% in popularity 2023
03
Cold brew coffee sales grew 28% YoY to become 12% of market in 2023
04
Nitro coffee introductions in chains increased 40% across Korea 2023
05
47% of young consumers prefer single-origin coffees in 2023 data
06
Home brewing equipment sales surged 22% with pour-over kits in 2023
07
Decaf coffee demand grew 15% among health-conscious Koreans 2023
08
AI-driven coffee recommendation apps adopted by 30% of cafe visitors 2023
09
Subscription coffee box services reached 500,000 users in Korea 2023
10
Functional coffee with added vitamins launched by 25% of brands 2023
11
Espresso-based drinks now 35% of menu options in cafes 2023
12
Zero-calorie coffee sweeteners used by 41% of dieters 2023
13
Coffee tourism visits to Jeju plantations up 30% to 2.5 million 2023
14
Blockchain traceability apps for coffee adopted by 15 chains 2023
15
Matcha-infused coffee hybrids gained 18% trial rate 2023
16
Capsule coffee pod recycling rate reached 55% in urban areas 2023
17
Virtual coffee tasting events online drew 100,000 participants 2023
18
Mushroom coffee alternatives tested by 12% of health enthusiasts 2023
19
Oat milk coffee orders up 50% in chains 2023
20
Ready-to-heat coffee pouches sales +40% 2023
21
AI baristas in 50 pilot cafes dispensing 10,000 cups daily 2023
22
Coffee with CBD infusions trialed legally 5% adoption 2023
23
Upcycled coffee grounds products in 200 stores 2023
24
Non-alcoholic coffee cocktails 15% menu share 2023
25
AR menu visualization in 300 cafes 2023
26
Collagen-added beauty coffees sold 8 million packs 2023
Interpretation
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.
05 · Category
Market Size & Growth18 stats
01
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
02
The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of the Korean coffee market from 2018 to 2023 was 4.2%, fueled by urban consumer demand
03
Ready-to-drink (RTD) coffee segment grew by 12.3% in 2023, accounting for 15% of total coffee sales in Korea
04
Instant coffee sales volume in South Korea hit 45,000 tons in 2022, up 3.1% from previous year
05
The at-home coffee consumption market expanded to 2.8 trillion KRW in 2023, representing 38% of total coffee market
06
Coffee shop industry revenue grew to 5.1 trillion KRW in 2023, with 85,000 outlets nationwide
07
Premium coffee bean segment CAGR projected at 7.5% from 2023-2028 in Korea
08
Total coffee imports value reached $1.2 billion USD in 2023 for South Korea
09
Korean coffee market per capita spend averaged 250,000 KRW in 2023, highest in Asia
10
Out-of-home coffee sales surged 8.4% in 2023 post-pandemic recovery
11
In 2023, South Korea's coffee market projected to grow at 5.2% CAGR to 2028 reaching 9.5 trillion KRW
12
Home coffee machines sales volume increased 18% to 1.2 million units in 2023
13
Coffee franchise openings averaged 50 new stores per month in 2023
14
E-commerce coffee sales platform revenue hit 1.5 trillion KRW in 2023
15
Korean coffee market valued at USD 5.8 billion in 2022, expected 6.2% CAGR to 2030
16
Capsule coffee segment grew 25% to 450,000 tons equivalent 2023
17
B2B coffee supply to offices reached 1.8 trillion KRW 2023
18
Export of Korean instant coffee hit $100 million to Asia 2023
Interpretation
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.
Reference
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APA
Lars Eriksen. (2026, February 13). Korea Coffee Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/korea-coffee-industry-statistics
MLA
Lars Eriksen. "Korea Coffee Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/korea-coffee-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Lars Eriksen. 2026. "Korea Coffee Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/korea-coffee-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
100 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level