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We’d like to share some interesting stories about the evolution and development of Korean coffee culture. We analyze the coffee culture in Korea and compare it to other countries.
Korea’s coffee culture is growing to the point where it’s becoming a hot topic even in Italy and France, countries that were considered coffee countries just a decade ago.
South Koreans’ love for coffee is immense, with consumption far exceeding the global average.
The data confirms South Koreans’ passion for coffee. While the global average is 160 cups of coffee per person per year, South Korea far exceeds that number at 367 cups.
When comparing the number of coffee shops per million people, South Korea has nearly 1,400 compared to less than 200 in the US.
As a reflection of this, when you walk down a city street in Korea, you’ll notice coffee shops everywhere.
If you visit popular neighborhoods like Mullae-dong or Iksun-dong, you’ll find more than half of the shops are coffee shops, indicating that coffee is deeply embedded in the daily lives of Koreans.
South Korea’s coffee imports exceed 1 trillion won, which shows how much Koreans love their coffee. In this sense, South Korea is now the new coffee powerhouse.
As anyone who has traveled the world can tell you, there are differences in how coffee is brewed and consumed in different countries.
When people first think of the United States, they think of brands like Starbucks, but the traditional coffee culture in the United States started with “drip coffee machines”.
These machines, which put coffee powder in a filter and poured water over it, were simple but considered a staple in many American homes.
Italy’s coffee culture is a little different. The moka pot is such a staple that Italians have one in every home, and they take pride in having an old moka pot.
However, there’s also the inconvenience that moccasins don’t work on induction in the modern world. In Italy, coffee is valued for its slow brewing and sipping, while in Korea, we tend to prefer a quick but delicious cup of coffee.
Among the many ways to enjoy coffee, “hand drip” is one of the more delicate ways to enjoy coffee. Hand-drip is a method where the beans are ground by hand and water is poured directly into the cup.
It’s a time-consuming process that produces a deep flavor, and the skill and care of the person making the coffee is directly reflected in the taste.
In Korea, the culture of drinking iced Americano even in winter has become so entrenched that a new phrase has been coined, “erjuk-ah”.
“Erjuk-ah” means ‘I’ll drink an iced Americano even if I freeze to death’.
This is one of the unique aspects of Korean coffee culture that is hard to find in other countries.
In the past, Korean coffee culture was centered around mixed coffee. It was common to mix coffee powder with sugar and prime, and it was seen as a way to replenish sugar rather than just a caffeine boost.
Mixed coffee was popular for its convenience, and many people still enjoy it as part of their daily routine.
This mixed coffee culture began with the development of instant coffee during World War II.
Developed as a convenient way for soldiers to get coffee during the war, instant coffee has since spread to many countries, most notably Korea, where it has evolved into a fast, cheap, and delicious way to get coffee.
The arrival of Starbucks in Korea in the late 1990s ushered in the era of full-fledged coffee shops. By introducing espresso-based coffee, Starbucks elevated Korean coffee tastes, and a specialty coffee culture was born in Korea.
Today, there are countless coffee specialty stores in Korea, with a variety of different brands offering their own unique coffee culture.
The influx of specialty coffee has raised the bar for what Koreans expect from their coffee, and this has inspired Korean baristas to travel the world and share their unique coffee culture.
Korean baristas learned about the coffee culture of various countries, such as Australian coffee and Italian coffee, and returned home to create a unique coffee culture in Korea.
In recent years, capsule coffee has also become an important part of Korean coffee culture. Espresso-based capsule coffee is popular in Europe, and drip coffee is popular in the United States.
Capsule coffee is becoming increasingly popular in Korea as well, with more and more consumers looking for a convenient and delicious way to enjoy coffee.
Capsule coffee is referred to as a “laser blade” model, where the machine and capsule are used together, similar to consumption models such as printers and ink, or game consoles and game titles.
In South Korea, a variety of capsule coffee brands have emerged, giving consumers more choices.
Americano is particularly popular in South Korea. This is because the most popular time for Koreans to drink coffee is during snack time between lunch and dinner.
The analysis is that coffee is consumed with bread during snack time, so a light Americano is a good fit. Koreans tend to sip coffee over a long period of time rather than quickly, which is one reason why the cold Americano is more preferred.
Korean food culture is characterized by hot brothy foods, and this tendency to prefer cold drinks by default may also explain the popularity of Americano.
The iced Americano acts as a kind of “ringer” and has become a staple drink for Koreans.
What people do in cafes also has a significant impact on coffee culture. In Korea, cafes are used as private offices or reading rooms, and people go there to work or study.
As cafes have become a place to spend long hours with a caffeine fix, drinks like Americano are naturally favored.
In contrast, in France, cafes are used as a place for people to socialize. The French enjoy long conversations over a cup of espresso, and cafés are the living room of the neighborhood. These cultural differences are closely related to the coffee consumption patterns in each country.
In conclusion, South Korea’s coffee culture has undergone a tremendous transformation over the past few decades, and it is now a coffee powerhouse that is being recognized around the world.
