It's winter but I need my ice Americano!
😀Have you had coffee today~?
You might have heard of the joke that Koreans made about themselves, saying that half of their blood is composed of caffeine. Though it is a joke, it shows that coffee has almost become a daily necessity for Koreans.
If you have ever lived in Korea or have any Korean friends, you will notice how much Koreans love to drink coffee and especially Americano. 👀
According to a survey released by the Korean Economic Research Institute, the average Korean population over 20 drank 353 cups of coffee in 2018. In other words, one 20+ Korean will drink at least one cup of coffee a day. On the other hand, the average annual consumption of coffee in the world is 132 cups......Korea has a coffee consumption three times more than the world's average 😲.
Coffee shops are everywhere in South Korea, and each of them has unique themes and styles that attract people’s attention. For example, there are cat cafés and movie-themed cafés. These coffee shops not only contribute to the even wider popularity of coffee but also to the leisure culture.
“Instant coffee” is also something that sets South Korean coffee culture apart from the rest. Instant coffee may not lack the taste but it is quick and convenient, especially for busy workers. Coffee shops and instant coffee both fit into the ongoing trend of South Koreans’ coffee-drinking habit.
Another thing NANA wants to talk about is Korean’s love for “Americano”, which has the highest ordering rate among all drinks in South Korean cafés. For office workers, most of them drink it to absorb the caffeine to stay energetic at work, while students usually drink it because it's cheap, and also to stay up late to study. Furthermore, to the young generation nowadays, purchasing a cup of coffee does not only mean consuming the coffee but pursuing of an adult-like lifestyle.
Following the popularity of coffee, there's also a skyrocketing number of cafes opening in Seoul. In particular, in metropolitan areas such as Seoul, it is common to see one cafe right next to another cafe. For example, the number of Starbucks stores in Korea exceeded 1,500 in December 2020. By comparison, Japan has 1,637 as of the end of March 2021. Since the population of Korea is less than half of that of Japan, you can see how many cafes there are just by looking at the data!!
The coffee "craze" does not seem to fade in Korea. The love for coffee could be seen as a "mystery" in Korea. If you are ever in Korea during the freezing winter, don't go up to a stranger and ask why he is holding an ice Americano ;)
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