Unique and modern is how South Korean coffee culture has outstripped themselves among other markets. According to the Korean Economic Institute of America, Koreans drank on average 12.3 cups of coffee per week in 2019; with a consumption per capita of 2.3kg.
Recently, IWCA Global announced the addition of South Korea as a new chapter to the global network. We contacted Sarah Kim, IWCA South Korea President to share with our community more about their plans and to know more about the K-Coffee culture.
IWCA South Korea
The main goal of IWCA South Korea is to promote the importation of coffee produced by women coffee producers. So, we plan to host public cupping events twice a year for the IWCA international members. We will introduce the women coffee producers’ beans to Korean bean buyers.
Bridge the gap between coffee producers and consumers so that both may gain knowledge and a better understanding of each other; support women farmers and increase awareness of women’s rights in the coffee market; educate and provide employment support for local women in the coffee business.
IWCA South Korea is gathering information on what IWCA members need from us. We are willing to completely support our IWCA international members. Although we haven’t decided on a country yet, we are considering injecting some funds for sustainability in its coffee producing communities. Some members of IWCA Korea are professors at renowned universities in Korea. They are interested in joint research for coffee cultivation or any other coffee-related academic study. The younger generation of coffee producing countries wants to learn barista skills, roasting, and sensory skills besides their coffee farming. IWCA Korea strongly believes that it would be a good way for them to expand and sustain their coffee business.
The Korea chapter plans to send coffee instructors to teach them, or invite young coffee people to Korea for training. Lora Lee, vice president of IWCA South Korea, will be in charge of establishing a coffee education program for global IWCA members.
We hope to make a positive impact in the coffee community.
History of Coffee in Korea
Coffee consumption in Korea began at the end of the 19th century with the arrival and influence of Western culture.
After the Korean War in the 1950s, coffee was introduced to the public, and instant coffee companies followed, the first of which were established in 1972. Coffee began to be popularized.
In 1999, when Starbucks opened its first store in Korea, Koreans were introduced to the concept of espresso. Interest in specialty coffee increased during the mid-2000s.
The Korean Coffee Market
In the late 2000s, as interest in high-quality specialty coffee grew through the influence of the instant coffee market, which was the mainstay of coffee consumption, the number of small-scale roastery cafes increased. With this, Japanese-style manual drip coffee became popular. Since then, the coffee market has grown rapidly enough to be considered compression growth.
Current Korean Coffee Trend and Culture: Large Franchises Based on Capital
The three areas of the instant coffee market, which are specialized in roaster cafes that use certified specialty coffees and instant coffee products with excellent flavor, are coexisting and growing. A distinctive feature of the current Korean coffee market is the desire for specialty coffee. The demand in this market is as great as the quantitative dominance of instant coffee.
The demand can be seen through the following:
- Establishment of specialty coffee education
o With the increased popularity of specialty coffee in Korea and desire for professional coffee education, more courses and opportunities for coffee education are being conducted in Korea than in any other country in the world.
o There are a large number of SCA (Specialty Coffee Association) certified baristas, SCA instructors (AST: Authorized SCA Trainers), and Q Arabica Graders. More are receiving their certifications every year.
- Joint purchases of green beans by roasters
o Coffee experts and café owners who deal with specialty coffee predominantly roast their own beans.
o These small artisan roasters work together to find high-quality green coffee beans. They visit production sites directly and try to purchase better quality coffee in bulk through joint purchases.
- Numerous coffee competitions
o Many coffee competitions are held each year, including the national championships in each category of the WCE (World Coffee Event). These categories include barista, brewing, roasting, etc. Through the influence of these competitions, the general level of coffee lovers and experts has increased.
o Korean barista Jeon Joo-yeon won the 2019 WBC (World Barista Championship), demonstrating Korea’s knowledge and expertise of coffee to the world.
- Korean Coffee Farms
o Korea is not a coffee-producing country. However, due to the efforts made over a decade ago, there are currently 37 coffee farms in various regions. Although this number is insufficient to achieve commercial results, these farms serve as coffee education sites in which one can experience coffee practices, such as cultivation and harvest.
As you may note, though relatively newer to the coffee industry, especially the specialty coffee industry, Koreans have a passion for coffee that rivals others worldwide.
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