“Korean Coffee Is on Another Level,” Drawing Foreign Visitors Into Seoul’s Coffee Scene

Seoul’s coffee culture is becoming a tourist attraction in its own right, offering everything from inexpensive Americanos to expensive specialty brews. The city’s appeal lies in how many different coffee experiences exist side by side.

Forbes recently reported that small roastery cafes have appeared across Seoul, turning the city into a destination for coffee enthusiasts. In Mapo, cafes and roasteries are so densely packed that they occupy nearly every alley. Visitors can find unusual beans, specialty drinks and coffee made using traditional charcoal roasting methods.

South Korea’s coffee shop market has expanded sharply. Citing National Tax Service data, Forbes reported that the number of coffee and beverage shops rose from 45,203 in early 2018 to 95,337 in the first quarter of 2025. That represents a 111% increase in seven years, or roughly one coffee shop for every 540 people.

The mass-market coffee sector also competes on price. Chains such as Mega Coffee and Compose Coffee offer affordable Americanos, adding another layer to a market that combines low-cost drinks with increasingly specialized coffee experiences.