South Korea Coffee Pods Market Size, Share, Opportunities, COVID-19 Impact, And Trends, By Type (Hard Pods, Soft Pods), By Caffeine Content (Regular, Decaffeinated), By Flavors (Regular, Flavored), By Distribution Channel (Offline, Online) - Forecasts From 2023 To 2028

Coffee pods are single-served, a pre-packed coffee canister that is enough for brewing one cup of coffee and comes with its own filter. Coffee made using coffee pods saves both time and energy by simplifying the brewing process. Coffee pods are available in various quantities, flavours and additives according to the need of the consumer. The coffee pod market in South Korea is segmented into categories: the type of coffee pod, caffeine content, flavour and distribution channel.

Coffee has had a strong presence in South Korean culture and is considered one of the most popular beverages consumed in the country.  According to a recent report by the Korea National Council of Consumer Organizations, 70 per cent of South Korean adults drink at least one cup of coffee every day. 12.2 per cent of respondents to the study claimed they drink coffee five to six times per week, while 8 per cent, 4 per cent, and 3 per cent stated three to four and once or twice, respectively. An average South Korean consumes 367 cups of coffee a year. The South Korean coffee market's size climbed from US$0.3 billion to more than US4.3 billion from 2007 to 2021.

Coffee pod sales in South Korea have more than doubled compared to ground coffee sales in 2020, representing a rising portion of the country's steadily expanding coffee industry. According to Emart, the biggest chain of discount stores in South Korea, the demand for coffee pods has overtaken that for ground coffee, which only holds a 33 per cent market share. High convenience and low cost associated with the use of coffee pods are one of the primary factors driving the growth of the market in this country. Korean consumers are also ready to spend money on single-serve coffee machines so they may have a cafe-like experience at home which has also boosted the demand for coffee pods in this country.

Other factors such as the growing prevalence of cafe culture, the introduction of new coffee categories, increasing disposable income, and growing consumer knowledge and experimentation with coffee are also contributing to the expansion of the coffee pod market in South Korea.

Due to coffee pods’ high demand and convenience cafes in South Korea are using coffee capsules and pods to deliver coffee to their customer. For instance, Café Italico with 20 outlets across South Korea serves coffee using coffee pods to their customers. At Café Italico Nespresso coffee pods are used to create every coffee-based beverage.

Increasing popularity of artisanal, gourmet, speciality, premium coffee pods

A growing number of Korean customers value premium, speciality coffee. Speciality coffee shops are springing up all around Seoul as customers are willing to pay a bit more for the coffee that they like.  For instance, In November 2022, Terres De Café a French premium speciality coffeehouse chain is expanding its Operation In South Korea. Terres de Café has joined several other foreign companies looking to fuel the growing demand for premium coffee experiences in the country. Due to the growing demand for coffee pods and speciality coffee in the country various South Korean coffeehouses are entering the market to capitalise on this trend. ‘Holly’s Coffee’, a Korean speciality coffeehouse business, teamed with coffee machine producer Keurig to develop ‘K-cup’ capsules compatible with Keurig machines.

Market Key Developments

• In February 2023, South Korean food company Dongsuh Foods launched its first coffee pod brand “ Kanu Barista”. The new coffee pods are produced using Dongsuh's exclusive triangle tamping method, which compacts coffee grinds firmly and eliminates air pockets to maximise flavour extraction. The coffee pods come in light, medium, dark roast and decaf flavours.
• In August 2022, major oil refiner GS Caltex Corp. partnered with the Korean division of Swiss food giant Nestle to improve resource efficiency and carbon reduction through recycling coffee pods.

South Korea Coffee Pods Market Scope:

Segmentation:

• By Type
  • Hard Pods
  • Soft Pods
• By Caffeine Content
  • Regular
  • Decaffeinated
• By Flavour
  • Regular
  • Flavoured
• By Distribution Channel
  • Online
  • Offline