Why Koreans Drink More Coffee Than Kimchi

Walk through any Seoul neighborhood and you’ll spot locals clutching paper cups of dark roast—more often than not, a convenience-store Americano or a third-wave pour-over from a nearby boutique café. This isn’t just urban trendiness: it’s everyday life. But why is coffee more common than kimchi in the average Korean’s diet?

Koreans drink coffee 12.3 times per week on average—that’s more frequent than kimchi (11.8) and even rice (9.6), according to a report by South Korea’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation. That makes coffee the country’s most consumed single food item.

A Nation Built on Brews

Since 2012, the number of cafés in Seoul has more than doubled—from around 11,000 to over 20,000 today. These range from high-volume chains to specialty shops roasting single-origin beans and perfecting manual brew methods. Whether you’re in Gangnam or Hongdae, coffee isn’t a luxury—it’s a daily ritual.

The Taste That Feels Like Home

Some food critics point to a surprising flavor parallel. In traditional Korean households, cooking in large iron pots often left a layer of scorched rice at the bottom—a crunchy, caramelized crust known as nurungji. Mothers would traditionally add water to this leftover rice crust and simmer it into a comforting bowl of nurungji-guk, or “scorched rice soup.” According to these observers, the deep, toasty flavor profile of that soup bears a resemblance to the bitter-sweet, sometimes roasted notes in a cup of coffee. That familiar depth may have helped coffee find an unexpected place in the Korean palate.

High Demand, High Prices

Despite the nation’s love affair with coffee, prices remain steep. Premium beans, artisanal preparation methods, and high real estate costs in urban centers all contribute to making a simple cup a more expensive habit than in many other coffee-loving countries.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many times a week do Koreans drink coffee on average?

Koreans consume coffee 12.3 times per week on average, according to official reports from South Korea’s agricultural and food agencies. That’s the highest frequency for any single food item tracked.

What food do Koreans eat more often than rice?

Koreans drink coffee more frequently than they eat rice—12.3 times per week for coffee compared to 9.6 times for rice, making coffee their most-consumed single food item.

Is coffee more popular than kimchi in Korea?

Yes. Statistically, Koreans consume coffee (12.3 times per week) more often than kimchi (11.8 times per week), according to government data on food consumption frequency.

Why do some say coffee tastes like Korean food?

Food critics have noted similarities between the flavor of coffee and nurungji-guk, a traditional soup made from scorched rice crust. Both are described as having deep, toasty, and slightly bitter flavor notes, which may explain coffee’s cultural resonance.

Are coffee prices high in Korea?

Yes. Despite widespread coffee consumption, prices in South Korea remain relatively high due to factors like urban real estate costs, premium sourcing, and artisanal preparation methods.

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