5,000 won for a cup of Americano… More expensive than Starbucks, but there is a line

picture explanationOn the 11th, near the Starfield COEX Mall Byeolmadang Library in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, the first Percent Arabica Coffee (% coffee) store in Korea (Photo Source: Shinsegae Property)

Japan’s representative coffee brand ‘% Arabica’ made its first landing in Korea during the Chuseok holiday.

According to related industries on the 12th, Percent Arabica entered the Starfield COEX Mall, a complex shopping mall operated by Shinsegae Group, on the 11th and started business.

Founded by Kenneth Shoji, who grew up in Tokyo, Japan, Percent Arabica is a global coffee chain that currently operates 124 stores in 18 countries around the world.

Among domestic consumers, the percent Arabica logo shape (%) resembles ‘Eung’, so it is called ‘Eung Coffee’. It is so popular that it is selected as a must-stop coffee shop when traveling to Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Thailand.

In particular, the variety of latte types such as Kyoto latte, Spanish latte, dacha latte, and matcha latte makes it a ‘Latte Holy Land’.

The price is 5,500 won for a 355ml Americano, and 6,500 won for a cafe latte.

Compared to Starbucks’ tall-size Americano (4,500 won) and cafe latte (5,500), which are the same capacity, Percent Arabica Coffee is 1,000 won and 1,500 won more expensive, respectively.

Consumers did not shy away from the ‘Open Run’, where there were already queues before 9 o’clock, when the store opened even during Chuseok holidays to taste percent arabica, which was first introduced to Korea.

A Shinsegae Property official said, “Percent Arabica is famous for brewing coffee with a custom-made espresso machine while using the highest grade coffee beans such as Ethiopian G1 grade.”

[방영덕 매경닷컴 기자]
[ⓒ 매일경제 & mk.co.kr, 무단전재 및 재배포 금지]

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