오늘의 디저트와 카페 메뉴 트렌드, 2026-05-12 Trends
Starbucks Korea is expanding its Seoul-exclusive drinks to all locations to boost local-themed marketing, while Compose Coffee hit 350,000 sales in just one week with its new menu. Convenience stores and franchises are ramping up their cup bingsoo offerings, and the blend of Dubai chocolate, matcha, and pistachio has become a key global and local trend.
Dessert and Cafe Menu Trends — 2026-05-12
Today’s New Menu Highlights
Starbucks Korea — Seoul Sunset Omija Fizzio & Seoul Makgeolli-flavored Cold Brew
- Category: Beverage (Region-specific)
- Launch Date: May 10, 2026 (expanded to all Seoul locations)
- Key Features: The "Seoul Sunset Omija Fizzio" and "Seoul Makgeolli-flavored Cold Brew" combine local Seoul identity with Korean flavors. With a concept centered on viewing Namsan Tower, they target both tourists and locals.
- Why it matters: Expanding these exclusive drinks suggests that the "regional specialty × Korean traditional ingredients" strategy is working. Expect a trend toward more drinks using native ingredients like Omija and Makgeolli flavor.
Compose Coffee — All Day Com Series (e.g., Vanilla Cream Latte)
- Category: Beverage (New series)
- Performance: Surpassed 350,000 cups sold within one week of the April 22, 2026 launch.
- Key Features: The "All Day Com" series, featuring the Vanilla Cream Latte, was released alongside character merchandise sets.
- Why it matters: This budget coffee brand is shifting from simple beverage sales to "experiential consumption" via merchandise collabs. Expect competitors like Mega Coffee and Ediya to follow suit.
Domestic Franchise Cup Bingsoo — Summer Season Competition
- Category: Dessert (Seasonal)
- Launch Period: Releasing sequentially since early May 2026.
- Key Features: After selling over 1.2 million units last year, the "cup bingsoo" is back. Franchises are fighting to win over single-person households and value-conscious consumers.
- Why it matters: While known for being labor-intensive for staff, its "Instagrammable" look and value for money make it a recurring summer hit.
Franchise Trends
- Starbucks Korea: Formally announced on May 10 that it is expanding its Seoul-specific drinks and merchandise to all locations in the city.
- Compose Coffee: Building on the 350,000-cup success of its "All Day Com" series by releasing additional character merchandise sets.
- A Twosome Place: Hit a record high for the third consecutive year in 2025 with 582.4 billion won in sales (approx. 12% increase). Signature desserts like the "Strawberry Chocolate Cream Cake" (Seucho-saeng) drove growth.
- General Trends — Cup Bingsoo: Competition is heating up for small-capacity bingsoo, with brands expected to battle over unique toppings and pricing.
Convenience Store & Bakery New Arrivals
- KIBA 2026 (Korea International Bakery & Ice Cream Fair): Upcoming exhibition covering everything from frozen dough to smart equipment. Paris Baguette has reportedly opened "Cafe de Dessert," a store focused on Parisian-style treats.
- 7-Eleven: Recently launched "Choco Snail Bread" (using Belgian cocoa) and "Sweet Pastry" (using rye sourdough). More donuts and macarons are on the way. 7-Eleven’s bakery sales are up 15% year-on-year.
Today’s Trend Keywords
- Local Ingredient Beverages: With the formalization of Omija and Makgeolli flavors, "Korean-ness" in cafe drinks is becoming a standard trend.
- Dubai Chocolate × Matcha × Pistachio Triple Combo: Proven as a global standard by Starbucks' January 2026 menu. Expect this mix to persist in local specialty cafes and convenience stores.
- Goods-Bundled Marketing: Bundling character merchandise with new drinks has become the core marketing formula for budget coffee brands to drive viral sales.
Global Comparison
Global Starbucks launched "Iced Dubai Chocolate Mocha" and "Iced Dubai Chocolate Matcha" in January 2026, officially linking the Dubai chocolate trend (pistachio cream + kataifi noodles) to coffee. While global cafes are adopting this, Korea is uniquely fast at blending these global trends with traditional ingredients like Omija and Makgeolli for a "Korean-style Dubai Chocolate" twist.
Upcoming Events
- KIBA 2026: A comprehensive bakery exhibition. Check the official website for exact dates and location details.
- Seoul Coffee Expo Follow-up Events: Expect offline pop-ups and experiential events from participating brands throughout mid-to-late May.
- Full Summer Menu Rollout: Major franchises are expected to release their full lineups of summer-limited bingsoo and cold drinks from late May to early June.
Reader Action Items
- For Menu Planners: Try blending local specialties (e.g., Jeju Hallabong, Jeonbuk Bokbunja) with global hits like Dubai chocolate or pistachio cream to create a unique signature recipe.
- For Cafe Owners: Strategically plan "Character Goods + New Menu" bundles to increase your average transaction value and social media engagement. Look for low-cost merchandise collaboration partners to generate buzz.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
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