Get the latest scoop on trending pastries, baked goods, and cafe hits with our daily breakdown of what’s winning in the market.
Domestic coffee franchises are ramping up their summer menu competition through ice cream collaborations and premium desserts. Compose Coffee's launch of six soft-serve ice cream flavors using Sangha Farm milk is the standout, while global trends like Dubai chocolate, pistachio, and matcha are increasingly being adopted by local cafes.
Compose Coffee's new 6-item ice cream line has ignited a premium dessert race among major cafe chains. Collaborations and seasonal menus are heating up, while global trends like matcha, pistachio, and Dubai chocolate are gaining serious momentum in the local market.
As of May 24, 2026, the South Korean coffee and dessert industry is reeling from the Starbucks Korea "Tank Day" marketing controversy, which has severely damaged brand trust and triggered a shift toward alternative gift brands. Globally, the Dubai chocolate, matcha, and pistachio trio remains dominant, influencing domestic cafe menus. Recent reports also highlight new Sanrio-themed convenience store desserts and Paris Baguette’s specialized "Cafe de Dessert" stores.
The "Tank Day" controversy at Starbucks Korea has sparked a massive boycott and upended the café industry, while Sanrio-themed convenience store snacks and Paris Baguette’s "Café de Dessert" shops are capturing the hearts of Gen ZAlpha. Globally, the Dubai chocolate, pistachio, and matcha craze is being redefined as a "luxury wellness" trend, heavily influencing the local market.
As of May 18, 2026, the combination of Dubai chocolate, matcha, and pistachio has become a global trend, directly influencing domestic franchises and bakery brands. Paris Baguette has introduced "Cafe de Dessert," a specialized store format featuring a Parisian vibe, while the core keywords in the bakery industry remain premiumization, character collaborations, and wellness.
As we head into the summer of 2026, the Korean dessert market is witnessing extreme polarization: high-end premium bingsu versus budget-friendly single-serve cup bingsu. Meanwhile, the global "Dubai chocolate, pistachio, and matcha" flavor trio, solidified by Starbucks, is rapidly permeating the domestic scene.
The South Korean summer dessert market is experiencing extreme price polarization, with premium bingsu and value-for-money cup bingsu both gaining popularity. Compose Coffee has unveiled four new summer menu items, while Ediya Coffee is countering with 4,000 won cup bingsu. Globally, the combination of Dubai chocolate, matcha, and pistachio remains a dominant trend, influencing new menu development in domestic brands.
The Korean coffee and dessert scene is buzzing with Compose Coffee’s popular new Vanilla Cream Latte line, while the race to capture the summer market with "cup bingsu" (individual-sized shaved ice) is officially on. Globally, the trends for Dubai chocolate, matcha, and pistachio, championed by Starbucks, continue to strongly influence local franchise menu strategies. Meanwhile, Paris Baguette has intensified competition in the premium bakery cafe sector by launching "Cafe de Dessert," a new concept store dedicated to Parisian-style treats.
The Korean cafe and dessert industry is seeing intense competition over summer cup bingsu, while Compose Coffee continues to generate buzz with its latest menu. Globally, Starbucks is leading the charge with new menu items combining Dubai chocolate, matcha, and pistachio, showing a clear alignment with the premium dessert and bakery market in Korea.
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.
As of May 11, 2026, the South Korean café industry is heating up with "cup bingsu" competition ahead of summer, while Starbucks is moving away from its premium-only strategy to embrace budget-friendly trends. Compose Coffee’s "Rich Cream" line is viral in online communities, and SPC Samlip is running Sanrio Characters bread vending machine pop-ups across Seoul. Globally, the Dubai chocolate, pistachio, and matcha combination continues to expand through Starbucks US, drawing parallels with the Korean premium dessert market.
As the summer bingsu war heats up, Starbucks Korea has joined the "cup bingsu" trend, signaling a shift where even premium brands are adopting budget-friendly formats. Ediya Coffee is targeting solo consumers with a six-item lineup, while Paris Baguette is pushing premium positioning with its new "Cafe de Dessert" specialty stores. Globally, the combination of Dubai chocolate, matcha, and pistachio continues to dominate, inspiring similar viral recipes across the Korean market.
국내 커피 프랜차이즈가 여름 시즌을 맞아 **컵빙수** 경쟁에 본격 돌입한 가운데, 스타벅스는 프리미엄 디저트 특화 전략으로 저가커피 트렌드를 흡수하고 있습니다. SPC삼립은 산리오캐릭터즈 콜라보 빵 10종으로 잘파세대 공략에 나섰으며, 글로벌 시장에서는 말차, 피스타치오, 두바이 초콜릿 트리오가 여전히 핵심 트렌드를 이끌고 있습니다.
Ahead of the summer season, the domestic coffee and dessert market is heating up with "cup bingsu" competition. Starbucks is rapidly absorbing trends once exclusive to low-cost cafes by introducing its own cup bingsu, butter tteok, and "Dujjonku." Global trends like Dubai chocolate, pistachio, and matcha are infiltrating local menus, while SPC Samlip is accelerating its targeting of the "Zalpha" generation through Sanrio characters.
As summer approaches, the domestic coffee scene is heating up with cup bingsu and new Cold Brew releases. Starbucks is marking the 10th anniversary of its Cold Brew line while simultaneously adopting the value-driven "cup bingsu" trend popularized by budget coffee chains. Globally, the Dubai chocolate, pistachio, and matcha craze continues to influence the Korean market.
스타벅스 코리아가 콜드 브루 국내 출시 10주년을 기념해 바닐라 신메뉴 2종을 출시했습니다. 또한, 카페 업계 전반에서는 여름 시즌을 앞두고 1인 가구를 겨냥한 '컵빙수' 경쟁이 아주 뜨겁습니다. 저가 브랜드의 실속형 트렌드를 프리미엄 브랜드도 빠르게 받아들이는 모습이 인상적이네요.
As we head into summer 2026, the local cafe and dessert scene is heating up with a fierce "cup bingsoo" (individual shaved ice) battle and Starbucks celebrating 10 years of cold brew with new menu items. While Starbucks is quickly absorbing trends from budget coffee chains, Paris Baguette is expanding its premium bakery footprint with new Paris-inspired dessert concept stores. Globally, the combination of Dubai chocolate, pistachio, and matcha remains the key trend, heavily influencing the domestic market.
The "Ube" purple dessert craze is hitting major Korean chains like Starbucks and A Twosome Place, fueled by social media trends. Global Starbucks set the tone earlier this year with Dubai chocolate, matcha, and pistachio combos, which are now being adapted quickly in Korea. Meanwhile, Paris Baguette is pushing premium bakery trends with its new "Café de Dessert" concept stores.
In early May, the South Korean cafe and dessert scene is buzzing with "Ube" (purple yam), which has become a key seasonal ingredient for major chains like Starbucks and A Twosome Place, fueled by social media trends. Meanwhile, Paris Baguette is pushing premium trends with its new "Café de Dessert" concept, and Baskin Robbins is running a popular limited-edition collaboration with Pokémon.
South Korea's cafe and bakery industry is seeing ube—a vibrant purple dessert—emerge as a competitive trend among major chains like Starbucks and Twosome Place, capitalizing on Gen MZ's SNS verification culture. Compose Coffee is emphasizing its decaffeinated beverage line through cinematic advertising. Globally, the Dubai chocolate–matcha–pistachio combination has become a core menu strategy for major chains like Starbucks, influencing domestic import trends.
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