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How to Order Coffee in Korea – A Traveler’s Guide to Korean Café Culture

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☕ How to Order Coffee in Korea – A Traveler’s Guide to Korean Café Culture

Korea isn’t just known for K-pop and kimchi — it’s also a paradise for coffee lovers.
Whether you’re into strong espresso, sweet lattes, or Instagram-worthy drinks, Korean cafés offer it all. But if you're a first-time visitor, ordering coffee in Korea might be a little confusing.

Don't worry — this guide will show you exactly how to order like a pro, even if you don't speak Korean.

🏪 Step 1: Know Where You’re Ordering

There are two main types of cafés in Korea:

  • Big chains (e.g. Starbucks, Ediya, Mega Coffee, Compose Coffee): Easy to find, consistent service, often bilingual menus.

  • Independent cafés: More stylish or unique, often with specialty menus, but may have limited English support.

Tip: Big chains usually offer seasonal drinks and combo sets. Local cafés often have signature items like "salt cream americano" or "black sesame latte."

📋 Step 2: Understanding the Menu

Korean coffee menus typically include:

  • Americano (아메리카노) – Most popular drink, often served iced

  • Café Latte (카페라떼) – Slightly sweeter than Western versions

  • Vanilla Latte (바닐라라떼) – Popular flavored latte

  • Iced Coffee (아이스커피) – Usually means iced Americano

  • Flat White (플랫화이트) – Gaining popularity recently

Many menus use "Konglish" (Korean-English). If it looks familiar, it probably is!

🥤 Step 3: Choose Hot or Iced

Staff will usually ask:
“Hot-ee? A-i-seu?” (핫이? 아이스?)
→ They're asking if you want it hot or iced.

Just answer with:

  • “Hot, please” → 핫 주세요

  • “Iced, please” → 아이스 주세요

📏 Step 4: Pick a Size

Most cafés in Korea have 2 or 3 sizes:

  • Regular (레귤러)

  • Large (라지)

  • Mega or Jumbo (some over 700ml!)

Note: At chains like Mega Coffee or Compose, "large" is really large.

🧾 Step 5: Ordering Process Example

Let’s say you want an iced vanilla latte, large size.

  1. Staff: “Hello, order please!”

  2. You: “One iced vanilla latte, large size please.”

  3. Staff: “For here or to go?” (또는 “포장할까요?”)

  4. You: “For here.”

  5. Staff: “Name please?” (They may call your name or give you a buzzer)

Some cafés use numbers or buzzers instead of names.

🗣 Useful Korean Phrases

  • For here, please: 여기서 먹을게요 (yeo-gi-seo meo-geul-gae-yo)

  • To go, please: 포장해주세요 (po-jang hae-ju-se-yo)

  • Iced: 아이스 (ai-seu)

  • Hot: 핫 (hat)

  • Thank you: 감사합니다 (gam-sa-ham-ni-da)

🧡 Extras to Try

  • Dalgona Latte (달고나라떼) – Inspired by the viral trend

  • Sweet Potato Latte (고구마라떼) – No coffee, but very Korean

  • Injeolmi Shake (인절미쉐이크) – Nutty, rice cake–inspired flavor

  • Salt Cream Topping – Lightly salted foam on Americano

✨ Final Thoughts

Ordering coffee in Korea is simple once you know the basic flow.
Even if you don’t speak Korean, most baristas are used to international customers — and a smile goes a long way.

So next time you’re in Seoul or Busan, skip the confusion and enjoy that perfect cup of coffee like a local.
You might even discover your new favorite drink.


Looking for more fun local experiences? Don’t miss this guide to eating ramen by the Han River — one of Korea’s most iconic and relaxing traditions:  

👉 eating-ramen-by-han-river


You can also find some great coffee drinks inside Korean convenience stores! Check out this beginner’s guide to navigating a Korean 편의점:  

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