'Bad Coffee' Is a Thing of the Past... Coffee That Sold Over 100 Million Cups at Starbucks

Prejudice Against 'Bad Coffee' Broken
Imports Up 13% Compared to Same Period Last Year
Over 100 Million Cups Sold Cumulatively from 2017 to May

Reference photo to aid understanding of the article. [Photo by Pixabay]

The popularity of decaffeinated coffee, once considered "bad-tasting coffee," is rapidly increasing. This appears to be due to improvements in the taste and quality of decaffeinated coffee, along with the recent health management trend.

According to Starbucks on the 20th, sales of decaffeinated beverages from the beginning of this year through July rose 14% compared to the same period last year. Starbucks began selling decaffeinated coffee in 2017 and surpassed 100 million cumulative sales in May this year. The share of decaffeinated coffee in total beverages also reaches 10%.

At Starbucks, decaffeinated options are available not only for Caffe Americano but also for Flat White, Caffe Latte, Caramel Macchiato, and Starbucks Dolce Latte. There is also a half-decaf option that reduces caffeine content by half.

As more consumers seek decaffeinated coffee, it has become a common menu item everywhere. At Angel-in-us Coffee, all coffee products containing beans can be changed to decaffeinated. Ediya Coffee also offers decaffeinated options for all beverages containing espresso shots. Additionally, many stores such as Twosome Place, Paik’s Coffee, Hollys, The Venti, Mammoth Coffee, and Compose Coffee sell decaffeinated coffee.

With the increase in demand for decaffeinated coffee, imports of decaffeinated coffee are also rising. According to the Korea Customs Service, the import volume of decaffeinated coffee from January to July this year was 3,883 tons, up 13% from the same period last year.

The preference for decaffeinated coffee is also seen overseas. According to the National Coffee Association (NCA), about 26 million adults in the United States, or 10%, drink decaffeinated coffee. In the U.S., decaffeinated coffee was once considered a coffee people reluctantly drank for health reasons despite its poor taste, but industry experts say that prejudice is breaking down as the quality of decaffeinated coffee improves.

Meanwhile, unlike regular coffee, decaffeinated coffee is freer from caffeine side effects such as heart palpitations, anxiety, and nervousness. There are also studies suggesting it helps prevent diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.