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A sweet, coffee‑milk‑style brewed coffee that first took Japan by storm has sold 500,000 cups in South Korea in just three weeks after its launch, kickstarting a new everyday coffee trend.
On the 18th, Starbucks Korea said Sweet Milk Coffee, which launched on the 26th of last month, surpassed 500,000 cumulative sales within three weeks.
Sweet Milk Coffee debuted at Starbucks in Japan, where travelers raved about the sweet, coffee‑milk iced brewed coffee that had been exclusive to local stores.
Brewed coffee—made by pouring hot water over finely ground beans—is Starbucks’ go‑to daily coffee. In stores, it’s offered as \”Today’s Coffee\” and Iced Coffee.
After joining Starbucks Korea’s brewed coffee lineup, Sweet Milk Coffee quickly became a hit, accounting for nearly half of all brewed coffee sales following its debut.
Because Starbucks rotates the beans used for brewed coffee, customers can enjoy Sweet Milk Coffee with different flavor profiles each time. Signature brewed beans include Veranda Blend, House Blend, Guatemala, and Kenya.
There are also seasonal versions made with promotional beans. The new drink’s popularity has helped boost sales of other brewed coffees, too.
In South Korea, Starbucks’ brewed coffee sales grew about 24% from 2023 to 2024 and roughly 96% from 2024 to 2025. Sales in January–February this year rose about 30% compared with the same period last year.
Starbucks recently introduced the AeroCano—an Americano infused with air to amplify a smooth, velvety flavor. It has also added Flat White, Milk Caramel Latte, and Cortado to its coffee lineup to reinforce its core coffee offerings.
Starbucks said the biggest differentiator for Sweet Milk Coffee is that a single drink lets customers sample a variety of beans and flavor profiles over time.
The company added that, moving forward, it will continue expanding its coffee lineup as a dedicated coffee house to give customers more choices and a distinctive brand experience.
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