SEOUL – Coffee Expo Seoul 2014 will be held at COEX from April 10th to the 13th. The event aims at bringing together the entire coffee and coffee related product industry together under one roof – showcasing everything from fresh coffee beans, to iced coffees, coffee machines, syrups, ice dream, cakes, and kitchen-ware.
The official guest country for this year’s expo is Ethiopia, the original home of the coffee bean.
An Ethiopian pavilion will allow guests to discover more about the origins of coffee, and a variety of green and roasted coffee beans sourced from Ethiopia will be available for tasting. Visitors will also let guests participate in a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony.
A special ‘ice dessert and cold beverage zone’ will give the opportunity for visitors to get their fix of iced coffees, ice creams, gelato, and bingsu.
Exhibition events at Coffee Expo Seoul include World Super Barista Championship, Mint Label New Product Showcase, Coffee Tasting, Seminars and Conferences.
Coffee Expo Seoul welcomed over 36,000 visitors and 340 exhibition booths in 2013 and expects substanial expansion over the next few years as Seoul continues to establish itself as one of the world’s coffee capitals.
Korea’s coffee industry has doubled over the past five years, seeing an explosion in both import and consumption and catapulting Korea to its place as 11th largest coffee market in the world.
South Koreans are now amongst the top global consumers of coffee, and the country is home to over 12,300 coffee shops.
Early stages of Korea’s coffee industry growth showed a strong preference for instant and mix coffees. In fact, research shows that Asian countries and countries in which tea was traditionally the drink of choice usually prefer instant coffee drinks.
However, there is now a steady shift away from instant-mix coffees, to espresso based and specialty beverages. The number of cafes in Korea offering hand-drip coffee and a range of specialty coffees is dramatically on the rise.
Young urban professionals seen as key to coffee industry success.
In South Korea, consumption trends among younger coffee drinkers, and a ‘coffee shop culture’ are driving the market economy.
Coffee Expo Seoul at a glance
- Dates: Thursday April 10th – Sunday April 13th 2014
- Venue: Coex Hall A, Seoul, Korea
- Organized by: Coex, Korea Coffee Association
- Expected Scale: 200 companies, 500 booths
- Exhibition Events: World Super Barista Championship, Mint Label New Product Showcase, Coffee Tasting, Seminars and Conferences
