Starbucks joins cup bingsu fray as demand, weather start to heat up

The cup bingsu (shaved ice) craze that swept Korean coffee chains last summer is back, and this time Starbucks is in the game.

Starbucks new bingsu (shaved ice) options. The red bean bingsu, left, and mango bingsu [STARBUCKS]

The cup bingsu (shaved ice) craze that swept Korean coffee chains last summer is back, and this time Starbucks is in the game.

Starbucks Korea last week launched two cup-style shaved ice drinks, the Red Bean Bingsu Blended and the Apple Mango Bingsu Blended, marking the chain's first cup bingsu menu since entering the Korean market in 1999. Built on a milk ice base topped with sweet red beans, injeolmi cream, granola or apple mango, the drinks are available only after 2 p.m. and priced at 8,300 won ($5.60) for Grande size.

“Ahead of the summer season, when demand for refreshing beverages rises, we introduced the bingsu blended drinks to provide Starbucks customers with a wider range of options and a differentiated beverage experience,” said a representative from Starbucks.

The launch puts Starbucks into a category that low-cost coffee brands built into a phenomenon last year. Mega MGC Coffee led the 2025 cup bingsu wave with its Patbing Gelato Parfait and Mangbing Parfait, which together sold roughly 9 million units across the summer season. Some stores ran out of ingredients during peak demand.

Mega started selling its 2026 cup bingsu lineup on Thursday, including a returning Patbing Gelato Parfait and a new Matcha Gelato Patbing Parfait, with prices held flat from last year at 4,400 won.

Paik's Coffee moved early. Its Whole Sweet Red Bean Cup Bingsu, part of a three-item summer line, hit shelves about three months earlier than last year. The product layers shaved ice with milk and condensed milk, then tops it with sweet red beans, injeolmi rice cake and roasted grain powder.

Ediya Coffee began selling three cup bingsu products on Thursday alongside three plate-style bingsu items, using red beans, mango and kataifi (shredded Middle Eastern phyllo dough strands). Twosome Place entered the segment with its Snowflake Cup series, a cup bingsu shake concept built around three flavors.

Competition is set to intensify. Where 2025 was driven by low-cost chains, this year brings Starbucks and Twosome into the mix.

BY KIM MIN-YOUNG [kim.minyoung5@joongang.co.kr]