Starbucks will raise prices of grande, venti drinks but discount the short

Starbucks Korea will raise the prices of its grande and venti drinks by 300 won while decreasing the price of short drinks. Drink customizations will cost more, but free customizations for members will remain.

A Starbucks coffee shop in Seoul [YONHAP]

Starbucks Korea will raise the prices of its grande and venti drinks by 300 won ($0.22) and 600 won, respectively, starting Friday.

Price of tall drinks will remain the same while short drinks will see a 300 won price decrease.

“We have been absorbing external and internal price increase factors, but we had to resort to adjusting the prices due to accumulated cost increase factors both directly and indirectly,” the coffee chain said on its website Wednesday.

Drink customizations, including the addition of espresso shots, syrup and whipped cream, will rise from 600 won to 800 won, but free customizations for Starbucks members will remain.

Eleven whole-bean coffee beans sold at Starbucks, currently priced between 15,000 and 18,000 won, will increase to the 18,000 to 20,000 won range. The company's VIA instant coffee sticks, currently priced between 5,900 and 15,000 won, will now cost 6,900 to 15,700 won.

BY CHO YONG-JUN [cho.yongjun1@joongang.co.kr]