South Korea’s Sweet Craze: Why “Cup Bingsu” is Taking Over Cafés

Beginner | July 26, 2025

✨ 혼자서 기사를 소리 내어 읽거나 튜터를 따라 각 단락을 반복해서 읽으세요. 레벨...

The Rise of Cup Bingsu

The South Korea cup bingsu craze is sweeping cafés across the country, turning this single-serve dessert into a summertime essential.

A Sweet and Convenient Treat

In South Korea, a new dessert is rapidly gaining popularity in cafés: the single-serve “cup bingsu.” This is a smaller, more personal version of the traditional Korean shaved ice dessert, bingsu. It’s especially popular during the hot summer months because it’s so refreshing. People love it for three main reasons: it’s affordable, it’s very convenient, and it fits well with the growing trend of eating alone or having personalized meals.

Big Sales for Coffee Chains

Major coffee and bakery chains are leading this sweet trend. Budget-friendly brands like Mega MGC Coffee, Ediya Coffee, and Compose Coffee are selling a lot of cup bingsu. For example, Mega MGC Coffee’s special cup bingsu parfaits, launched in April 2025, have sold over 5 million units together. From late April to early June 2025 alone, Mega MGC Coffee sold 1.2 million cup bingsus! Ediya Coffee also saw a 20% increase in sales for its single-serve bingsu in the week before July 22, 2025. These numbers show just how much people want this delicious treat.

Why is Everyone Loving It?

Cheaper and Easier to Buy

One big reason for cup bingsu’s success is its price. A cup bingsu usually costs around 5,000 won (about \$3.60 USD). You can find them from 4,000 to 6,300 won. This is a huge difference from traditional, larger bingsu bowls, which can cost anywhere from 50,000 to 150,000 won! With prices for many things going up, this affordable option is very appealing.

Social Media and the South Korea Cup Bingsu Craze

The popularity of cup bingsu has also grown because of social media. Many humorous posts from café employees joking about how much work it is to make them have gone viral. Cup bingsu often contains frozen milk, red beans, rice cakes, and different syrups. Popular flavors include red bean, mango, sweet corn, and matcha. This dessert is also part of a larger trend in South Korea called “cup food,” where people prefer convenient, individual portions of many different foods. The entire bingsu market in South Korea has been worth over 500 billion won each year since 2020!

Vocabulary

rapidly (adverb): Quickly or at a fast pace.
- Example: “The cup bingsu quickly gained popularity in South Korea.”
popularity (noun): The state or condition of being liked by many people.
- Example: “The dessert’s popularity grew because it was cheap and easy to find.”
affordability (noun): The quality of being cheap enough for people to buy.
- Example: “Its affordability is a key reason why cup bingsu is so popular.”
convenience (noun): The quality of being easy to use or manage.
- Example: “The cup size offers great convenience for people on the go.”
trend (noun): A general direction in which something is developing or changing.
- Example: “Solo dining is a growing trend in many cities.”
traditional (adjective): Following old customs or beliefs; typical of a long-established form.
- Example: “Bingsu is a traditional Korean shaved ice dessert.”
accessible (adjective): Easy to obtain or use.
- Example: “The low price makes cup bingsu an accessible treat for many.”
amplified (verb): Made stronger or more intense.
- Example: “Social media posts amplified the dessert’s popularity.”
labor-intensive (adjective): Needing a lot of work or effort.
- Example: “Café workers joked about the labor-intensive process of making cup bingsu.”
indicative (adjective): Serving as a sign or indication of something.
- Example: “The rise of cup bingsu is indicative of a broader cup food trend.”

Discussion Questions (About the Article)

What is “cup bingsu” and why has it become popular?
Which coffee chains are leading the cup bingsu trend in South Korea?
How much does a cup bingsu usually cost, and how does this compare to a traditional bingsu?
Besides price, what other factors have helped cup bingsu become popular?
What are some common ingredients and flavors found in cup bingsu?

Discussion Questions (About the Topic)

Are there any popular “single-serve” or “cup food” trends in your country? What are they?
Do you prefer eating alone or with friends? How do food trends reflect this?
How important is affordability when you choose food or drinks?
Have you ever tried bingsu or a similar shaved ice dessert? What did you think?
How do you think social media affects what foods become popular?

Related Idiom

In high demand

Meaning: Being wanted or needed by many people.
Example: “The new cup bingsu is in high demand, with cafés selling thousands every day.”

📢 Want more tips like this? 👉 Sign up for the All About English Mastery Newsletter! Click here to join us!

Want to finally Master English but don’t have the time? Mastering English for Busy Professionals is the course for you! Check it out now!

Follow our YouTube Channel @All_About_English for more great insights and tips

This article was inspired by: Pulse by Maeil Business, July 23, 2025.

d, shaved ice, cafe culture, affordability