Starbucks Korea launches Christmas drinks, food and e-Frequency event from Oct 22
In short
Starbucks Korea said on 21 October that it will launch Christmas season drinks, food and merchandise on 22 October, together with its year-end e-Frequency reward event. Food items are discounted 20% for four days, and members can earn extra stars on season drinks until 28 October.
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Starbucks Korea said on 21 October that it will launch Christmas season drinks, food and merchandise on 22 October and start its year-end customer reward event, e-Frequency, the same day. Yonhap, Newsis, Maeil Business and Dong-A Ilbo carried the announcement. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 8 ]
The drinks include the Toffee Nut Latte, the Winter Scotch Vanilla Latte and the non-alcoholic Classic Vin Chaud Hibiscus Tea, which Asia Economy and Newsis described as returning. A new Apricot Joyful Medley Tea Latte reinterprets the summer Apricot Joyful Medley Shaken Tea in a winter style. The autumn Black Glazed Latte, Matcha Glazed Tea Latte and Hojicha Glazed Tea Latte stay on the menu. Asia Economy and Newsis said the Toffee Nut Latte has been sold in Korea since 2002 and has passed 40 million cups in total sales; Dong-A Ilbo also gave the 40 million figure. [ 1 , 3 , 8 ]
The food range includes the Nutella Moist Fresh Cream Cake, the Nutella Baguette Salt Bread, the Rudolph Cookie Cheese Cake and the Santa Red Velvet Cheese Cake. Asia Economy also listed a Tree Matcha Crunch Cake and a Snowman Macaron. The Beef Melt Baguette Sandwich, offered last winter, returns. Season-limited merchandise includes tumblers, mugs and a Tree Dancing Bearista doll, in a Bearista design based on gingerbread and marshmallow. [ 1 , 3 , 8 ]
From 22 to 25 October, seven designated food items are sold at 20% off. Until 28 October, Starbucks Rewards Green and Gold members who buy four season drinks receive up to 3 extra stars. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 8 ]
For e-Frequency, customers who buy 17 made drinks, including 3 mission drinks, and collect e-stickers can receive gifts made with Lexon and Moleskine: a portable speaker, a bag and a planner. Dong-A Ilbo added that customers who collect additional e-stickers get a mini note keyring and a book cover. [ 2 , 4 , 8 ]
Yonhap and Maeil Business reported two new features this year. Cancelled quantities of some fully reserved gifts can be reserved in waitlist order, and customers can request an exchange for a defective gift and check its progress in the Starbucks app. A Starbucks official said, as quoted by Yonhap, "We hope customers enjoy a variety of drinks and food this Christmas season." [ 2 , 4 ]
Maeil Business and Seoul Shinmun published photos from 21 October at the Starbucks Korea Press Center store in Jung-gu, Seoul, where models showed the season drinks and food. [ 7 , 9 ]
Why it matters
The coverage is based on a company announcement and gives no figures on sales or customer response. It shows what Starbucks Korea is offering customers for the year-end season, including new app features for the e-Frequency gifts.
Key facts
- Starbucks Korea said on 21 October that its Christmas season drinks, food and merchandise go on sale from 22 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 8 ]
- Returning drinks include the Toffee Nut Latte, the Winter Scotch Vanilla Latte and the non-alcoholic Classic Vin Chaud Hibiscus Tea; a new Apricot Joyful Medley Tea Latte is added. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Asia Economy, Newsis and Dong-A Ilbo said the Toffee Nut Latte has sold more than 40 million cups in total. [ 1 , 3 , 8 ]
- Seven designated food items are 20% off from 22 to 25 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 8 ]
- Until 28 October, Rewards Green and Gold members get up to 3 extra stars when buying four season drinks. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 8 ]
- The e-Frequency event starts on 22 October; buying 17 made drinks, including 3 mission drinks, earns gifts made with Lexon and Moleskine. [ 2 , 4 , 8 , 10 ]
- Starbucks said customers can reserve cancelled gifts in waitlist order and request defective-gift exchanges in the app. [ 2 , 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Starbucks Korea announced on 21 October that its Christmas season drinks, food and merchandise start on 22 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 8 ]
- The year-end e-Frequency customer reward event starts on 22 October. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 8 , 10 ]
- Seven designated food items are discounted 20% from 22 to 25 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 8 ]
- Gifts for the e-Frequency event are a portable speaker, a bag and a planner made in collaboration with Lexon and Moleskine, earned by buying 17 drinks including 3 mission drinks. [ 2 , 4 , 8 , 10 ]
Still unclear
- Which seven food items get the 20% discount, and which four drinks count for the extra stars. The documents refer to them only as designated food items and four season drinks.
- The Toffee Nut Latte's total of more than 40 million cups sold. The documents give it as a company figure without an independent source.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Asia Economy publishes its report on 21 October. [ 1 ]
- Yonhap publishes its report on 21 October. [ 2 ]
- Maeil Business publishes a photo item on 21 October showing the season drinks and food at the Starbucks Korea Press Center store in Jung-gu, Seoul. [ 7 ]
- Dong-A Ilbo runs a short item on 22 October saying the e-Frequency event starts that day. [ 10 ]