Paik's Coffee

Paik's Coffee, known in Korean as 빽다방 and sometimes rendered as Paik's Dabang, is a South Korean coffeehouse chain associated with chef and restaurateur Baek Jong-won and The Born Korea. The brand operates in the mass-market beverage segment, combining relatively low prices with generous portions and a broad menu of coffee, non-coffee drinks, and desserts. Its name and identity are closely linked to Baek Jong-won's restaurant business and public profile, but the chain is positioned as an everyday beverage retailer rather than as a fine-dining or specialist café concept. The brand originated in Nonhyeon-dong, near one of Baek Jong-won's restaurants. The early concept was shaped by a desire to serve larger portions of instant coffee-stick beverages. This practical, high-value proposition helped attract customers and became part of the chain's broader approach: inexpensive drinks should not necessarily be associated with poor quality. Paik's Coffee subsequently developed a standardized coffee program intended to support consistency across a large franchise network. According to the cited reference material, the chain uses new-crop Brazilian coffee beans. The beans are described as having a substantial body, almond-like nuttiness, and a soft milk-chocolate sweetness. They are roasted and delivered to stores within less than two days, and stores are required to use them within two weeks. This operating model gives the brand a freshness narrative while retaining the scale and price discipline expected of a large coffee chain. Paik's Coffee expanded substantially in South Korea and had 1,565 coffee shops according to the cited Wikipedia reference. Its menu includes familiar espresso-based drinks such as Americanos and lattes, along with iced and specialty beverages, desserts, and other seasonal or collaborative products. The chain's value proposition is therefore based on a combination of volume, accessible pricing, recognizable flavors, and a menu broad enough to serve customers seeking both coffee and sweet or refreshing alternatives. The brand also adopted digital ordering. Since 2020, its mobile application has allowed customers to view the menu, place and pay for orders, and collect stamps in one service. Its Smart Order function lets customers order before reaching a store and collect drinks on arrival, reducing waiting time and integrating loyalty activity with digital purchasing. Paik's Coffee has used product collaborations to maintain visibility beyond its core coffee range. In 2021, it worked with Red Bull on Red Flame Power, a drink combining Red Bull with omija, a Korean five-flavor berry known for its tart and refreshing profile. The product was presented as an energizing and refreshing option during the COVID-19 period. In 2023, the chain opened its first Philippine branch at Glorietta 1 in Makati, marking an expansion outside its South Korean home market. The available source material does not establish the chain's full international footprint, ownership details beyond its association with The Born Korea, or a confirmed founding year.

Paik's Coffee began in Nonhyeon-dong beside a restaurant operated by Baek Jong-won. The initial idea was to serve larger portions of instant coffee-stick beverages, a straightforward proposition that helped distinguish the concept and attract customers. From this starting point, the business developed into a branded coffeehouse chain connected with The Born Korea. The chain's commercial identity rests on the argument that low prices and good quality are not mutually exclusive. Rather than presenting coffee as an occasional premium purchase, Paik's Coffee offers it as an accessible everyday product. Large servings, familiar drinks, a broad menu, and a fast-service format support that positioning. The model is suited to a dense urban market in which customers may prioritize convenience and price while still expecting consistent taste. Coffee sourcing and store-level freshness are central elements of the brand's quality narrative. The reference material states that Paik's Coffee uses new-crop Brazilian beans, characterized by a heavy body, almond-like nuttiness, and a mild milk-chocolate sweetness. Beans are roasted and delivered to stores in under two days, with a two-week usage requirement. These controls are intended to preserve freshness while allowing the chain to operate at scale. The business expanded across South Korea and reached 1,565 coffee shops according to the cited Wikipedia article. Its menu extends beyond standard hot coffee to include iced coffee, lattes, cold-drip coffee, non-coffee beverages, desserts, and limited or collaborative products. This breadth allows stores to serve different consumption occasions, including customers seeking refreshing drinks or sweet items rather than conventional coffee. Digital service became part of the operating model in 2020, when the chain introduced a mobile application for menu access, ordering, payment, and stamp-based loyalty collection. Through Smart Order, customers can place an order before arriving and collect the beverage at the store, linking convenience with repeat purchasing. Product collaboration has also been used to broaden the chain's visibility. In 2021, Paik's Coffee partnered with Red Bull to release Red Flame Power, combining Red Bull and omija in a drink described as refreshing and energizing during the COVID-19 period. The brand later began international expansion. In 2023, it opened its first Philippine branch at Glorietta 1 in Makati. The available reference material does not provide a confirmed founding year, detailed franchise statistics by year, or a complete account of international locations.

• 2023

  First Philippine branch opens

  [1]Paik's Coffeeen.wikipedia.org

  Paik's Coffee opened its first Philippine store at Glorietta 1 in Makati.

• 2021

  Red Flame Power collaboration launches

  [1]Paik's Coffeeen.wikipedia.org

  Paik's Coffee and Red Bull released Red Flame Power, combining Red Bull with omija in a refreshing energy-oriented drink.

• 2020

  Mobile ordering and Smart Order are introduced

  [1]Paik's Coffeeen.wikipedia.org

  The brand introduced a mobile application combining menu access, ordering, payment, and stamp collection, with Smart Order supporting advance pickup.

• The first Nonhyeon-dong concept is established

  [1]Paik's Coffeeen.wikipedia.org

  Paik's Coffee began beside Baek Jong-won's restaurant in Nonhyeon-dong, initially drawing customers with larger portions of instant coffee-stick beverages.

Mass-market, value-oriented coffee and beverage chain emphasizing generous portions, accessible prices, standardized quality, and quick service.

• Coffee

  Americano

  Americano is one of the chain's core coffee formats and represents its everyday, value-oriented proposition. It is served within a menu designed around substantial portions and accessible pricing.

• Coffee

  Latte

  Latte is part of Paik's Coffee's espresso-based beverage range. It complements the brand's black-coffee offerings with a milk-based option and fits the chain's broad, familiar menu format.

• Coffee

  Cold-drip coffee

  Cold-drip coffee is identified as one of Paik's Coffee's notable offerings. It extends the menu beyond standard hot and iced espresso drinks with a slower-extraction coffee format.

• Collaborative beverage · 2021

  Red Flame Power

  Red Flame Power was created through a 2021 collaboration with Red Bull. The drink combines a bottle of Red Bull with omija, producing a beverage positioned as both refreshing and energizing.

• 2021Red Flame Power collaboration

  South Korea

  Paik's Coffee partnered with Red Bull on a limited collaborative drink combining Red Bull and omija. The product was promoted as a refreshing, energizing choice for people coping with the COVID-19 period.

  Outcome. Product collaboration launched; broader commercial results are not stated in the available source.

  Source

• 2023

  Entry into the Philippine marketStrategy

  Background

  After building a substantial South Korean coffeehouse network, the brand pursued an international location.

  Action taken

  Paik's Coffee opened its first Philippine branch at Glorietta 1 in Makati.

  Aftermath

  The opening established a Philippine presence, but the available source does not document subsequent expansion or performance.

  Source

• 2021

  Launch of Red Flame PowerProduct launch

  Background

  Paik's Coffee used a partnership with Red Bull to create a beverage positioned around refreshment and energy during the COVID-19 period.

  Action taken

  The chain launched Red Flame Power, combining Red Bull with omija.

  Aftermath

  The collaboration expanded the chain's beverage range; no sales or financial outcome is provided.

  Source

• 2020

  Adoption of integrated mobile orderingStrategy

  Background

  The chain sought to combine convenience, advance pickup, payment, and loyalty activity in a single digital service.

  Action taken

  Paik's Coffee introduced a mobile application with menu browsing, ordering, payment, stamp collection, and Smart Order pickup functionality.

  Aftermath

  The app became part of the chain's digital ordering and customer-retention infrastructure; the available source does not quantify its impact.

  Source

1. 1Paik's Coffeeen.wikipedia.org