Starbucks Korea announced unveiled a new type of iced Americano this week. This will be the first time the U.S. coffee chain introduces such a drink in South Korea, a country where iced coffee is popular all year round.
The new drink, called the Aerocano, will make its global debut in South Korea on Thursday. It has a creamy foam layer on top and offers a smoother taste compared to the traditional iced Americano.
Starbucks chose South Korea to launch the Aerocano because of the strong local demand for iced drinks, no matter the season. In South Korea, iced Americanos are often called "Ah-Ah," and the drink is so popular that there's a fun phrase, "Eoljuka," which means "Even if I freeze to death, I’ll still drink iced Americano."
At the end of 2025, Starbucks Korea had 2,115 stores, making it the company’s third-largest market after the U.S. (with 16,911 stores) and China (with 8,011 stores). Japan follows closely with 2,105 stores.
Executive Statement
According to Alexandra Orsolic, senior product manager for Starbucks Asia Pacific, it is especially meaningful to introduce the Aerocano for the first time in Korea, a market with passionate customers and a distinctive coffee culture.
