If there were a man-made drink that nearly everyone in the world has had at least once, it would be coffee. It is a bitter beverage that transcends borders, giving everyone who drinks it a boost of energy. It’s the drink that helps many get through their days—K-pop idols included. In honor of International Coffee Day, we have compiled a list of some of the most memorable moments of K-pop idols with coffee.

NCT’s Jaemin

It’s no secret that Jaemin loves Americanos with eight shots of espresso. In fact, his special order has become a meme among fans and is mentioned on multiple shows. During their latest comeback, he spiced up his drink by upping to 12 shots of espresso and serving it with hot sauce on the straw in Café 7DREAM. 

 

IU

Most of us are used to barista-crafted lattes or making basic drinks at home–not everyone has access to a proper machine, and even if we did, brewing a cafe-style beverage at home is no easy feat. IU, the “Nation’s Sweetheart,” can relate. On Hyori’s Homestay, a show where K-pop idol Lee Hyori and her husband host celebrity guests at their Jeju home, IU won even more hearts. She fiddled in the kitchen, teaching herself how to use an espresso machine for the first time. 

 

ATEEZ’s Wooyoung

Wooyoung is another idol known to drink lots of caffeine. He introduced a massive bottle of the drink he was consuming during a Vlive titled “One Summer Night’s Dream.” Fans have also started to wonder–is it even a Wooyoung live if the idol isn’t drinking coffee?

 

BLACKPINK’s Jennie

When the dalgona latte craze took TikTok by storm, BLACKPINK’s Jennie joined in on the trend—or, well, she attempted to! The whipped drink takes quite a bit of energy if done by hand, and Jennie’s attempt at mimicking a popular drink is definitely relatable. 

 

MONSTA X’s Hyungwon

You cannot mention coffee without mentioning Hyungwon! The MONSTA X singer went viral in 2018 for a clip of him sipping on his Starbucks iced coffee at a fan sign. The clip garnered so much attention that Hyungwon became known as the “Starbucks meme guy,” and Starbucks began referencing the video to respond to people.

LOONA’s Hyunjin

Some people wouldn’t consider coffee a hobby,but LOONA’s Hyunjin would disagree with you. On a VLIVE, she admitted to drinking more of it than water (something we’re all guilty of, sometimes). During a fan call, a fan asked her what she was into lately, and she replied with “drinking coffee,” showing off her cup of Starbucks.

SuperM

During the “Avengers of K-pop’s” debut, Starbucks in Long Beach had a menu inspired by SuperM’s favorite orders. The selections ranged from the idol favorite, Americano, to the pretty Pink Drink.

 

SHINee’s Taemin

Taemin began drinking lattes in 9th grade, to help him stay awake during schedules. Then, wanting to fit in and seem classy like his senior members, SHINee’s maknae switched to Americanos, even though hated the bitter taste. He used to force himself to drink Americanos, but he eventually grew to like the flavor.

 

EXO’s Kai 

EXO’s Kai has a complicated relationship with coffee. In the past, he shared that it tastes like poison. Even so, he still drinks it. He has even sent fans photos of his spilled drink on multiple occasions. With an intense stage presence, it is hard to imagine Kai as clumsy— but it’s sweet! 

 

BLACKPINK’s Jisoo

BLACKPINK’s Jisoo diverts from the popular trend amongst idols to drink Americanos—instead, she’s known to be a fan of “coffee milk.” So much, that she enjoys it every day! She’s also known to be a big fan of the lattes that come in triangle containers instead of cans or cartons.

 

SEVENTEEN

During their promotions for “Hit,” Seventeen pulled a prank on carats by preparing a coffee truck at the Show! Music Core called “Fool’s Latte.” After an episode of Going Seventeen, the group drank coffee and milk simultaneously in two different cups— being surprised that it tasted exactly like a latte. So they decided to give carats a cup split in two, having one side filled with milk and the other side filled with coffee. 

https://twitter.com/kyeombuddy/status/1405196802660339712?s=20

 

NCT’s Johnny

Johnny enjoys his cup of joe just as much as anyone else—or maybe even more. He has expressed his love, claiming his father invented ground coffee in NCT’s “A Cup of Coffee” video. Johnny even bought his own French press machine to make the coffee he likes at home. He has also excelled at being a coffee shop barista for a day with member Jaehyun. Johnny’s relationship with coffee returned in NCT 127’s “Who is STICKER?” teaser and NCIT House. In the words of his groupmate Mark, “coffee without Johnny isn’t coffee & Johnny without coffee isn’t Johnny.”

Jessi

Between music and Showterview, it’s no surprise that Jessi runs on no less than 7 cups of coffee a day–specifically, Americanos with “a little bit of hazelnut syrup!” But, of course, Jessi is also no stranger to stocking up on coffee, caught on camera by her labelmates, HyunA and Dawn, raiding a convenience store cooler for her caffeine fix. 

https://twitter.com/softforhyudawn/status/1239241235115773953

 

Whether coffee has given idols energy or simply given fans a peek at their favorite’s life, it’s clear that it is crucial to our daily lives. Thanks to coffee, fans have been able to connect with their favorite idols! Happy International Coffee Day! 

What is your favorite K-pop coffee moment? Let us know on Instagram and Twitter.

For more food content, check out our most recent installment of NCITY EATS here.

Thumbnail by Niamh.

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