Yoon becomes Starbucks ambassador with 'takju latte'
Starbucks Korea's 2020 ambassador Yoon Byung-kwon introduces his takju latte at a coffee shop in Seoul, on Feb. 12. / Courtesy of Starbucks Korea
By Kim Jae-heun
Every year, American coffeehouse chain Starbucks selects one ambassador to represent some 17,000 baristas working in Korea. Starbucks ambassadors must have a deep knowledge of coffee and show passion for their job as they are required to participate in various company events, giving lectures and promoting the brand. They also get to visit the Starbucks headquarters in Seattle to join the exchange program with global coffee experts there.
This year, Starbucks Korea has chosen two ambassadors. The company said it is to raise the level of their baristas here, where the country's coffee consumption ranks No. 6 in the world.
29-year-old barista Yoon Byung-kwon is one of two ambassadors to represent Starbucks Korea in 2020.
Yoon won the contest by introducing the world' first “takju latte,” which is made by adding espresso to non-alcoholic rice wine.
Takju is a broad term for Korean rice wine, better known as makgeolli, which has a mild and slightly bitter taste.
“While working at Starbucks here, I have seen many beverages that have been launched here uses local ingredients. Then I came to think that I want to invent a coffee drink that not only uses local agricultural product but also contains a story native to Korea,” said Yoon during the interview with The Korea Times.
“There is no other local drink that goes well with espresso's bitterness and full-bodied taste than takju. Rice is a common source of meal in East Asia and among them, Korea is the only country that enjoys unrefined rice wine,” Yoon added.
Yoon said removing alcohol from the rice wine was the most difficult job while inventing the takju latte. Initially, the acidity and unique flavor of takju would evaporate with the alcohol when he boiled the wine.
“I invented the takju latte only for this contest and I am not sure it will launch here at regular shops,” Yoon said. “Though, I will work with other Starbucks baristas to try many different ideas and come up with new drinks.”
As a new Starbucks ambassador, Yoon hopes to become a coffee expert who shares his knowledge and experience with various customers in different regions in the country.
“Our customers vary from beginners to experts. I also want to become a lighthouse that can give directions for novices in the field and share my passion with those who already have good knowledge of coffee drinks. In the end, I want our lives to be enriched with experiences that can only be enjoyed at Starbucks,” Yoon said.