Recession? Premium dessert and coffee sell better than ever

Customers try premium coffees at Starbucks Reserve, a line of premium, single-origin coffees available in select stores / Yonhap

The recession is bringing down overall consumer spending, but demand for expensive, high-end desserts, chocolates, and coffee is growing.

The phenomenon seems to reflect a tendency for people to enjoy ‘little luxuries’.

Strawberry dessert buffets at major hotels in Seoul are almost fully booked until the end of February. Dessert buffets cost about 50,000 won ($45.56) which is not cheap for just a dessert.

Sales of premium French La Maison du Chocolat have more than doubled since the product recently went on sale at Sinsegae Department main store in Jung-gu, Seoul. The tiny chocolate, less than two centimeters in diameter, costs 4,500 won ($4.10).

Starbucks’ high-end brand Starbucks Reserve uses only premium coffee beans, with the price ranging from 6,000-12,000 won ($5.47-10.94). Sales have doubled since last March, when the store sold an average of 30 cups a day.