Coffee Story
Where do you buy your morning coffee on your way to work?
Compose Coffee, MegaMGC Coffee, Paikdabang, The Venti. There are quite a few budget coffee brands these days.
Pick the place you visit most often.
※ The background image is for illustrative purposes to aid understanding of the article.
Scroll down
But did you know?
Did you know this?
In the past 5 years, there have been 751 cases of violations of the Food Sanitation Act detected at the coffee franchises we often visit. Here is the year-by-year breakdown presented like receipts.
Violations by Year
202187 cases
Detected violations of the Food Sanitation Act
2022136 cases
Detected violations of the Food Sanitation Act
2023198 cases
Detected violations of the Food Sanitation Act
2024169 cases
Detected violations of the Food Sanitation Act
2025161 cases
Detected violations of the Food Sanitation Act
Total · 2021~2025
751cases
That's quite a long "coffee receipt."
Based on the top 10 coffee franchise brands by number of stores nationwide. 2023 had the highest number with 198 cases.
By Brand
The number of violations
looks like this by brand
looks like this by brand
Compose Coffee
194cases
MegaMGC Coffee
184cases
Paikdabang
65cases
The Venti
64cases
Twosome Place
49cases
EDIYA Coffee
46cases
For reference, nearly half (48.5%) of all violation reasons were administrative requirements such as failure to complete sanitation training. Detailed types will be discussed later.
Compose Coffee and MegaMGC Coffee doubled their number of stores during this period (from 1,285 to 2,649 and from 1,603 to 3,360, respectively).
"We need to ensure that hygiene management keeps up with the rapid expansion of stores."
Seo Mihwa, Member of the National Assembly (Democratic Party)
Then, does more stores mean more violations?
Does having more stores
mean more violations?
mean more violations?
We compared the 5-year violation cases to the number of stores at the end of 2024. Did brands with more locations have more violations?
That's correct!
Sorry, the correct answer is "X".
The correct answer is "X".
Even among major brands with over 1,000 locations, the number of violations per 100 stores ranged from 1.8 cases for EDIYA Coffee to 7.3 cases for Compose Coffee—a difference of about four times.
Number of stores at the end of 2024
MegaMGC Coffee
3,325
Compose Coffee
2,649
EDIYA Coffee
2,562
Paikdabang
1,712
Twosome Place
1,510
The Venti
1,260
MegaMGC Coffee ranked No. 1 in store count at the end of 2024, while Compose Coffee was No. 2. However, Compose Coffee had the highest number of violations.
※ Store numbers as of the end of 2024. MegaMGC Coffee, Compose Coffee, EDIYA Coffee, Paikdabang, and Twosome Place are based on the Korea Fair Trade Commission ’2025 Franchise Business Statistics’; The Venti is based on a separate press release. These numbers are not from Assemblywoman Seo Mihwa's office and may differ slightly from figures used in the above chart on store growth.
Compose Coffee
7.3 cases
MegaMGC Coffee
5.5 cases
The Venti
5.1 cases
Paikdabang
3.8 cases
Twosome Place
2.9 cases
EDIYA Coffee
1.8 cases
Looking at the numbers, Compose Coffee and MegaMGC Coffee stand out. Try switching to "per 100 stores".
When viewed per 100 stores, the gap was not as large as with the absolute numbers. This means that even large brands can manage violations differently depending on their management.
※ This is a comparison of 5-year violation numbers to the number of stores at the end of 2024. Only the six brands among the top 10 nationwide with at least 1,000 stores as of the end of 2024 were included. Year-on-year changes in store count are not reflected.
Let's pause and take a closer look
What were the violations
and what administrative actions were taken?
and what administrative actions were taken?
Violation causes
Failure to complete sanitation training364 cases · 48.5%
Violation of standards/specifications169 cases · 22.5%
Violation of sanitary handling standards76 cases
Failure to conduct health checkups43 cases
Violation of business change reporting, etc.43 cases
Administrative actions
Administrative fines 484 cases
Correction order 198 cases
Surcharge 37 cases
Facility improvement order 18 cases
Suspension of business 14 cases
※ The image is for illustrative purposes only and does not show an actual inspection at a specific business.
Three times in five years
Getting caught once
was not the end
was not the end
51
These are stores that were caught two or more times in five years.
Violation
Again
And again
There were 13 such cases each for Compose Coffee and MegaMGC Coffee. Compose Coffee, MegaMGC Coffee, Paikdabang, and Hasamdong Coffee each had stores that were cited three times over these five years.
Opening Prep
Fifteen minutes before opening,
can you serve a clean cup of coffee?
can you serve a clean cup of coffee?
As you and the barista check the ice machine step by step, your cup fills up. Each mistake leaves a visible stain.
PreparingBusiness Open
It's 15 minutes before opening. Let's check the ice machine before the first customer arrives. Would you like to try with us?
Perfectly Clean Owner"That coffee looks spotless. Thank you!"
The only thing left is completing sanitation training, the top violation reason.
The only thing left is completing sanitation training, the top violation reason.
Meticulous Store Manager"Hmm... it's a bit concerning, but I'll try it."
For incorrect items, please review the explanations again.
For incorrect items, please review the explanations again.
Would you like to check the manual again?"This coffee doesn't feel right somehow."
The cleaning schedule for each part of the ice machine can be confusing. Please try again.
The cleaning schedule for each part of the ice machine can be confusing. Please try again.
Ice Machine & Ingredient Sanitation StandardsUtensils such as ice scoops, ice machine doors and lids (outer surfaces): Clean and disinfect at least once per day
Inner walls of the ice machine: Clean and disinfect at least once per week
Detachable internal parts (water curtains, nozzles, strainers, etc.): Disassemble and clean/disinfect at least once per month
Do not keep the ice scoop inside the ice machine; store in a separate container
Do not use, store, or display food or ingredients past their expiration date
Inner walls of the ice machine: Clean and disinfect at least once per week
Detachable internal parts (water curtains, nozzles, strainers, etc.): Disassemble and clean/disinfect at least once per month
Do not keep the ice scoop inside the ice machine; store in a separate container
Do not use, store, or display food or ingredients past their expiration date
It's 15 minutes before opening. Let's check the ice machine before the first customer arrives. Would you like to try with us?
Start Opening Prep
Next Check
Serve the Coffee
Try Again
That's correct!
Sorry.
Here is your iced Americano!
How often should the inside wall of the ice machine be cleaned/disinfected?
At least once per day
At least once per week
At least once per month
The inner wall should be cleaned/disinfected at least once per week.
How often should utensils such as ice scoops be cleaned/disinfected?
At least once per day
At least once per week
At least once per month
Utensils such as ice scoops should be cleaned/disinfected at least once per day.
Detachable parts such as water curtain, nozzle, and strainer—how often should they be disassembled and cleaned?
At least once per day
At least once per week
At least once per month
Detachable internal parts should be disassembled and cleaned/disinfected at least once per month.
How often should the ice machine doors and lids (outer surfaces) be cleaned?
At least once per day
At least once per week
At least once per month
The doors and lids (outer surfaces) should be cleaned at least once per day with a dry towel, paper towel, or sanitizer/disinfectant.
After scooping ice, where should the ice scoop be stored?
Leave it inside on the ice
Wash, dry, and store in a separate container
Do not store the ice scoop inside the machine. After cleaning, disinfecting, and drying, store it in a separate container.
Can you use syrup that is past its expiration date by one day?
A day or two is fine
No, you cannot
It is prohibited to use, store, or display food or ingredients past their expiration dates.
Sources: Ministry of Food and Drug Safety 'Ice Machine Hygiene Management Manual' (2024); Easy to Find Living Law Info (Obligations for Food Business Operators under the Food Sanitation Act)
In summary
Five years,
boiled down to three numbers
boiled down to three numbers
50.3%Proportion of violations at Compose Coffee · MegaMGC Coffee
About 4xDifference between Compose Coffee and EDIYA Coffee per 100 stores
51 storesStores cited two or more times in five years
Violation records are made public for each store on Food Safety Korea. However, some say that comparing across brands is still not easy.
Check your store's record at Food Safety Korea
Sources: Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Korea Fair Trade Commission submission data (Seo Mihwa, National Assemblymember) / Aggregation period: 2021~2025 / Numbers per 100 stores calculated as of the end of 2024.
Background images are for illustrative purposes only.
Background images are for illustrative purposes only.
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