South Korean value coffee chain Compose Coffee has entered the Philippine market with its first store in Metro Manila, marking the latest step in a rapid regional expansion backed by restaurant giant Jollibee Group.
The inaugural Philippine outlet opened on 7 August 2026 at Market! Market! in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, according to coverage from Manila Bulletin and Manila Insight. The launch follows Jollibee Foods Corporation’s February announcement that its subsidiary Fresh N’ Famous Foods, Inc. had signed a Master Franchise Agreement to bring Compose Coffee to the country, as stated in a February 13 release from the Jollibee Group.
Compose Coffee was founded in Busan, South Korea, in 2014, according to both a Jollibee Group announcement and a report from Malaya. In a February release, the Jollibee Group said the brand has since expanded to more than 3,000 stores, while a separate January 2026 statement noted that Compose Coffee reached its 3,000-store milestone in September 2025 after adding 1,000 locations in just under 18 months. Malaya reported that in its home market, Compose Coffee has grown into the country’s second-largest value coffee chain.
Beyond scale, the Jollibee Group described Compose Coffee as the No. 1 coffee brand in customer satisfaction in South Korea, a country it characterizes as one of the world’s highest coffee-consuming nations per capita and, in a January 2026 release, as the “Coffee Republic” for its intensely competitive, trend-driven market. In the same coverage, the company linked the chain’s overseas momentum to the broader global appeal of Korean food and drink, referring to “the global momentum of K-food” and a scalable value proposition rooted in quality and affordability.
Jollibee Group acquired Compose Coffee in 2024 “to further fortify its coffee and tea business,” according to a report from Philstar. The brand established its first in‑house roasting facility in 2016 before opening what Malaya describes as South Korea’s largest coffee roasting factory in 2022, where it produces its signature Bitterholic Blend for systemwide use.
The Philippine launch positions Compose Coffee in a coffee and tea segment that Manila Bulletin reports is “dominated by Starbucks.” In that context, Jollibee Group Philippines CEO and Head of Jollibee Brand Global Joseph Tanbuntiong framed the move as grounded in the chain’s home‑market track record, telling Manila Bulletin and Philstar: “Our confidence in Compose Coffee’s future in the Philippines is not based on projection alone. It is grounded in experience. We have seen the brand scale successfully in South Korea, stay closely attuned to what customers value, and build a resilient business that can deliver sustainable long-term growth.”
At the store level, the Philippine menu reflects the brand’s value positioning with all drinks served in a 20‑ounce size. Malaya listed prices that include an Iced Americano at ₱90, an Orange Americano at ₱150—which the outlet noted as a Philippine-exclusive—alongside Vienna Cream Latte at ₱160 and Dalgona Latte at ₱170. Structured menu information provided for the launch adds that the offer spans Americanos, flavored and non‑coffee lattes, frappes, smoothies, ades, juices, desserts and seasonal beverages.
The first Market! Market! branch is operated under franchise. Manila Bulletin identified entrepreneur Jeannie Posas as the first Compose Coffee Philippines franchisee, quoting her as saying she saw “an opportunity to be part of a concept with a proven track record and strong long-term potential” when she learned Jollibee Group was bringing the brand to the Philippines.
Jollibee Group has signaled that expansion will rely heavily on similar partnerships. Manila Bulletin and Philstar both reported that nationwide growth “will be driven primarily by franchising—a capital-light model,” while Manila Bulletin, Manila Insight and adobo magazine all stated that the opening marks the start of a five-year nationwide growth plan. Across those reports, Jollibee Group said it aims over the next five years to build the largest Compose Coffee network outside South Korea in the Philippines.
The Philippine debut also follows an early international test in Taiwan. In an April 2026 release, the Jollibee Group reported that customers began lining up before opening at the first Taiwan store, with peak throughput of roughly one cup every 20 seconds, wait times of up to two hours, and approximately NT$70,000 in first‑day sales. The company attributed that demand to “quality beverages, competitive pricing, and generous serving sizes,” and stated in both that Taiwan release and subsequent Philippine launch reports that learning from the Taiwan entry is informing how Compose Coffee approaches the Philippine market.
Looking ahead, the Jollibee Group has stated in a January 2026 release that Compose Coffee “plans to activate markets across Southeast Asia” and said the brand is “poised for” overseas expansion by leveraging the group’s supply chain and operational expertise in over 30 countries, situating the new Philippine store as one key step in a broader Asian growth strategy.
