Where Is The Great Coffee In Seoul?
Walk the streets of Seoul and you will notice pretty quickly there is more coffee shops than convenience stores. It might sound like an exaggeration but there is a high chance it could actually be true. Koreans consider a coffee shop to be a safe business avenue and so there for every second building almost seems to be a coffee shop. There is plenty of franchise coffee shops out there like Starbucks and Twosome place which are easy to spot. But there is also a lot of independent spots out there with their hand drip product or beans that come from some part of South America. The interior of a coffee shop is important here in Korea. It can make or break a coffee shop at times. If it is too plain then it won’t attract enough customers, and if too quirky then it can repel customers. There is a fine balance to be found. But overall the coffee itself is the most important factor to consider.
This spot is a speciality coffee and waffles chain. The Hongdae branch is on the second floor and it comes equipped with a great view of the shopping street. Their ice cream waffle and coffee come strongly recommended. The Mocha for example, is tasty and looks appealing. There is plenty of locations around Seoul but it doesn’t stand out much. There is a nice buzz to the place and the Wi-Fi is good with little connection hassles. The jazz music was pleasant. You can hear your thoughts and what the other person is saying. A place worthy of a repeat visit.
This place is the coffee snob’s choice. There are three types of beans on offer – Indian, Guatemalan, and Mexican. It specializes in hand-drip coffee, and the owner makes sure to prepare every cup of coffee personally, slowly dripping water through a filter in order to create an very rich, strong brew. The vibe of the place is chilled and chic; shelves are lined with children’s toys and books mixed in with vintage Casablanca posters, creating a mood somewhere between a that childhood kindergarten you attended and a snazzy studio apartment. And finally, The price of a cup of coffee is reasonable. Every one of the handmade drinks is less than 7,000 won. You can’t beat that for value. Found in Samcheong-dong (삼청동).
This coffee spot is found in Hannam-dong. The churros (츄러스) with a hot chocolate dip is always a good idea, even though the calorie count is high. Plus you don’t see too many cafes selling churros. Coffee Chu devotes itself to serving different kinds of freshly made churros with a decent range of dips to suit your desired taste of the day. Still thinking about whether to go or not? Then how about churro ice cream sundaes with your favourite sauce poured over it lovingly? The price for one of this babies is just between 4,000won ~ 6,000won. Pretty decent I think for a delicious treat.
Another café in Samcheong-dong on the list. The menu doesn’t just specialize in coffee. Also on the menu is tacos, hamburgers and waffles which is their signature. Nothing is too overly priced. The tacos are about 6,000won, the hamburger is 7,000won and the signature waffles are just 13,00owon. Considered a gem of a spot, but you will have to walk up the hill. It is about a 10 minute walk from Anguk Station. The café has a nice garden/ front porch to it. Unlike franchise chains, this place has a homely feel to it. The coffee roasting machines at the entrance with trance you into walking into the café automatically and buying a cuppa before you realize what is going on. The aroma is that pleasing. The décor of the place is classy and retro. Try the waffle with chocolate ice cream (초코아이스크림 와풀). For any espresso lovers out there, try the double expresso.
Located in Sangdo-dong. Opening hours are usually 11am till 11pm. Sundays are 1pm till 11pm. This tiny, bookish café is hugely popular among university students up on their coffee knowledge, but it’s almost impossible to find for the casual tourist. A simple café that offers tea along with Americanos and espressos, the Sahara café wants you to come back again and with almost everything on its concise menu is under 5,000 won, you can understand why. The coffee, however, is as simply delicious as the décor of the café is simple in nature and pleasing on the eye. Minimalistic in design, the café is mostly surrounded with books upon books, any of which can be read at the your discretion. With soft pillowed seats, long tables lit by study lamps, and a quiet, dreamy atmosphere, the Sahara Café is perfect for the book-loving kid in you. The American comes recommended as your first thing to try here.
The word “libre“ comes from the word for Mexican luchador wrestlers, which you can see once you see Coffee Libre’s logo, it’s splashed all over their walls, tote bags, and takeaway pins. The tiny place is decorated with just two tables and a small bar, seating roughly eight people. The décor is rustic concrete walls, soft pastel ceiling lights in jars, and pop art rounding out the eccentric atmosphere. The Direct Trade coffee is delicious, with the beans all personally roasted by the staff and available for sale in small bags. There is only three options on their menu. Those being the Espresso, Americano, and Cafe Latte. All are made with fresh-ground beans and all are equally special. And the price again is decent.
Whenever you stop by at Garosugil. A trip is never considered complete until you visit Momo Cot for your coffee hit. The lawn out front is a wonderful spot to people watch. This spot is always bustling and lively. This café is nearest to Sinsa Station. However a cup of coffee here isn’t cheap. So if you like your coffee cheap. then this one might be better to avoid. Latte one shot is kinda steep at 7,700won. And the bathroom is password protected but you can find the code on your receipt. And then after all that, you can go up to the 2nd floor of the building to peruse some expensive shoes in a boutique.
A picture friendly and even pet-friendly, This is the perfect dog café. Bring your adorable bestie or visit the live in dogs, which include a few Shetland Sheepdogs, a Samoyed, a British Bulldog, a Golden Retriever, and an Old English Sheepdog. A fenced-in area at the front of the café welcomes small dogs, and dog-houses built into the low benches provide an enticement for shy pets. The café also offers a wide, open area for dogs to run and play as well as a large dog hotel, along with grooming facilities and a dog clothing boutique. Their fresh fruit juice, is blended and created right in front of customer. And for your dog friend, the dog food in the form of cakes give the dogs a huge smile. For the human, The iced coffee might hit the spot for you.
This youtube video also will give you even more places to search out and enjoy the coffee craze that never lets up in Seoul.
