Heo Hyeong Man, owner of Apgujeong Coffee House, is well known as one of the oldest artisanal coffee roasters in Korea. His tiny shop is all business with barely enough room for the large coffee roaster, burlap sacks of coffee beans, a few small coffee trees growing in planters, and three tables. There’s nothing showy here, it’s all about the quality coffee prepared with pour-over filters, or “hand drip” as it’s commonly called here.
So far I’ve been in half a dozen times, and I’ve mostly ordered the Kenya or Yirgacheffe, both of which were good, roasted tastefully with a lot of complex varietal character showing through. They sell bagged coffee beans with the roast dates on them as well.
The cafe is located just down the street from the Hyundai Department Store in the high-rent area around Apgujeong station. Stop by for a cup of coffee hand dripped to go, or sit down for a quick rest. It’s not exactly a place for lounging, though on cold days it can be a nice refuge, with its glass storefront perfect for observing the busy residents of Apgujeong walking by outside.
They do offer espresso drinks, but I didn’t really care for the espresso here. Stick to the drip coffee, which is excellent.
Directions below.
To get to Apgujeong Coffee House, head to Apgujeong Station exit 6 (Hyundai Department Store) and walk straight out of the exit. Walk straight for a minute or two and it’ll be on your right hand side in a strip of little storefronts.
2 comments
jihye says:
Jul 11, 2010
agree on their espresso. too bad I did not try their drip coffee.. their store was going through a major construction when I visited and I just wanted to grab a cup and leave that place. :(
Tom says:
Aug 5, 2011
Went there today after failing last Sunday because they were closed. Had a cup of the Ethopian drip coffee and it was, I have to say, excellent.
Thank God, my first proper cup in Seoul. Now to hunt down the rest! I wish I could live in Hongdae just to be able to access good coffee more easily but it is so far away.