Miz Moren
Hongdae, or Hongik University, is famous for its art programs, as well as the district immediately surrounding the school. Near quite a few universities (Ewha, Yonsei, Sogang, etc.), the area is a one-stop destination for everything trendy, artsy, and otherwise entertaining. There are so many very nice looking cafes around this area that it can...
Coffee Mill
The Korean “Kuh-pi Bang-aht-gan” is roughly equivalent to “Coffee Mill.” This is one of the cafes I visited in 2007 on my first trip to Korea. It’s located in the Samcheongdong neighborhood near the Blue House Presidential residence and Gyeongbokgung Palace. While their coffee is not really worth mentioning, the interior style is pretty cool...
Instant Coffee Eclipses Rice Consumption
“Rice has long topped local food retailers’ best-selling list, but not this year. The country’s traditional staple lost its place for the first time in years, bumped by none other than instant coffee.” Korea Times article here. Instant coffee is everywhere in Korea, I’ve never been in an office or meeting without it, even though...
Republic of Coffee
Earlier this week I had a chance to visit 2009 Korean Barista Champion Lee Jong Hoon’s workshop in the north east area of Seoul. My coworkers from the middle school I teach at here in Korea actually made the reservation. I guess the coffee I make for the office every day has brought them over...
Apgujeong Coffee House
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...
Cafe DeBibes
Spotted this coming out of exit six at Gyeongbokgung station. The Korean text says “Illy Cafe” but this cafe is also branded with the name ‘Cafe DeBibes’ (pronounced Bee-Bays in the Korean text). I tried an espresso here thinking it might be good, but there were a lot of fines in the cup and it...
