Coffee17 - Seoul

After a week in China, Seoul I left for, 2nd/last stop.

DAY 01

Alver LAB 알베르

34 Gangnam-daero 102-gil, Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul

+82 2-566-6181

A whole 4-level building with different theme and purpose on each floor. Mostly Alver cafe, with a section (right side in this shot) for Alver LAB emphasized on specialty coffee. The distinction was so drastic that the barista at the 'normal' section had no clue what 'flat white' was... interesting.

Basement level with dramatic lighting and a performance stage. Full of imagination runs across the mind. It's connected to the staircase in the previous shot, or within the cafe. Ground and 2nd level were available for public with indoor and outdoor seats, while 3rd level seemed like it's designated for workshop with long huge table.

The main components made up the texture of this industrial themed building: Raw metal x concrete x wood x glass.

Shy, polite and careful barista. He let me pour, I like him. 

Apparently they don't roast, but used beans from Square Mile and Fritz Coffee Company. Body's a little thin for my liking, moderate fruity acidity.

Coffee Montage 커피몽타주 

F1 23-12, Olympic-ro 48-gil, Gangdong-gu, Seoul

+82 70-8262-1303

http://www.coffeemontage.com/

Young crew of barista tried hard to accommodate to non-Korean-speak aka me. This lady let me pour, not their usual practice, apparently. She later pointed me to her recommendations of cafes Who's more insightful than local?

Had V60 "Sense & Sensibility". Blend of 40% Ethiopian, 30%Colombia and 30% Costa Rica.

This flat white's "A bittersweet life" edt. 1.

Drizzle. 

Cerulean Coffee Co 세루리안 커피 컴패니 입니다

825-20, Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, fritSeoul

+82 2-508-4375

https://www.facebook.com/ceruleancoffeeco/

Was late when I visit, and exhausted. Friendly counter lady + cool barista.

I did their House blend "Grey".

Quick one inspired by the hexagonal design and the cerulean stripe of the branding which I really like.

DAY 02

Caffe Themselves 카페뎀셀브즈

388 Samil-daero, Gwancheol-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea

+82 2-2266-5947

  Joint with matured retail and service pipeline. Felt little 'cold'. It's just good business, after all? 

  It's interesting their illustrate the roast level of their retail bean with Agtron value. The smaller the number, the darker the roast.

Victoria Arduino handled long queue for (mostly) takeaways. 

Cafe Namusairo 나무사이로

 21 Sajik-ro 8-gil, Naeja-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul

+82 70-7590-0885

https://www.facebook.com/namusairocoffee/

Helpful barista tried hard to help me with bean selection!! Bypass she did for this clean and smooth "Rite & Spring".

Golden sunset.

They have different seat setup for different preferences. Small garden where I chose for this purpose. Lighting, not girl.

Ecuador SO. Creamy and buttery.

DAY 03

Fritz Coffee Company 프릳츠 커피 컴퍼니

68 Mapo-daero, Dohwa-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul

+82 2-3275-2047

Hunt the seal.

Slayer's everywhere in Seoul.

Full of gadgets. As it ought to be.

Details in the cafe showed the attention given for the customer experience: 

Extension cable.

Charging cables.

 Foot rest for high tables.

  Met the Seal finally. 2 shots for bean purchase decision.

  They would not let me pour. 

DAY 04

Hell Cafe 헬카페 

238-43 Bogwang-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul

+82 70-7604-3456

They play classical music CD. Yes, Compact Disc. Time seemed to slow down with it.

Pink 2-grouphead Slayer.

Hell drip. "It's as a Whiskey", the barista said. 1 drip at a time it was, indeed.

Their well-known practice for Hell Latte, I think - Barista came to your seat with freshly frothed milk in pitcher and shot, pour in front of you and requested you to taste it right away. 

I asked him for the reason, he translated with help of App and said " It's simple, before the milk and coffee are separated". Yoga that is!

Coffee Boo's

25, Nonhyeon-ro 86-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
+82 10-2994-0929

Joint new acquaintance, Han works in. Not like the big names I have visited for the past few days...widen the spectrum of my cafe experience.

 That's all for this time. New stamps on passport, new culture I got myself immersed in, new lovely people I met. Appreciated.

My loot for the trip. I secured about 1/2 of them in the end (lost check-in luggage).