Korean Job Discussion Forums

jacob7207 · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Location: Seoul

I'm not into hanging out in some cafe pretending to be French or Italian, I am looking for a place to buy coffee, not the powdered sugar crap that keeps dentists here in business. I want something genuinely unique.

My mom sent me some Coffee Bean, straight from LA, and there was a sticker on the bag that said $4.50. I found the same bag here, at Coffee Bean of course, for 12,000 KRW.

So where can I find some real coffee without having to shell out a lot? I don't care where it is from, as long as it is real, enough to last me a while, and not to expensive.

Italian, French, and Colombian would be excellent... Just I want to be able to make it in the convenience of my own home.

SuperHero · Joined: 10 Dec 2003 Location: Superhero Hideout

Coffee in Korea is expensive. Deal with it as you have no choice.

Cheapest is starbucks coffee at COSTCO, but it's not fresh roast though acceptable.

Harpeau · Joined: 01 Feb 2003 Location: Coquitlam, BC

Good question. Coffee is expensive in Korea. If you (or a friend) have a Costco card, you can pick up some Kikland coffeee there. It's very good. In Hongdae, you can find some coffee to take home at shops like KALDI cafe. They're expensive, but very fresh! Cheap coffee? Good luck to you.

Intrepid · Joined: 13 May 2004 Location: Yongin

This is a favorite topic of mine, as I've been here long enough to have observed Korea's odd flirtation with coffee.
When I first arrived, there was only Maxim and its ilk. Worse, there were no Starbucks or Coffee Beans where I could pay the price and have coffee. I drank Maxim. I'm not too proud to admit it now, but the shame of that still smarts.
Then department stores started bringing in Maxwell House Columbian, Kilimanjaro, and Blue Mountain coffee--1 kg bags for a decent price. They ground it for you, and, as time went by, they developed really nice bag-sealing technology to store the ground coffee. Pretty soon all the department store supermarkets did this. Korea came up with what I think was its own brand of "Rosebud", slightly cheaper than Maxwell House but the same quality.
And then they started bringing in Kona and Ethiopian and stuff that cost 100,000 per kilo.
And then the middle fell out of the market. You can still get the Kona, etc. Hazelnut for 80,000 won per kilo is easy enough at any of the Hyundai Dept. Stores. But no middle, no Maxwell House/Rosebud.
Why? I figure the coffee culture, the real culture of needing a cup in the morning and a thermos to take to work, never caught on. Coffee is more of a social drink here, so, if you serve it at home, you're already putting on airs and you want the top stuff. If not, Maxim will do.
FINALLY--Lotte Department store supermarkets still sell the middle range, so I always go there.

nobbyken · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Location: Yongin ^^

There is this Korean site my wife used last . Seriously good coffee.

http://www.coffeehappy.co.kr/

It's all in Korean though, and I can't see an English option Sad

.

stvwrd · Joined: 31 Mar 2005

I'm on a never-ending quest to find and publicize the best places to get FRESH coffee in Seoul. It's actually getting better and better. In the Gangnam area where I am, more small mom-and-pop type cafes that roast their own beans are popping up and they'll be happy to sell you a bag. I've yet to try ordering online from one of the Korean sites, but it seems like a reasonable option.

You can check out my blog posts about coffee here:

http://seoulsteves.com/index.php?s=coffee

It's definately not a definitive resource or anything, but I try to post all the info I find.

cj1976 · Joined: 26 Oct 2005

I bought a variety pack from Costco. It has coffee from various parts of Africa and Latin America. The Rwandan roast isn't bad at all. Wasn't too expensive as far as I can remember.

basplar · Joined: 14 Jan 2006 Location: Seoul

I buy the whole-bean Starbucks from Costco and grind it at home. I've also bough the variety packs and the Rwandan Coffee IS GREAT!! Any COSTCO in Seoul will have the breakfast blend and french roast starbucks in big bags for around W27,000???, if I recall correctly. Having a cup of the Guatemalan coffee from the red box variety pack from COSTCO as I write this post and it's good too!! COSTCO....ONLY way to go!! Starbucks and Coffee Bean shops are just too expensive at W15,000-W18,000 for a SMALL bag. Can't take the da-bang coffee anymore unless it's absolutely necessary(via I.V. drip for caffeine content only, after a long night) Smile

nobbyken · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Location: Yongin ^^

Do you all take your coffee BLACK or WHITE ?

I am a milk guy, but I'm thinking of changing to black coffee.

basplar · Joined: 14 Jan 2006 Location: Seoul

Like my old army buddy DeVon used to say, "I like my coffee like I like my women,....hot, black, and strong!"

jacob7207 · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Location: Seoul

Thanks for the advice everyone. Seriously. Please post any info as I want coffee NOW.

Basplar, I like your philosphy as well as your avatar.

eamo · Joined: 08 Mar 2003 Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.

Costco beans. Kirkland or Starbucks. The Kirkland beans are fine for 12,000 per kg.

Get a hand grinder in any department store. 10-20,000.

Get a Bialetti stove top Moka Express.....

....and you've got great coffee!

basplar · Joined: 14 Jan 2006 Location: Seoul

thanks, jacob

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

The cheapest I can find at the main grocery stores is Maxwell House French Roast. 400 grams for $7.50. Used to be under $7. Welcome to Korea. Carrefour used to carry great 200 g bricks for $3. But Koreans didn't seem to want to pay less for groceries with a non Korean name and Carrefour went under.

SuperHero · Joined: 10 Dec 2003 Location: Superhero Hideout