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NM14456
Joined: 21 Aug 2010
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 Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2010 5:05 am Post subject: |
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The excitement never stops here in Korea  |
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jhicks99
Joined: 04 Mar 2009
Location: Seoul, South Korea
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| Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2010 6:20 am Post subject: |
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Coffee shops are the great equalizer for me.
When going on a date or just meeting a friend I always take the bill knowing full well I won't have to pay for coffee, which is often the same price or even more expensive than the dinner lol.
I'm not a fan of the coffee bean etc type places. For my money Dunkin Donuts offers more comfortable seating, better coffee (among other drinks) for much better prices. Ediya is another chain that's much cheaper and gives a better product.
On the other end, I quite like places like the Ann House and White Angel where you often get a pseudo private room or at least a very comfortable place to sit, free cake or toast and a great atmosphere not full of people studying their englishy, taking self pictures or just sitting at the window talking about everyone that walks by.
For those near Hongdae, I've always enjoyed all the smaller coffee shops in that area, they remind me of the ma and pa shops in Toronto, small, but cozy with great coffee. Why do none of the big coffee chains in Korea hit you with that distinctly coffee smell when you walk in? A sign to me that it's not a great coffee house... |
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Wishmaster
Joined: 06 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2010 6:21 am Post subject: |
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| Koreans...coffee shops. Same, same. Attack of the Clones... |
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NM14456
Joined: 21 Aug 2010
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| Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2010 7:16 am Post subject: |
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| jhicks99 wrote: |
Coffee shops are the great equalizer for me.
When going on a date or just meeting a friend I always take the bill knowing full well I won't have to pay for coffee, which is often the same price or even more expensive than the dinner lol.
I'm not a fan of the coffee bean etc type places. For my money Dunkin Donuts offers more comfortable seating, better coffee (among other drinks) for much better prices. Ediya is another chain that's much cheaper and gives a better product.
On the other end, I quite like places like the Ann House and White Angel where you often get a pseudo private room or at least a very comfortable place to sit, free cake or toast and a great atmosphere not full of people studying their englishy, taking self pictures or just sitting at the window talking about everyone that walks by.
For those near Hongdae, I've always enjoyed all the smaller coffee shops in that area, they remind me of the ma and pa shops in Toronto, small, but cozy with great coffee. Why do none of the big coffee chains in Korea hit you with that distinctly coffee smell when you walk in? A sign to me that it's not a great coffee house... |
If you don't mind sharing - where are the Ann House and White Angel you're referring to? |
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atwood
Joined: 26 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Fri Sep 03, 2010 5:54 pm Post subject: |
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| If you want high prices, go to a hotel coffee shop. Heck, even a place on the Shinsegae food court floor is now charging 18,000won for a regular cup of coffee. And every time I've walked by, it's been packed. |
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sojusucks
Joined: 31 May 2008
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| Posted: Sat Sep 04, 2010 6:04 am Post subject: |
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Rediscover seoul(93)] The rich aroma of coffee! �Hidden treasure� cafes loved by Seoulites
2010-09-02 17:31
01 DROPP
A fiesta of tastes
Caf� DROPP, loved not only by Koreans but also by Europeans and Japanese in Korea, always marks the roasting date on its coffee bean canisters. Roasted beans are stored for a week to 10 days at most. Those beans are then replaced with freshly roasted ones. Additionally, if a customer requests a refill, the barista carefully drips the coffee again and serves it in a new mug.
DROPP handles 10 types of coffee. Since they roast beans at a high temperature, DROPP�s coffee is characterized by its distinguished flavor rather than its aroma. The Nicaraguan coffee I ordered had a mild taste and aroma but a rich texture. A light milk chocolate flavor lingered in the mouth and left a sweet aftertaste.
Kim Myeong-su, a barista working at DROPP, recommends an Ethiopian Yirgacheffe to scent-sensitive women. Yirgacheffe is famous for its moderate body, delicate flower scent and nutty flavor.
�We often serve coffee to foreign customers, mainly from France, England or Japan. We blend coffee beans with three characteristics upon the request of customers. That�s why we have customers coming a long way. We recommend Bolivian or Guatemalan for sweetness, Colombian for sourness, Costa Rican for nutty and Peruvian for savory flavors.� DROPP is not very spacious, but the efficient layout creates a neat and chic atmosphere. In the kitchen, utensils are arranged neatly. The relaxing scenery of Buam-dong, with mountains behind, can be admired through the windows. DROPP also serves delicious cakes and freshly roasted beans are available for purchase.
Recommendation/ Ethiopian Yirgacheffe
Price/ Hot 5,000 won Ice 6,000 won
Address/ 278-5 Buam-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Phone/ (02) 394-0045
02 Club Espresso
The rich taste of 35 coffee beans
Club Espresso became very popular among coffee lovers for the best espresso in Seoul. Since it has been long-renowned for good coffee, there are many customers who come a long way to visit. At Club Espresso, you can learn much about coffee. The first floor is a caf�, but on the second floor there are facilities which are not normally found at ordinary caf�s, including bean storage with controlled temperatures and humidity, packing and training rooms and a large roaster.
After its renovation, outdoor tables were placed in the small garden, which is good news for smokers. The exterior of the building looks like a log cabin in a forest. The caf� on the first floor is decorated with wooden furniture. One shortcoming is the narrow space between the tables, but the great tasting coffee more than compensates for this.
The manager of Club Espresso, Gwon Jeong-hye, considers the caf�s merits to be the consistent taste of its coffee, its comfortable atmosphere and its wide variety of coffee beans -- more than 35 types.
�We have 11 flavors for caf� Americano, as well as espresso. Since we also have a coffee bean shop, there are many customers who come to our caf� to buy coffee beans, especially at weekends. Popular beans are Kenyan, Ethiopian and Guatemalan beans. In particular, beans from our special sale are very popular.�
Club Espresso introduces new coffee beans every one or two months through its special sale. These beans are offered at a reduced price, from 15,000 to 18,000 won for 500g. Since the types of beans in the offer change regularly, customers can try different flavors.
Lee Gang-min, who visited Club Espresso with his girlfriend, said he often goes to Club Espresso because he can taste coffees from all around the world. Whatever you order, you will be treated to the rich flavor of quality coffee. If you take a taxi from Samcheong-dong, City Hall or Gwanghwamun, it will cost less than 3,000 won. The path to Club Espresso is also beautiful.
Recommendation/ Caf� Americano and espresso of 11 flavors
Price/ Hot 5,000 won ~ ice 6,000 won ~
Address/ 275-1 Buam-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Phone/ (02) 3217-8711
03 Mangmyeongjeongbu (Refugee Government)
Famous for tasty coffee, located near Hongik University
Caf� Mangmyeongjeongbu, located near Hongik University, has something special in its name. The name of the caf� originated from an unpublished poem written by a friend of the owner, titled �Refugee Government in the Memory.� The small and simple caf� interior gives one the impression of being alone on an island, due to its shabby decoration.
Peeling paint here and there, children�s paintings on the wall, a piano and guitar in one corner and a small wood table combine to create the unique and comfortable atmosphere of this caf�.
Mangmyeongjeongbu is famous for its great tasting coffee, attracting people from various professions including students, artists, writers and singers. Sometimes, you can find customers playing the piano or guitar.
In the evening, the caf� turns into a music salon. The caf�s motto is �caf� by day, salon by night.� Hand-dripped coffee is around 4,000 won. It serves not only Colombian and Brazilian, but also Ethiopian and Indonesian coffee. The range of coffee beans is not as diverse as in other caf�s, but the taste and aroma here are comparable to any other.
The taste of coffee, which the owner drips himself, reminds you of a warm breeze with its rich aroma and soft texture. If you are in love with coffee, stop by Mangmyeongjeongbu when you are around Hongik University. It is also one of the best places to go on a date on a cool autumn night.
Recommendation/ Mangmyeongjeongbu House Blend
Price/ Hot 4,000 won, ice 5,000 won
Address/ 395-126 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Phone/ (070) 7743-6115
04 Caf� Sukkara
Enjoy hand-dripped organic coffee
Caf� Sukkara is an organic caf� with a diverse menu. The name of the caf�, Sukkara originates from a Korean word �Sutgarak,� meaning �spoon.� Sukkara is run by a monthly magazine also named Sukkara, a Japanese language magazine about Korean culture. An open kitchen and a wide u-shaped table in the caf� add a stylish atmosphere. This is a Japanese-style organic caf�.
Many people love this caf� because they can enjoy coffee and food in a calm and pleasant atmosphere. All the coffee at Sukkara is by fair trade brand �A Gift from the Himalayas.� Fair trade products aim to ensure farmers are properly paid for their produce, as unfair practices by dealers of coffee and other products contribute greatly to third world poverty.
Sukkara serves three types of coffee: hand-dripped organic coffee, hand-dripped organic caf� au lait and hand-dripped soymilk caf� au lait. You can ask the barista to make the coffee stronger when you order. Iced coffee, with coffee ice, keeps its rich flavor for a long time. For caf� au lait, Sukkara uses fresh milk, produced in Jeju. Soymilk caf� au lait tastes more aromatic since it uses soymilk instead of cow�s milk.
Recommendation/ Soymilk caf� au lait
Price/ Hot 5,000 won, ice 5,500 won
Address/ 327-9 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Phone/ (02) 334-5919
05 Coffee Hanjan
Gathering place for coffee-loving artists
Coffee Hanjan, located in Gye-dong, serves hand-dripped coffee and has something of a cult following. The interior decorations, all executed by the owner, indicate that this caf� is no ordinary place. Even the furniture and tea cups look extraordinary. Old-fashioned decorations and thousands of LPs catch customers� eyes.
The coffee roaster is a customized one, designed by the owner. The taste of the coffee is unique. Since it is very carefully dripped, the flavor is deep and rich. Artists, including musicians, writers, painters and cooks, gather here to enjoy coffee. During the daytime, it is easy to find a customer reading a book alone, writing in a notebook or sewing.
Foreign customers are also often found here, since there are several guest houses located around Gye-dong. Daytime at Coffee Hanjan is good, but at night, especially on rainy or snowy nights, it is very romantic. On rainy nights, the soft sound of classical music complements the rich aroma of the coffee perfectly.
Coffee Hanjan is also a great place to be with friends or read poems. The barista of Coffee Hanjan, Rion, said he was happy to be a barista because he gets to enjoy plenty of warm exchanges with the customers over coffee.
Recommendation/ Cappuccino
Price/ Hot 5,500 won
Phone/ (02) 762-6626
Caf� with Visual Attractions
Caf� next to an art gallery: Coffest
Coffest is located across from Sungkok Art Museum and is renowned for its great coffee. It is very famous among coffee enthusiasts through word-of-mouth. Coffest serves coffee from various countries. After a visit to the art museum, Coffest is there for you. As you enter, the delicious scent of coffee will welcome you. Coffest roasts its beans in-house.
Recommendation/ Coffee of your choice
Price/ 4,000-6,000 won.
Address/ 1-335 Sinmullo 2-ga, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Phone/ (02) 773-5555
Caf� with a beautiful night view: Sanmotungi
Sanmotungi is located around a corner at the foot of Mount Bukak. The basement is a gallery and the 1st and 2nd floors are a lounge and outdoor deck. The well-tended garden is very picturesque and the night view of Seoul, seen from the 2nd floor, is spectacular.
Recommendation/ Coffee of your choice
Address/ 97-5 Buam-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Phone/ (02) 391-4737
TIP 2
How to brew coffee at home
With just a few utensils and some coffee beans, you can enjoy great coffee in your own home. The basic requirement for tasty coffee is good water. Since the taste of water determines the taste of the coffee, mineral water is desirable. You should never use water with an odor. The appropriate temperature is around 85-95 degrees Celsius. If the water is hotter than 100 degrees, the caffeine goes bad and creates a strange, bitter taste. But, if the water is cooler than 70 degrees, a tannin taste will remain in the coffee.
The recipe for the best taste is to brew 100 ml of coffee, made with 10g of coffee and 130-150 ml of water. Before adding cream, ensure that the sugar (if you use it) is mixed in well. Cream should be added after the temperature of the coffee is below 85 degrees, to prevent clotting. Most of all, it is very important to keep all utensils clean. If traces of oil get in, they will leave a bad odor and spoil the taste.
TIP 3
How to store coffee
Storing coffee in the fridge is not recommended as it absorbs moisture and odor in there. If coffee is stored in the freezer, take the beans out of the freezer and leave them at room temperature until the moisture evaporates, then open the storage case. After opening, coffee should be stored at room temperature. The best way is to purchase coffee in small amounts -- about a 10-day supply -- and store it at room temperature. It�s not advisable to purchase a large amount at one time.
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http://www.koreaherald.com/lifestyle/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20100902000536 |
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Man on Street
Joined: 28 Aug 2010
Location: In the Seoul
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| Posted: Sat Sep 04, 2010 6:30 am Post subject: |
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Looks like I won't be going to any of these. What a rip off. Hell, I don't even know where this Buam-dong is and I've been in Seoul forever. Probably one of those places you can only get to by taking a taxi. I suppose if it's a foreign place, you may actually even get to see black men who wear polo shirts. Or white women with strollers. I never see that in Seoul unless I wind up in the overpriced tourist traps that seem to be hard to find.
| sojusucks wrote: |
| Quote: |
Rediscover seoul(93)] The rich aroma of coffee! �Hidden treasure� cafes loved by Seoulites
2010-09-02 17:31
01 DROPP
A fiesta of tastes
Caf� DROPP, loved not only by Koreans but also by Europeans and Japanese in Korea, always marks the roasting date on its coffee bean canisters. Roasted beans are stored for a week to 10 days at most. Those beans are then replaced with freshly roasted ones. Additionally, if a customer requests a refill, the barista carefully drips the coffee again and serves it in a new mug.
DROPP handles 10 types of coffee. Since they roast beans at a high temperature, DROPP�s coffee is characterized by its distinguished flavor rather than its aroma. The Nicaraguan coffee I ordered had a mild taste and aroma but a rich texture. A light milk chocolate flavor lingered in the mouth and left a sweet aftertaste.
Kim Myeong-su, a barista working at DROPP, recommends an Ethiopian Yirgacheffe to scent-sensitive women. Yirgacheffe is famous for its moderate body, delicate flower scent and nutty flavor.
�We often serve coffee to foreign customers, mainly from France, England or Japan. We blend coffee beans with three characteristics upon the request of customers. That�s why we have customers coming a long way. We recommend Bolivian or Guatemalan for sweetness, Colombian for sourness, Costa Rican for nutty and Peruvian for savory flavors.� DROPP is not very spacious, but the efficient layout creates a neat and chic atmosphere. In the kitchen, utensils are arranged neatly. The relaxing scenery of Buam-dong, with mountains behind, can be admired through the windows. DROPP also serves delicious cakes and freshly roasted beans are available for purchase.
Recommendation/ Ethiopian Yirgacheffe
Price/ Hot 5,000 won Ice 6,000 won
Address/ 278-5 Buam-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Phone/ (02) 394-0045
02 Club Espresso
The rich taste of 35 coffee beans
Club Espresso became very popular among coffee lovers for the best espresso in Seoul. Since it has been long-renowned for good coffee, there are many customers who come a long way to visit. At Club Espresso, you can learn much about coffee. The first floor is a caf�, but on the second floor there are facilities which are not normally found at ordinary caf�s, including bean storage with controlled temperatures and humidity, packing and training rooms and a large roaster.
After its renovation, outdoor tables were placed in the small garden, which is good news for smokers. The exterior of the building looks like a log cabin in a forest. The caf� on the first floor is decorated with wooden furniture. One shortcoming is the narrow space between the tables, but the great tasting coffee more than compensates for this.
The manager of Club Espresso, Gwon Jeong-hye, considers the caf�s merits to be the consistent taste of its coffee, its comfortable atmosphere and its wide variety of coffee beans -- more than 35 types.
�We have 11 flavors for caf� Americano, as well as espresso. Since we also have a coffee bean shop, there are many customers who come to our caf� to buy coffee beans, especially at weekends. Popular beans are Kenyan, Ethiopian and Guatemalan beans. In particular, beans from our special sale are very popular.�
Club Espresso introduces new coffee beans every one or two months through its special sale. These beans are offered at a reduced price, from 15,000 to 18,000 won for 500g. Since the types of beans in the offer change regularly, customers can try different flavors.
Lee Gang-min, who visited Club Espresso with his girlfriend, said he often goes to Club Espresso because he can taste coffees from all around the world. Whatever you order, you will be treated to the rich flavor of quality coffee. If you take a taxi from Samcheong-dong, City Hall or Gwanghwamun, it will cost less than 3,000 won. The path to Club Espresso is also beautiful.
Recommendation/ Caf� Americano and espresso of 11 flavors
Price/ Hot 5,000 won ~ ice 6,000 won ~
Address/ 275-1 Buam-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Phone/ (02) 3217-8711
03 Mangmyeongjeongbu (Refugee Government)
Famous for tasty coffee, located near Hongik University
Caf� Mangmyeongjeongbu, located near Hongik University, has something special in its name. The name of the caf� originated from an unpublished poem written by a friend of the owner, titled �Refugee Government in the Memory.� The small and simple caf� interior gives one the impression of being alone on an island, due to its shabby decoration.
Peeling paint here and there, children�s paintings on the wall, a piano and guitar in one corner and a small wood table combine to create the unique and comfortable atmosphere of this caf�.
Mangmyeongjeongbu is famous for its great tasting coffee, attracting people from various professions including students, artists, writers and singers. Sometimes, you can find customers playing the piano or guitar.
In the evening, the caf� turns into a music salon. The caf�s motto is �caf� by day, salon by night.� Hand-dripped coffee is around 4,000 won. It serves not only Colombian and Brazilian, but also Ethiopian and Indonesian coffee. The range of coffee beans is not as diverse as in other caf�s, but the taste and aroma here are comparable to any other.
The taste of coffee, which the owner drips himself, reminds you of a warm breeze with its rich aroma and soft texture. If you are in love with coffee, stop by Mangmyeongjeongbu when you are around Hongik University. It is also one of the best places to go on a date on a cool autumn night.
Recommendation/ Mangmyeongjeongbu House Blend
Price/ Hot 4,000 won, ice 5,000 won
Address/ 395-126 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Phone/ (070) 7743-6115
04 Caf� Sukkara
Enjoy hand-dripped organic coffee
Caf� Sukkara is an organic caf� with a diverse menu. The name of the caf�, Sukkara originates from a Korean word �Sutgarak,� meaning �spoon.� Sukkara is run by a monthly magazine also named Sukkara, a Japanese language magazine about Korean culture. An open kitchen and a wide u-shaped table in the caf� add a stylish atmosphere. This is a Japanese-style organic caf�.
Many people love this caf� because they can enjoy coffee and food in a calm and pleasant atmosphere. All the coffee at Sukkara is by fair trade brand �A Gift from the Himalayas.� Fair trade products aim to ensure farmers are properly paid for their produce, as unfair practices by dealers of coffee and other products contribute greatly to third world poverty.
Sukkara serves three types of coffee: hand-dripped organic coffee, hand-dripped organic caf� au lait and hand-dripped soymilk caf� au lait. You can ask the barista to make the coffee stronger when you order. Iced coffee, with coffee ice, keeps its rich flavor for a long time. For caf� au lait, Sukkara uses fresh milk, produced in Jeju. Soymilk caf� au lait tastes more aromatic since it uses soymilk instead of cow�s milk.
Recommendation/ Soymilk caf� au lait
Price/ Hot 5,000 won, ice 5,500 won
Address/ 327-9 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Phone/ (02) 334-5919
05 Coffee Hanjan
Gathering place for coffee-loving artists
Coffee Hanjan, located in Gye-dong, serves hand-dripped coffee and has something of a cult following. The interior decorations, all executed by the owner, indicate that this caf� is no ordinary place. Even the furniture and tea cups look extraordinary. Old-fashioned decorations and thousands of LPs catch customers� eyes.
The coffee roaster is a customized one, designed by the owner. The taste of the coffee is unique. Since it is very carefully dripped, the flavor is deep and rich. Artists, including musicians, writers, painters and cooks, gather here to enjoy coffee. During the daytime, it is easy to find a customer reading a book alone, writing in a notebook or sewing.
Foreign customers are also often found here, since there are several guest houses located around Gye-dong. Daytime at Coffee Hanjan is good, but at night, especially on rainy or snowy nights, it is very romantic. On rainy nights, the soft sound of classical music complements the rich aroma of the coffee perfectly.
Coffee Hanjan is also a great place to be with friends or read poems. The barista of Coffee Hanjan, Rion, said he was happy to be a barista because he gets to enjoy plenty of warm exchanges with the customers over coffee.
Recommendation/ Cappuccino
Price/ Hot 5,500 won
Phone/ (02) 762-6626
Caf� with Visual Attractions
Caf� next to an art gallery: Coffest
Coffest is located across from Sungkok Art Museum and is renowned for its great coffee. It is very famous among coffee enthusiasts through word-of-mouth. Coffest serves coffee from various countries. After a visit to the art museum, Coffest is there for you. As you enter, the delicious scent of coffee will welcome you. Coffest roasts its beans in-house.
Recommendation/ Coffee of your choice
Price/ 4,000-6,000 won.
Address/ 1-335 Sinmullo 2-ga, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Phone/ (02) 773-5555
Caf� with a beautiful night view: Sanmotungi
Sanmotungi is located around a corner at the foot of Mount Bukak. The basement is a gallery and the 1st and 2nd floors are a lounge and outdoor deck. The well-tended garden is very picturesque and the night view of Seoul, seen from the 2nd floor, is spectacular.
Recommendation/ Coffee of your choice
Address/ 97-5 Buam-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Phone/ (02) 391-4737
TIP 2
How to brew coffee at home
With just a few utensils and some coffee beans, you can enjoy great coffee in your own home. The basic requirement for tasty coffee is good water. Since the taste of water determines the taste of the coffee, mineral water is desirable. You should never use water with an odor. The appropriate temperature is around 85-95 degrees Celsius. If the water is hotter than 100 degrees, the caffeine goes bad and creates a strange, bitter taste. But, if the water is cooler than 70 degrees, a tannin taste will remain in the coffee.
The recipe for the best taste is to brew 100 ml of coffee, made with 10g of coffee and 130-150 ml of water. Before adding cream, ensure that the sugar (if you use it) is mixed in well. Cream should be added after the temperature of the coffee is below 85 degrees, to prevent clotting. Most of all, it is very important to keep all utensils clean. If traces of oil get in, they will leave a bad odor and spoil the taste.
TIP 3
How to store coffee
Storing coffee in the fridge is not recommended as it absorbs moisture and odor in there. If coffee is stored in the freezer, take the beans out of the freezer and leave them at room temperature until the moisture evaporates, then open the storage case. After opening, coffee should be stored at room temperature. The best way is to purchase coffee in small amounts -- about a 10-day supply -- and store it at room temperature. It�s not advisable to purchase a large amount at one time.
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wylies99
Joined: 13 May 2006
Location: I'm one cool cat!
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| Posted: Sat Sep 04, 2010 5:27 pm Post subject: |
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The way it's being set up in Korea is so much like the fast food industry, it's scary. Eventually some of these faddish independent coffee houses will be put out of business because of their excesses, like high prices and lack of good location. So many seem to think "out of the way" is a good thing, and maybe it is for customers who like peace and quiet, but it also means that fewer customers can find the place. That hurts business. Some of them are also acting like prices can continue to increase forever because demand will always increase. Not so fast, mental midgets. There's always a limit to what customers will pay. Higher prices will eventually cause a cutback in customer demand. It's economic fact.
But there will always be a place for a coffee house that is in a good location and has decent prices. This is an industry that will survive as long as Koreans drink coffee and hate staying at home. It's something "to do" that doesn't cost too much and can be done at any time of the day or night for any length of time. So, yeah, the coffee house industry in Korea is here to stay. |
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Illysook
Joined: 30 Jun 2008
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| Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2010 3:06 am Post subject: |
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| Kurtz wrote: |
| Illysook wrote: |
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| Do you think Koreans would know what a good cup of coffee actually is? Poorly made cappuccinos passed off as lattes (NO NO NO, don't give me any foam on my latte you doe eyed idiot!), they wouldn't have a clue. |
Okay, when it comes to people who will drink that sugary instant crap that comes in a tube, I agree with you. But since you are one of those no-foam latte people, I have to tell you that your an idiot. A cappucino is espresso on the bottom, then steamed milk halfway up, the rest foam. A latte is espresso with steamed milk almost to the top then about 1/4 inch of foam to top it off. Baristas pride themselves in making rich tasty foam and when someone asks for "no foam" it's like a slap in the face. The foam is meant to be the good stuff. Kinda like whipped cream, only it's hot. In fact, if you make it with half and half, it practically IS whipped cream....YUMMMM!!! |
I know perfectly well what a latte is, and what a cap is too. My hometown of Melbourne Australia is famous for it's cafes and coffee, what US small town do you hail from 
Snarky remarks aside, this is what I'm used to
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cafe_latte
It's creamy on the top, rather than at least an inch of just fluffy foamy nothing, but some people just don't have any taste do they?! |
I was a Barista at a Starbucks. Good foam is sorta like whipped cream, rather than "foamy nothingness." A barista who knows how to make good foam is usually a bit pissed off when asked to make a "no foam latte.
Also, that wiki that you cited says that the first cafe latte was a milkier version of a cappucino, created for people who thought the cappucino was too strong. It certainly had foam, only less of it. We would probably call that a wet cappucino, and if you ordered a latte in Italy, you would be served a glass of milk. |
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son of coco
Joined: 14 Mar 2008
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| Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2010 3:35 am Post subject: |
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Eventually the multitude of coffee shops will go the same way as RotiBun/Boy/Mama/PapaRoti etc etc.
We have 3 coffee shops within a 100m radius of the school. And there are probably 10 in the area in total. There's one at the front of our building and one at the back...
It seems like some of these business owners are still following the '______________ shop is making money, if we put one next door then that means we'll make money' business model.
There are some nice coffee shops popping up though, which is nice because every time I go to Starbucks I wonder why I bothered...it's watery swill (at least at a couple of places here in Ulsan). |
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Kurtz
Joined: 05 Jan 2007
Location: ples bilong me
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| Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2010 3:50 am Post subject: |
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| Illysook wrote: |
| Kurtz wrote: |
| Illysook wrote: |
| Quote: |
| Do you think Koreans would know what a good cup of coffee actually is? Poorly made cappuccinos passed off as lattes (NO NO NO, don't give me any foam on my latte you doe eyed idiot!), they wouldn't have a clue. |
Okay, when it comes to people who will drink that sugary instant crap that comes in a tube, I agree with you. But since you are one of those no-foam latte people, I have to tell you that your an idiot. A cappucino is espresso on the bottom, then steamed milk halfway up, the rest foam. A latte is espresso with steamed milk almost to the top then about 1/4 inch of foam to top it off. Baristas pride themselves in making rich tasty foam and when someone asks for "no foam" it's like a slap in the face. The foam is meant to be the good stuff. Kinda like whipped cream, only it's hot. In fact, if you make it with half and half, it practically IS whipped cream....YUMMMM!!! |
I know perfectly well what a latte is, and what a cap is too. My hometown of Melbourne Australia is famous for it's cafes and coffee, what US small town do you hail from
Snarky remarks aside, this is what I'm used to
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cafe_latte
It's creamy on the top, rather than at least an inch of just fluffy foamy nothing, but some people just don't have any taste do they?! |
I was a Barista at a Starbucks. Good foam is sorta like whipped cream, rather than "foamy nothingness." A barista who knows how to make good foam is usually a bit pissed off when asked to make a "no foam latte.
Also, that wiki that you cited says that the first cafe latte was a milkier version of a cappucino, created for people who thought the cappucino was too strong. It certainly had foam, only less of it. We would probably call that a wet cappucino, and if you ordered a latte in Italy, you would be served a glass of milk. |
With all due respect, saying you're a Barista at Starbucks is kind of like saying someone who flips burgers at McDonalds is a chef. A short anecdote. There's a little Italy precinct in Melbourne called Lygon Street. The place has many high class coffee shops and Starbucks stupidly set up shop there as they didn't realize the people who drink coffee there know their stuff; the shop subsequently went belly up!
As a side note, I'm not a coffee nazi. I don't smell the beans, want to know when they were roasted etc., I just want some kind of value for money, and when I'm paying 5 bucks for a coffee, I want a good one. I don't think that's too much to ask.
I'm willing to admit differences in the terminology of latte, but some of the coffees I've been served here are just shocking. I paid nearly 5,000 won the other day for a latte and I had to scoop out nearly 20% of the top as it was just froth.
I keep reading about these so-called cool places in Hongdae, I'll go there soon but bugger off to the 10,000 won joints, we're hardly talking about the Champs -Elysees, we're talking some dirty street in Seoul with a 24-7 shop on the corner that just happens to have nicer cement block apartments in the area than other places and a few high class Euro cars kicking around so that means jack up the coffee prices to that of an affordable meal! |
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Man on Street
Joined: 28 Aug 2010
Location: In the Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2010 7:23 am Post subject: |
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| Kurtz wrote: |
With all due respect, saying you're a Barista at Starbucks is kind of like saying someone who flips burgers at McDonalds is a chef. |
No, that's just not true. Saying you are a barista at McCafe is like saying someone who flips burgers at McDonald's is a chef. Because, you know, it's like owned by the same place and stuff. |
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Steelrails
Joined: 12 Mar 2009
Location: Earth, Solar System
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| Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2010 7:59 am Post subject: |
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| Man on Street wrote: |
| Kurtz wrote: |
With all due respect, saying you're a Barista at Starbucks is kind of like saying someone who flips burgers at McDonalds is a chef. |
No, that's just not true. Saying you are a barista at McCafe is like saying someone who flips burgers at McDonald's is a chef. Because, you know, it's like owned by the same place and stuff. |
Hey man, don't knock the skills of people at fast food/quick service casual joints. You'd be surprised what we can whip up and a good pizza slinger/McBarista can be the difference between glorified Sanka and a "This is McD's coffee? Not half bad for ol Ron McDon."
Off the wall- Korean ManDoo dumplings baked in a Pizza Oven put ManDoo here to shame. The adjosshi who owned the pizza joint I used to work at back in the states put frozen ManDoo through the pizza oven and they were better than anything I have gotten here. Baked ManDoo is king. All the crispiness of fried with half the grease. If you can, bribe the guy at Pizza School to cook you some frozen Pork ManDoo through the Pizza oven on a pizza screen. That is some fine swine. |
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Man on Street
Joined: 28 Aug 2010
Location: In the Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2010 8:17 am Post subject: |
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| Steelrails wrote: |
| Man on Street wrote: |
| Kurtz wrote: |
With all due respect, saying you're a Barista at Starbucks is kind of like saying someone who flips burgers at McDonalds is a chef. |
No, that's just not true. Saying you are a barista at McCafe is like saying someone who flips burgers at McDonald's is a chef. Because, you know, it's like owned by the same place and stuff. |
Hey man, don't knock the skills of people at fast food/quick service casual joints. You'd be surprised what we can whip up and a good pizza slinger/McBarista can be the difference between glorified Sanka and a "This is McD's coffee? Not half bad for ol Ron McDon."
Off the wall- Korean ManDoo dumplings baked in a Pizza Oven put ManDoo here to shame. The adjosshi who owned the pizza joint I used to work at back in the states put frozen ManDoo through the pizza oven and they were better than anything I have gotten here. Baked ManDoo is king. All the crispiness of fried with half the grease. If you can, bribe the guy at Pizza School to cook you some frozen Pork ManDoo through the Pizza oven on a pizza screen. That is some fine swine. |
Sounds good! |
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madoka
Joined: 27 Mar 2008
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| Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2010 11:25 am Post subject: |
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| Kurtz wrote: |
| Illysook wrote: |
I was a Barista at a Starbucks. |
With all due respect, saying you're a Barista at Starbucks is kind of like saying someone who flips burgers at McDonalds is a chef. |
I was shocked to learn how thick the training manual for Starbucks baristas is, not to mention the dice they have to master. You have to be fairly knowledgeable to work there. |
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