Korean Job Discussion Forums

[anamika]

I recently saw this article on the BBC about how widely caffeine levels can vary from cafe to cafe - in the UK - and it reminded me of something I'd been wanting to ask for a long time. (My favorite quote: "Analysis of espresso coffee from 20 shops found that one was six times stronger than others."(?!) (How many others, I wonder...))
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-15968515

My question relates to my experience of drinking coffee at cafes in Korea (which I mostly avoid, but social reasons bring me to them once a week or so). I consider myself to be pretty sensitive to caffeine, but at the vast majority of coffee shops in Korea, my CNS experience of drinking the stuff ranges from 'nothing at all' to 'barely anything'! I've even occasionally had the odd experience of feeling tired just after drinking a cup of coffee here.

Now, maybe it's partly in my mind - maybe I genuinely started to become run down and worn out right around the time I moved to Korea, and caffeine just doesn't effect me much anymore - but I don't quite think that's it. For instance, the few times I drank coffee this past summer in the States during a two week visit, I got pretty wired (and there's little reason to think the change in scenery was enough to explain this).

I have no interest in provoking 'Koreans don't really know what coffee is'-type responses, but I'm just wondering if anyone has seen info about actual caffeine contents in coffee at Korean cafes, especially chain ones (and if not, do you have anecdotes that support mine on the one hand, or contradict it on the other?). And what about the multinational coffee shops - do they weaken the caffeine content for Korea?? (I don't think I've tried Starbucks, but I've been to a few others.)

[TheUrbanMyth]

The amount of caffeine varies depending on the drink. There isn't just one standard type of coffee in Korea. What do you usually order?

[alwaysgood]

It seems lower at the cafes here, but most of the whole beans at the store seem average strength. I remember getting a little jittery after a small coffee at Starbucks in the US, but can drink a medium here without much effect.

Part of the reason for the difference is probably that people go out coffee later in the day here.

[anamika]

[The Floating World]

I find Pruscuccio or whatever it's called, along with LaVazza to have the highest caffeine levels. A machiato from either makes me feel like I just had a toot! Most other high st coffee shops I have to order a dbl to feel the same.

[redaxe]

Starbucks has strict procedures and practices globally so I don't think the way they make their coffee and espresso in Korea is any different than in the US.

But at some Korean chains I have been served Americanos that I could see through. Either they didn't use enough grounds, or they got the espresso to water ratio wrong.

If you're worried about not getting enough caffeine, though, you can always just order an extra shot in your drink. That does make it kind of expensive though.

What I never understood, is why they charge 500 to 1,000 won extra for ice. In the US, an iced coffee is the same price as a hot coffee.