Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ausloretta]

There should be a sticky on best places for coffee in Korea.

Any recommended cafes with an impressing latte?

[Dev]

Where in Korea? Seoul? You should rename this thread with your city of choice.

I'd like to know people's answers too. I don't know any independent coffee shops that serve up a decent cup. Sadly, I'd have to say I like Starbucks the best in this country. Most Koreans don't know anything about coffee. They don't know how to eat slowly and savor food let alone enjoy a cup of coffee.

[cdninkorea]

I don't understand how people can drink that instant coffee garbage that comes in those little pouches (here or at home).

[ausloretta]

[quote="Dev"]Where in Korea? Seoul? You should rename this thread with your city of choice.

quote]

Well I thought if anyone, anywhere in Korea knew a good place for a coffee they could post it up. I am willing to travel if it is that good!

[SuperHero]

Personally I'm a starbucks junkie, but there is a Turkish restaurant near to ����� stations that serves good Turkish coffee - nice, strong and very flavorful. However I can't remember the name of it right now.

[mindmetoo]

Korea doesn't have a particularly robust coffee culture. Until recently, I'd say most western foods in Korea pretty much took their cues from US Army chow: instant coffee, processed cheese, corn dogs, sweet pickles, and spamforchristsakes. We're not working with much here.

This kind of thread always brings out the following types:

a) Starbucks, bah! God loves me more because I refuse to drink coffee at Starbucks. You people don't know real coffee. Touch the hem of my robe if you wish to know about real coffee!

b) Tim Hortons dude! Oh you haven't had real coffee until you've had Tim Hortons!

But I dunno. I like Starbucks in Korea. It's a safe lifestyle choice. It's a comfy place to have coffee. I feel I get value for my money. I like the washrooms. Sometimes you meet nice people there.

[SuperHero]

[I_Am_Wrong]

Tim Horton's coffee isn't that great. Yes, it's miles and miles above the swill that a place like Dunkin Donuts has...but still not superb.
Tim Horton's coffee is good becuase you can have a half decent cup of coffee for less than $3

I use a french press to make my own coffee. In my freezer I have one bag of organic free trade kicking horse coffee, two bags of nabob french roast that was on sale at Walmart, and one bag of canadian maple flavoured coffee. I don't know if Walmart still has it on sale but 6000 for a bag of nabob is pretty decent in Korea (even if it is nabob...). If you're willing to go to the grey market food shops in Songtan then you can get some half decent American coffee there for very cheap (4000 won).

If I buy coffee at a shop I usually go for a mocha. I'm pretty sure that a lot of the shops use a very cheap espresso or are just using regular coffee beans in place of espresso. Here are my favorites in order:

1) Joe's Cafe--Not too badly priced and the espresso is strong without a burnt taste. They also make killer bagel and bread sandwiches

2) Sandspresso--Another coffee shop that I think it also using a higher quality espresso.

3) Ediya--The flavor of their espresso isn't quite as strong but the price point is good.

4) Coffee Bean--This place is is EXPENSIVE. It's even more expensive than Starbucks. However, they do make great coffee, but the price ruins it.

5) Indie Coffee in Itaewon--For me this place loses points because it's in Itaewon but gains points for playing Sir Mixalot when I was in there. I very rarely go to Itaewon but I decided to try this place last time I was there. It's obvious that the barista knows what he's doing. Just too bad it's in Itaewon.

6) Rosebud--I'm pretty sure this place isn't using real espresso beans in their "espresso." The drinks are just too damn weak. However, the one I used to frequent in Suwon had the cutest girls ever....

7) Starsucks....er.....Starf-u-c-ks......er.....umm...Starbucks--I hate starbucks. The only redeeming factor is that it's strong enough to give you a kick. Tastes like sh-ite however.

[Sofa_King]

I like Coffee Bean myself. My favourite drink is the English Tea latte. They take a bag of Earl Gray, soak in in a half cup of hot water, then add the steamed milk into it...mighty tasty!

[riley]

The best place I find for coffee is Java City. I saw two places near each other in Gangnam, but nowhere else.
I like Starbucks simply because it's everywhere, it's better than the swill I was forced to drink when I came here, and the bathrooms are generally great.
Coffee Bean is nice but expensive and I find the drinks to be a bit sweet. At least they have a punch card though.
I generally ignore the others though I use Holly's bathroom because they are always classy looking.

[Dev]

Has anyone out there ever seen a grinder for sale in Korea? I've seen just one at Lotte Department store priced at about 100,000 won. Forget the brand, but it was a nice one. I'd really like to get one in the $40 ~ $50 range like I can at home.

Beans here are expensive too. Lotte Dept. store sells them for 13,000 W for a half pound. Ouch! I can't believe anybody would actually pay that. Home Plus and Emart have half-pounders for 8,000 / 9,000 won - still exorbitant, but...

[princess]

[I_Am_Wrong]

[zappadelta]

[I_Am_Wrong]

I get mine to go. I don't need to listen to bad music while I drink coffee and study.