Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Gollywog]

As I sit here, I am drinking my cup of morning coffee. Well, not really a cup, at least by Korea standards, if you know what I mean. More like a mug, or more precisely, a glass beer stein. It barely holds a can of beer, 355 ml, 12 ounces, whatever. So, what does that make it in Korean "cups?"

At any rate. it is real coffee, not the K-tubes. Would I use three or four tubes for this mug? Never tried. Americans, and others, drink their coffee from mugs, of course, not tea cups. But Koreans seem a bit horrified by that concept. On the other hand, I just have one mug of coffee in the morning, and that's it. They, on the other hand, tend to have it more frequently, perhaps because it is so easy to make, or perhaps for the sugar rush.

Instant coffee here isn't bad. I almost never drank it back home, so I don't have much to compare it against. But I don't like the tubes because there is so much sugar and lots of artificial creamer, which isn't healthy. And it all tastes pretty much the same, every day, day after day. It seems to epitomize Korea: There is only one right way to do things, and everyone should always do the same thing as everyone else. In the West, on the other hand, almost every cup of coffee tastes a bit different. That's what makes ground coffee an adventure.

When I first got here, my employer had thoughtfully provided a brand new drip coffee maker, fresh in the box. A really, really thoughtful employer would have provided a big can of coffee, too. When I saw the price of coffee at the local mart-uh ($8 for 6 ounces of ground coffee) I quickly decided making coffee 12 cups at time was beyond my means.

Making coffee back home is a fairly simple affair. You can take your pick, pedestrian to gourmet, whole or ground, canned or green roast-em-yourself.

Here in Korea it takes a bit more sleuthing and experimenting to find good beans and settle on a brewing method. Actually, with the internet and gmarket, the options are fairly broad, including some good pump espresso machines at decent prices now. And there are more and more coffee shops opening up in the cities.

So, the question is: How do you make coffee? Share the specifics, brand of beans, source, brewing method. Help out those newbies, so they don't have to go down the tubes route.

[Tjames426]

My home coffee comes from Costco: Kirkland Signature
Not all that expensive given the tin is 3 pds / 1.36 Kgs.
One tin lasts two months or so.

There are lots of bean coffees at Costco. You have to check deals and etc..

I brew my coffee. Once every two weeks or so, I cleanse my coffee machine with vinegar water etc...

[Pink Freud]

Ethiopian organic from Costco..about 13,000 a kilo, I think.
French Press (bodum) from Homeplus about 35,000.
Coffee grinder from Seomun market in Daegu.
Pressed strong in the morning, maybe one big cup in the afternoon.

[Big Pun Lives]

I brought my single cup Melita dripper from home - makes a stronger cup. I did not bring my French Press due to the scarcity of quality beans. I use filtered water and by Starbucks beans.

[EzeWong]

Extremely contemplative of western vs eastern concepts.

You're right... I never thought about the whole tube concept as much, but it really affects the quality of coffee we drink.

I prefer my coffee very sweet and heavily creamed. The tubed cofee pretty much conforms to my preference. But I have to admit too, it's a little too sweet. Even thinking about it makes my mouth dry.

Sorry can't help you on the brewing process. Nowehre am I near the dedication of starting to brew my own coffee. I'd much rather walk 3 blocks to a Davinchi and buy it.

But gl

[cdninkorea]

Similar as others- Braun coffee grinder (Future Shop in Canada), Bodum french press, Starbucks beans from Costco.

Going to buy a DeLonghi espresso machine after Christmas for lattes. Yum!

[angel of bob]

Okay, so I used to work in various cafes in the States, mostly in New Orleans, so I am a big time snob/fussy queen regarding coffee.

My method involves a one cup drip filter, boiling water, and supermarket dark roast. I tend not to like the coffee machine, as I am a combination lazy and snobby. I find that using a coffee machine makes the coffee watery, and since my bf doesn't like to drink coffee, it'd be on the heating element most of the time.

If you need large volumes, I think a French press plus thermos method would totally rock. Make a giant French press of coffee, then throw it in a thermos for work. The coffee would stay hot for 4-6 hours definitely, and the coffee won't be burning.

Generally the ratio is 2 rounded spoonfuls for 8 ounce mug, using the one cup drip method. As far as beans go, I buy the grocery store brand and generally skip more expensive beans. My current brand of choice is Tesco's which is by far the most economical coffee I've encountered in a mart.

I'm not very certain about the espresso machines... I used to have a stovetop Italian one, but generally it was hard to deal with since it made a rather small volume of coffee, and if I wanted a second cup I'd have to wait for the metal to cool down and not burn my effing fingers. I'm generally not impressed with the cheaper home espresso machines, as there is no pressure being created within the machine. I have heard talk of an espresso syringe (Aeropress), which gives me hope for available consumer alternatives...

As far as the price goes, buying coffee at a cafe will always be more expensive than buying a package of the beans and making it. I pay 6,000 for a package of beans that makes at least 8 servings. The overall cost of each cup is 750 won. If you buy a premium coffee, like Big Pun Lives, the cost per cup is 1,700 won, but that's still half the price of buying the same cup of coffee in Starbucks.

The coffee tubes are terrible and the high/rush is like an insane tweaker overload. Drinking three of those causes me to become like Beavis... Coffee tubes go to hell.

[Gimpokid]

I like the tubes. Coffee, creamer and built in swizzle stick. I do have very low standards when it comes to coffee, never been a Starbucks fan.

I agree that the 3 sips of coffee in a teacup is bullshit.

[Jennie]

I make my coffee by the cup every morning, I only make one or two cups so I don't waste any.

I use a hand drip plastic device that holds the no 2 filters, both can usually be bought at an E-Mart, with some searching. I never use pre-ground stuff from any big chain, it is garbage, you need to find a specialty coffee store or cafe that roasts their own beans. I usually have them grind the beans for me as I only buy 100g at a time. I just put maybe a teaspoon or two in the plastic drip coffee thingy which I place directly over my mug. Then I pour water and wait. With the right coffee this is a beautiful thing.

Can't stress enough for you to try to find a specialty coffee shop. I live in Pohang and go to a place called id that roasts many varieties of beans and sells 100g at a time for 5,000W. One 100g package will last me a week.

[pkang0202]

I got a french press.

I turn on the electric kettle. Right before the water gets to a boil, I pour it into the french press. halfway at first, stir, then pour water up to the top. I let it sit for about 5 minutes to brew, then I push the plunger down and give it another minute or 2 to settle. Then I pour it into the cup.


I like my coffee black. Sometimes i'll put a sugar or 2 in it. I don't like drinking it with cream.


I know just enough about Coffee that it is extremely complicated. You have different beans, different roasts, different grinds, etc... Like a million different combination to brew a cup of coffee.

Too complicated for me. I'll stick with my french press method.


BTW, if you have a coffee machine, you should run the water through the machine once without the coffee. Then you pour the pot of hot water back into the machine and brew the coffee.

Something about the machine not getting the water quite hot enough. Give it a try, it might fix the coffee being "too watery".

[Illysook]

While boiling my bottled water, I grind my Starbucks beans, (brought from home, I used to work there) and then I use my french press. My press makes about 20 ounces at a time and I usually drink it all as I am not that much of a morning person. Sometimes, I'll grind the beans before I go to bed. My favorite Starbucks blend is the espresso roast, but I'm working on a bag of Gazebo Blend right now.

I seriously miss the lemon pound cake. I would sample a bit of it just about every day. This time of year as a treat, I would have the gingerbread loaf, and that cup of heaven known as the eggnog latte. I would also get an extra shot of espresso and customize my drink a bit back home. Here I order a plain cappucino and I skip the pastries altogether.

[FMPJ]

I get beans every two weeks fresh roasted from Bueno in Ewha Univ. neighborhood. They deliver to my door.

I grind them each day in my Cuisinart burr grinder. The granularity of the grind is dependent on how I'm going to make my coffee.

When I'm home alone I often use an Aeropress for espresso (it produces a passable crema, even, and requires less than 30 sec. of cleanup).

Or sometimes I use my Bialletti 4-cup stovetop espresso maker.

On workdays I brew in a Bodum press and fill a thermos.

I add brown sugar or honey to my coffee, and milk or a homemade half-and-half (if I have cream).

[Harpeau]

[cdninkorea]

This thread reminds me a little of American Psycho. Here's a very good parody of it: http://www.collegehumor.com/article:1741854

[Ethan Allen Hawley]

If you're into fair trade coffee,
it IS available in Korea,
at these places listed below.

Supplied by Korea's 'Beautiful Store' (nation-wide thrift store chain),
also stocked in all Home Plus (Tesco) supermarkets,
and grown in Nepal and Peru:
http://www.beautifulcoffee.com

Imported by the Korean Fairtrade Store
(which stocks only Fairtrade certified produce,
including chocolate, meusli/granola, soccer balls, etc. ..., and),
including the long-established, premium quality, French coffee label 'Lobodis',
with a variety of single-origins from around the world:
http://www.fairtradekorea.com/shop/goods/goods_list.php?category=004

Supplied by the Korean YMCA,
grown in East Timor:
http://peacecoffee.co.kr

The last one above is also the same price as Starbucks' only certified fairtrade label variety,
which is, as it happens, the same price as the rest of their varieties,
and sits alongside their other whole bean varieties,
although Korean staff don't tend to know what you're talking about,
even if you use the Korean words 'gong jung mu yuk' 공정무역.
The label on it says 'Cafe Estima'.