Korean Job Discussion Forums

[suzhou2010]

I'm moving back to Korea in two weeks, and am bringing an espresso maker and french press to make coffee in, since coffee prices are so ridiculous in Seoul.

I was wondering if I should also lug over several KGs of coffee with me. How much does coffee cost per KG in Seoul, and do they have grinders at the store to grind it fresh????

THanks for any info . .

[SeoulNate]

That would depend on how much of a coffee snob you are.

When I first got here a few years ago I wouldn't settle for anything less than perfection when it came to my coffee. You can get the good stuff here, at almost any department store (which are everywhere in Seoul). However, the price is restrictive. Expect to pay about 2x-4x what you would have home.

However, recently I have been drinking the vacuum packed Tesco brand stuff from Home Plus and I have been pleasantly surprised. It is not bad, and in all honestly, the premium stuff is not worth going back to.

[Illysook]

Costco has good coffee at a reasonable price. I'm currently drinking a brand called First Colony. It's 100% Arabica from Columbia. They have SBux there too, but they on.y had Breakfast Blend when I went...not enough flavor in that!

[mmstyle]

I buy my coffee from a coffee shop in my neighborhood. It is freshly roasted, and they grind it to my specifications when I get it from them. The coffee is great. Coffee roasting has really caught on here and it would not be difficult to find a place that will grind it freshly whenever you need it.

[Seoul'n'Corea]

[suzhou2010]

Thank for the info . . . 16,000 Won for 3 KG seems super cheap . . . I'm not horribly fussed about the beans themselves, I was more worried about being able to get them ground fresh, but that sounds easy too! . .

Maybe coffee will be like ice cream - Koreans always think ice cream is such a huge part of the American diet but I think Koreans eat it just as much as Americans!

Haha anyway thanks for the info

[eamo]

The Kirkland Colombian coffee? I wouldn't exactly call it excellent....it's passable for drip coffee machines.

But you're right about the Costco part.....it's the only place I know of to get reasonably priced ground and bean coffee in Korea.

Quality coffee is seen a bit like wine here in Korea. Something for the well-off to indulge in....so priced accordingly.

I've got into espresso recently. Bought a decent machine and just need a good grinder now......it's all very expensive.

[SeoulNate]

[JBomb]

I've seen a lot of cafe's selling illy brand espresso. Prices were not astronomical either.

[Horangi Munshin]

I'm pretty sure the pre-ground Kirkland Colombian coffee is about 16000 for 3 pounds or so not 3KG. Not the Costco I go to anyway. It's OK.

I buy the First Colony stuff too, it's about 2 and 1/2 pounds of beans for roughly 15000won. I have bought the Kirkland New Guinea 3 pound bag of French roast beans for 10000 on sale before.

[Son Deureo!]

There is a growing number of excellent independent coffee roasters where you can be wonderful coffee that's been freshly roasted, but it is pricey. One charges W6000 for 100g, the other W15000 for 200g (and it is noticeably better). I can point you in the direction of two in the Haeundae area of Busan. I do know of 2 in Seoul as well, one in Shinchon (Dr. Bean) and the other in Noksapyeong (sorry, I forget the name, but I could find out if you really want to know).

At those prices, I might by a bag there once a month or two as a treat.

Home Plus has a Java Sumatra coffee that they sell for W3400 for 250g. It's good enough and at a price I can live with.

[Sector7G]

[suzhou2010]

Any kind you find particularly good in the espresso maker?

Cheers,

[Sector7G]

[mmstyle]