An industrial strength German cafe

MK2’s vintage mid-century modern furniture is available for sale. By Ser Myo-ja

Berlin is my favorite city in the world. During my two-month stay there in the summer of 2004, I tried to have my everyday cup of coffee in different cafes. My “kaffee und kuchen,” or coffee and cake, journey around the city was never difficult because the city was full of wonderful coffee houses, sparing me the ubiquitous American joints like Starbucks.

Missing my cup of kaffee from Cafe Einstein, I found a piece of Berlin in a small alley in Hyoja-dong near the presidential office in central Seoul. MK2 is filled with vintage furniture from Germany and its menu instantly transported me back to Europe.

From left, regular coffee, Apfelwein and Radler at MK2.

The cafe sells espresso variations and every cup tastes superb, probably owing to its high-quality coffee machine. Proudly situated on top of the counter is the FAEMA E61 espresso machine, which one of the cafe’s wait staff told me dated back to 1966. MK2’s regular coffee is exactly what kaffee tasted like in Berlin. It was rich, deep and pleasantly bitter.

The menu includes other drinks common in Germany, such as Radler (7,000 won, $4.99), a mixture of beer and lemonade, also known as a shandy, which my husband once described as the best drink that you can have on a sticky summer day after a shower.

FAEMA E61 espresso machine.

Another find on the menu is Apfelwein (9,000 won), a beverage made of apple juice and wine. Teas are also available.

MK2 also serves baked goods: heavy dark chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream and carrot cake plus scones and muffins.

The cafe regularly redresses its interior with vintage mid-century industrial design furniture, and all of it - sofa, tables, chairs and lighting - is on sale. It may seem too industrial for some and lacking the flower-pattern sofa, pink wallpaper and ornately decorated coffee cups popular in Korean cafes, but that is why MK2 is authentic. Simplicity is a virtue here.

MK2

Location: 122-2, Changseong-dong, Jongno District, central Seoul.

Hours: 11 a.m. to 11p.m.

Telephone: (02) 730-6420

By Ser Myo-ja Staff Reporter [myoja@joongang.co.kr]

korea joongAng daily

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An industrial strength German cafe

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