[Cup] Cool coffee on a hot summer day
Located minutes away from the Central Government Complex in central Seoul, the area is filled with men in dark suits on weekdays, but on weekends, the men simply disappear. A sunny Sunday is the best time to stroll the neighborhood because you can have the streets all to yourself. The area is painted with beautiful shades of green from the tall trees lining the streets and the walk to Coffeest is always a joy for me.
The cafe is located just across from the Seonggok Art Museum and gained its fame by roasting its own coffee beans. I went there on a recent weekend outing to have my daily dose of coffee. Because the sun was so strong, my companion and I were in need of something to cool us down.
The menu features varieties of single origin coffees including Ethiopian Yirgacheffe, Columbia Supremo and Yemen Matari. The house blend is priced at 4,000 won ($3.20), while others range from 5,000 won to 6,000 won. I chose Dutch coffee (5,500 won, refills are free) and my companion had an iced espresso (5,500 won).
I am not a big fan of strongly acidic coffee, and my drink was perfect because of its low acidity level.
My companion’s chilled espresso was served in a small glass with gorgeous looking cream on top. The drink appeared to contain about three espresso shots, giving it a deep, rich taste. It really was the best way to savor the essence of coffee.
The cafe has some seats on the terrace and more inside. A bookshelf in one corner is filled with books on food, wine and, of course, coffee. The strong aroma of coffee beans wafting from the cafe’s roasting machine adds charm to the cozy atmosphere.
[myoja@joongang.co.kr]
Coffeest
Location: 1-335 Sinmun-ro, Jongno District, central Seoul
Hours: 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays, noon to 10 p.m. on Sundays
Telephone: (02) 773-5555
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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