South Korea drinks an astonishing quantity of espresso—as a lot as 405 cups per individual yearly, based on the Korea Herald.  It’s not only a beverage right here; it’s a full-blown cultural establishment. There are cafes in skyscrapers and cafes in alleyways. Cafes themed after Okay-dramas, cats, and sogeum-bbang (salt bread). By some estimates there are as many as 100,000 cafes nationwide, and there’s nowhere higher than those you’ll discover in Mapo-gu, a thriving and distinctly stylish city district in western Seoul.

Mapo is the catch-all, however as a district it’s truly made up of smaller, distinct neighborhoods. From the leafy quiet of Yeonnam-dong to the pulsing vitality and inventive aptitude of Hongdae, to the low-rise calm of Mangwon, it incorporates multitudes—and so does its espresso scene. Roasteries right here vary from underground ardour tasks with two chairs and no menu to giant, design-forward operations importing a few of the finest inexperienced espresso on this planet. Should you’ve come to Seoul on the lookout for espresso, odds are you’ll find yourself in Mapo (whether or not you meant to or not).

Seoul’s specialty espresso group is broad and evolving quick, however Mapo has lengthy been one among its most enjoyable facilities. There’s an openness right here: concepts and aesthetics borrowed from Tokyo or Copenhagen combine freely with homegrown ingenuity.

So in part of Seoul that’s nearly assured to overwhelm you with selections, we provide this information to some must-visit spots. Make it a one-day espresso crawl or a weeklong deep dive into a few of the best possible espresso Seoul has to supply. Both manner, you’ll discover what you’re on the lookout for. This listing contains seven of our favorites, however know this: we’re solely simply scratching the floor right here in one of many world’s nice espresso cities.

Dorae Knot

Dorae Knot is  superbly designed, that includes an ethereal mixture of stone, gentle wooden, and glass, with one nook devoted to vinyl information, each spinning and on the market. It’s the type of cafe that invitations you to linger, discover, and are available again once more.

Their strategy to espresso is each considerate and technically formidable. They use two separate SSP burr units housed inside a Korean-made Ozik grinder—an 83mm for cupping and an 80mm for filter and single-origin espresso—permitting them to dial in exact extractions for every type of brew. Their espresso is pulled on a matte black Mavam Mach 2, combining clear aesthetics with high-performance consistency.

The cafe options roasters from locations like Ilse from the US, Single Visitors from London, and Datura from Paris, amongst others. They function with a transparent purpose: to attach locals with excellent coffees from throughout the globe. That very same intentionality extends to the pastry case, which frequently contains a few of Seoul’s finest Scandinavian-style buns (the cardamom is a should). And in the event you occur to be staying close by, cease by proper after they open for a batch-brew espresso utilizing a rotating native roaster, solely accessible for the primary hour they’re open.

Whether or not you are available in for a espresso and keep for the music, or drop by for a document and depart with a drink in hand, Dorae Knot makes it simple to really feel at house. Past espresso, the crew is at all times comfortable to supply suggestions on the place to eat, drink, and discover in Seoul, within the grand custom of cafe steerage for vacationers and regulars alike.

And whilst you’re within the neighborhood, take the five-minute stroll to Mangwon Market—one other gem value discovering.

Anthracite

Anthracite is a cornerstone of Korea’s specialty espresso scene, identified for its sharp aesthetic and cautious roasting. Of their 4 places, the Seogyo cafe stands out for its hanging design. You enter by means of a quiet stone backyard that hints at conventional Korean landscaping, then step right into a tall, concrete constructing that feels each industrial and calm.

Inside, uncovered brick and uncooked ceilings set a minimalist tone, softened by pure gentle pouring by means of huge home windows that body the greenery outdoors. It’s an area constructed on distinction—stone and plants, stillness and scale.

 

Their espresso program is strong and constant, backed by their very own roastery, and the pastry case at all times has one thing surprising and scrumptious. In typical Korean trend, their single-origin iced filter espresso particularly shines.

There’s no music, simply ambient sound and the occasional hiss of the steam wand. This is a perfect spot for getting work performed, or simply catching your breath.

John Small Roastery

Tucked away within the quiet, residential neighborhood of Yonggang, only a five-minute stroll from the Han River, John Small Roastery is nicely well worth the detour from Seoul’s extra tourist-trodden zones. Based by the eponymous John Small, an Australian-Korean with roots in each espresso cultures, the cafe seems like one thing you’d come across in coastal California or alongside Australia’s Gold Coast.

The inside is straightforward and alluring—gentle wooden furnishings, minimal décor, and loads of daylight. It’s the type of place that invitations you to linger. Roasting occurs subsequent door, and the espresso menu displays a cautious steadiness of home blends and standout single origins. John brings in some actually particular coffees you received’t discover simply anyplace—in the event you’re going to splurge on a pour-over, make it right here. Whether or not you’re after that precisely-brewed filter espresso or a velvety flat white, they’ve acquired you lined. Don’t sleep on the house-made tiramisu both.

What began as a humble roasting operation has grow to be a real neighborhood fixture, with a gentle circulate of regulars and a robust group vibe.

Fritz Espresso Firm

Anybody aware of Korea’s specialty espresso scene will know the title Fritz. Their beans are served in cafes throughout the nation—and even internationally—due to a thriving wholesale program. However their branding is what usually sticks with folks: a playful seal mascot paired with a design language that attracts from conventional Korean aesthetics. That very same consideration to element defines their flagship Dohwa location.

Housed in a renovated hanok-style constructing, the cafe blends outdated and new Seoul. The structure maintains the heat and attraction of pre-modern Korea, whereas inside, the area is brilliant, bustling, and stuffed with character. There’s ample seating, however anticipate a crowd—Fritz is greater than a restaurant; it’s an establishment.

Their pastry choice is intensive and constantly wonderful, starting from almond croissants and blueberry scones to uniquely Korean choices like a croissant filled with butter and crimson bean paste. The drink menu is simply as versatile: traditional espresso drinks, rotating single-origin pour-overs from their in-house roasting crew (with over a decade of sourcing expertise), and playful seasonal drinks.

Should you’re solely visiting one cafe in Seoul, Fritz Dohwa is a robust contender.

Tremor Espresso Works

Hidden inside the energetic chaos of Hongdae, Tremor Espresso Works affords one of the vital considerate and finely tuned espresso experiences in Seoul. In a neighborhood identified for its artwork, music, and youthful chaos, Tremor seems like a quiet act of precision.

The cafe is the imaginative and prescient of Jinny Lee, who opened the area in 2023 after forsaking a company 9 to five. Having grown up in Indonesia, she brings a uncommon depth of data to the whole espresso chain—and it reveals. Her presence behind the bar is calm and assured, whether or not she’s dialing in a shot on the First rate DE-1 or speaking by means of her pour-over methodology. The setup is intimate: simply 5 seats, with a bar designed for dialog and connection. Every cup comes with a dose of world-class hospitality—together with a bit of home made, coffee-dusted chocolate fudge, supplied on the home.

You don’t want to talk the language of extraction yields or origin names to take pleasure in your self right here. That stated, in the event you do wish to dive in, there’s lots to discover. Lee works with a customized Ozik 98mm (that’s enormous) flat burr grinder, calibrated to deal with a rotating lineup of as much as 15 totally different coffees. The menu options her personal fastidiously crafted home blends—roasted on a Korean-made Easyster—alongside a collection of uncommon single origin choices, all roasted on a Stronghold S7X for precision and readability.

The Stronghold can be accessible to lease through the week—not only for professionals, however for anybody interested in roasting. Should you’ve acquired some inexperienced espresso and a bit of little bit of curiosity, you’re welcome to attempt your hand.

Should you’re buying or wandering by means of Hongdae and want a breather, Tremor is the proper place to reset.

All the time August

This Daegu-founded roastery has grow to be one thing of a family title on this a part of Seoul. Between this location, the place they roast, and their Mangwon cafe, All the time August is a hub for Seoul’s rising inhabitants of people that respect the whole lot from completely executed espresso and immaculate pastries to high quality artwork and pure wine. All the time August has all of it.

The area is heat and welcoming, crammed with crops, ceramics, and quiet attraction—like entering into the lounge of your inside design-obsessed good friend. Their strategy to espresso is hybrid and expansive: they roast their very own single origin choices in-house, whereas partnering with well-known Korean inexperienced consumers—like Yeonnam neighbor Espresso Libre—for his or her blends.

Every pour-over comes with a printed card that features tasting notes and a common brewing information—technique, temperature, and ratio—so you’ll be able to replicate the expertise at house. The main points aren’t exhaustive, however they’re sufficient to ask you into the method. It’s a gesture that echoes their slogan: “excellent espresso for everybody.”

Lounge Clarimento

Only a brief stroll from Hapjeong Station, Clarimento is tucked behind the high-rises and quick tempo of this a part of Seoul. It affords a welcome pocket of calm and coloration. The area is as thoughtfully designed because the espresso program, with a classic airport lounge really feel, 70s-inspired décor, plush seating, and their signature vibrant purple all through.

Their slogan, “relaxation for style,” carries a intelligent double that means. It nods to the significance of letting espresso relaxation after roasting and likewise guarantees an area the place you’ll be able to decelerate, calm down, and savor.

Clarimento is particularly identified for its strategy to sourcing. They constantly provide a few of the most fascinating and uncommon coffees within the metropolis. Should you’re chasing a top-tier Gesha, that is the place to go.

However it’s not only a playground for espresso geeks. Their full espresso menu and on-tap iced espresso choices, from home blends to standout single origins, imply there’s one thing for everybody. Should you’re uncertain what to order or simply wish to study extra, don’t hesitate to ask. The workers are as welcoming and educated because the area is fashionable. Clarimento additionally makes an ideal cease on a espresso crawl, with no scarcity of fantastic cafes simply steps away.

Holden Jannusch is a contract journalist based mostly in Seoul. That is Holden Jannusch’s first characteristic for Sprudge.

High picture by Younger Chul Kim.