Notes From A Korean Coffee Shop

In Korea, coffee shops are an institution in themselves. You rarely see coffee chains, so every shop is different. But saying they are different doesn't fit - unique is a much better word. Every shop has a theme. Some are laid back coffee houses that pay serious attention to their coffee. Some offer additional things to patrons such as use of computers and printers, some even cameras. And others are quirky shops that have something inside that you would never expect.

I wanted to get out of my stuffy apartment this evening and get some fresh air, so I brought my Korean books and my laptop down my street to Alice Coffee. The logo is a cute bunny encircled by the shop name. I like this particular coffee shop because its theme is photography. The coffee shop itself is quite plain, with white tile floors, beautiful windowed walls, and light oak wooden tables and chairs draped in soft red or blue plaid blankets and matching cushion pads, but there are many easels around the large shop that showcase different large-scale photos, many of landscapes with beautiful color combinations. There are a few color printers by the door that customers can use to print their own photography. There are also two tables with computers, as well as the standard wi-fi that you find at most locations throughout Korea.

I chose this shop over another this evening because of the honey bread. Imagine a toasted piece of bread that is about 1" thick, drizzled with honey and topped with a gracious amount of whipped cream. The cutest part is that I get to eat it with a teeny tiny fork. The vanilla cappuccino isn't bad, either. I am quite happy.

There is another coffee shop in my neighborhood that I've seen for a while, but didn't try until last week when I went in for a mocha latte. That particular coffee shop is one of the more quirky varieties, but very interesting, and it has arguably the best coffee in Korea. The name of the shop is Oratory, suitably named for being an 'institution' for excellent coffee.

What makes Oratory quirky and different from the others is the Volkswagon bus parked in the coffee shop. Supposedly it still runs, but its new purpose is making coffee. The shop owner sits in the van and creates each cup of coffee from an espresso machine that you would purchase for your own kitchen in the states, meaning it's nothing fancy. It takes him about 4 minutes to make each cup, but it is well worth the wait. As I said, each cup is perfection. And with my coupon card, I'll get a free coffee after 4 more purchases.

Because everyone in Korea (from teenagers to ajumas) drinks coffee, coffee shops are everywhere. Finding one - or several - you like is easy, and it's a great way to pass a quiet but lovely Sunday evening.