Study Coffee shops

Originally posted on September 17^th, 2014.

Coffee shop culture in Seoul

Korean students usually study in the libraries but also a lot in study coffee shops which you can find everywhere but especially around the University areas. In general you will find many of the coffee shop chains like Tom N Toms, Coffeine Gurunaru, Starbucks, Ediya Coffee, Caffe Pascucci, A Twosome Place, Caffe Bene, Holly's Coffee and so many more. Many of them are 24/7 open. A very welcome opportunity to meet friends and study there during the hard exam periods! 😓 Of course there are also a whole bunch of smaller one's which you can find every corner in many places in Seoul which are very unique due to their name, concept, coffee specialities, desserts and snacks or creative interior.

What they all have in common is that the coffee quality is always very good. If you go to have a coffee the first time (especially when you come from Germany): Coffee is expensive in Seoul. Yes, we usually get a cup of coffee from the bakery here around the corner for 90 cent. In Seoul coffee shops you pay at least 2.900 KRW which is little bit more than 2€. Usually the price ranges from 3.000-5.000 KRW depending on what you order e.g. Latte Macchiato. But usually you find the higher price ranges in the hipper coffee shops with a price range from 4.000-8.000 KRW. Koreans like to go to coffee shops to sit and to talk with friends, colleagues or their lovers. 😄 I think it has become a certain life style in the every day life in Seoul at which the price is just accepted. One of the most nicest coffee shops are in the creative area between Hapjeong and Hongdae.

My favourite coffee shop to study

To come back to my start. I want to introduce you my favorite study coffee shop which became like my living and study room during the last semester abroad. The Dokdabang (독수리다방) was opened by a student in 1971 and is one of the most famous study coffee shops in Sinchon. It is located near the Yonsei University not far from the Ewha Womans University. It took me a walk of 8 minutes to get there from my dormitory room. Located in the 7^th floor you always have a very wide view above the Sinchon area. Their interior has, as I would describe it, a classic american-library look with book shelves filled with a lot of international must-read literatures and very comfy armchairs. There is also a higher level next to the windows.

There was also an area with tables for seatwork. Another very nice feature was the outdoor area with a cool breeze that is very refreshing in the summer months. As for all coffee shops (and almost everywhere in Seoul) you have free wifi to use and could stay there as long as you want. The only condition is that the shop holder wants you to order at least one drink. It was a very nice study atmosphere there. Of course I tried many other coffee shops too. But it happened that I came here most of the times. I tried several coffee, non-caffeine specialities and desserts which were all sensationally good. 😋

My favorite was their cappuccino. The best I had in my life. It has the tastiest and thickest milk froth I ever saw. When you drank it the texture and milk taste of it perfectly mixed with the coffee; made it taste just how it should. And as if that would not be enough, the sweet tasting cinnamon-sugar-powder on top of the thick milk froth, rounded the taste of this cappuccino perfectly up. Awesome!

I think I am better in posting stuff about food and restaurants ^_^. So if you are more interested in the coffee shops in Seoul you have to please visit my friends blog, Constance, who really loved them and visited much more than me. She has a whole blog about coffee shops in Seoul, with location&price informations and many nice pictures: http://seoulcoffeeshops.tumblr.com/. Enjoy!