Sarah’s Coffee Log, Seoul, Korea

Today, we’re joined by Sarah to share with us about her latest coffee-fueled vacation to Seoul, Korea. Recently returned from her trip, Sarah is no greenhorn when it comes to ‘The Land of the Morning Calm’, having been there five times prior! She shares with us her insights and experiences from this trip, providing a glimpse into the city’s vibrant coffee culture and some of her favourite cafes in town.

Author’s Note: The events in this article are recounted from the perspective of the storyteller in an interview format.

Brewing Table at 5f Coffee Lab

What is it about Korea that keeps you going back?

I love Seoul in particular because that’s where most of the specialty coffee shops are centred around! There are a few outside of the city, but they’re pretty inaccessible without your own vehicle, and it does not make much sense to rent one as the traffic can be pretty bad around town. 

Instead of zipping around town in a rental, take the bus and subway, especially if it’s too cold to be out and about. You’ll be fine with the help of Kakao Maps over the local favourite Naver Maps app, as it has more accurate English inputs. It is always a good idea to plan your journey beforehand, as the layout of the public transport system may be a little tricky to navigate on your first visit.

When is your favourite time to visit?

All year round! But it really depends on your preferences. Summers can be arid and hot, and it is easy to get sunburnt if one is not careful. For fans of cold climates like myself, I would definitely recommend (visiting) during the winter, especially if you have winter wonderland dreams — the snow is soft and fluffy!

Those on the fence might consider visiting between Spring and Autumn when the cherry blossoms and maple leaves are in their full glory. Though it is a beautiful sight, it is an especially popular time of the year, which means attractions are often packed with tourists.

What are some notable cafes you've been to?

Lowkey Coffee has a good selection of beans, from staples to exclusives. Their roasting style has shifted into the slightly more developed sector over the years, with a more robust and pronounced body akin to the shift in coffee culture in Korea. However, the industry is slowly but surely adapting to lighter roasts in an attempt to attract the new wave of specialty coffee drinkers. Lowkey even has coffees from Yemen in their selection, which is hard to come by even in more developed markets.

Zeroth Law does not roast its own coffee. Instead, it focuses on showcasing internationally-renowned roasters. Each day during Seoul Coffee Week, they had seven champion baristas from all over the world take over their bar for that week. I had the luxury of having Matt Winton (World Brewers Cup Champion 2021) brew a lovely cup for me during his shift. I was also fortunate enough to make some friends who were incidentally from 5f Coffee Roasters. Although there was a language barrier, Robin, their roaster and event organizer, was kind enough to translate.

We heard that you entered a brewdown?

Somehow, after some light-hearted conversation under the influence of caffeine, I found myself at 5f Coffee Lab in Suwon, a city southwards of Seoul. This laboratory is owned by a few coffee enthusiasts and holds regular cupping sessions several times a week with roasters from all over the world. The session I attended featured Rose Coffee Roasters, where they got their coffees roasted by Matt Winton, who was in town for Zeroth Law’s World of Coffee Week showcase that year (2022).

The session started with an introduction to the coffees that we were cupping that day. After which, we each had to choose one from a series of ten coffees to brew! The best part of the evening was an extensive collection of state-of-the-art grinders and brewing equipment at our disposal. After the friendly competition, we had a communal tasting session and exchanged feedback on each other’s brews, overall a fun social gathering over great coffee.

Sarah (Right) with Robin (Left) of 5f Coffee Lab

Author’s Note: For those interested in finding out more about the Korean coffee scene or 5f Coffee Lab’s events, you can connect with Sarah through Instagram.