Coalmine Coffee

Located conveniently between Hapjeong and Hongdae station, Coalmine Coffee is a popular cafe that changes their menu with the seasons. We visited Coalmine on a cold wintry afternoon in December and definitely left impressed.

The industrial vibes of the cafe's exterior while unique, was also subtly refined - almost reminiscent of a wine cellar. The patio also seems like a great place to have a hot coffee during the cool autumn weather.

Inside the cafe, the first thing that struck us was the modern minimalist design which combined with the soft yellow lights, made the ambience of the cafe really cozy and comfortable.

From their Autumn/Winter menu, we ordered an einspänner coffee (for the life of us we can't seem to remember the exact name on the menu), and a cafe latte.

While the latte was amazingly smooth and aromatic, the einspänner was the drink that stole the show. With a perfect balance of hot coffee, and cold whipped cream, the einspänner was absolutely delicious. Topped off with cocoa powder, it was a perfect drink to have while soaking up the cozy ambience and Christmas vibes.

One thing to note however, is that due to the way the cafe is designed, and the large crowds that tend to frequent it, Coalmine may not be the best cafe for a quiet conversation as it tends to get a little noisy at times.

That being said, the great ambience and coffee really made the trip all the more worthwhile.

Address: 43 Jandari-ro, Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Opening Hours: 9am - 10 pm (weekdays), 11am - 10pm (weekends)

Nearest Station: Hapjeong Station (Exit 3)