Ataraxia Coffee

The shop is located on the first floor of Magok Daebang Central Daebang DMC 1st, near Yangcheon Hyanggyo Station in Magok-dong. The building has a square layout, which can make the interior difficult to spot. The shop's operating hours are irregular, so it's best to check Instagram. Inside, there's only one table, which serves as the focal point. There's a kitchen and a roasting machine, along with a wall adorned with award trophies and various books. The owner is a committee member for the Specialty Coffee Association of Korea's national competition, a judge in various other competitions, and a specialist who has won numerous awards, including the Golden Coffee Award. I visited the shop at 3 PM, and the owner, much like the shop's ambiance, exuded a neat and tidy impression. When I went to order coffee, the owner simply told me to sit and wait without any further explanation. So, I didn't ask for descriptions about acidity, nuttiness, or origin; I just observed the brewing process. The owner's movements were precise and quick, like a smart factory machine, and the diverse use of filters was notable. When the coffee was ready, the owner described it in a single sentence: "It's a coffee of diverse flavors." The coffee beans were 'Colombia El Noble Geisha', served with three vessels: a server with water and ice, and a coffee cup. First, I tasted the water and found it light and sweet. Then, I tasted the coffee and perceived a well-balanced aroma. However, I felt that the water in the coffee tasted slightly different from the initial water. When I mentioned this to the owner, they explained that three different filters were used. The aroma of the coffee beans was described as fading in the middle and then re-emphasized towards the end. Finally, I mixed the ice and coffee from the server. The owner noted that what should have been a single flavor had transformed into three distinct flavors. While enjoying the coffee, I had various conversations with the owner, and their stories about participating in coffee competitions and their books were particularly interesting. I conclude by saying that I thoroughly enjoyed the coffee and conversations of the day. This is Ataraxia Coffee, the coffee specialist of Magok-dong, near Yangcheon Hyanggyo Station.