The shop is located slightly off the main road in the commercial-residential area northwest of Hanti Station. Cars drive along the narrow, rain-slicked side streets—many cars. It's a neighborhood with a lot of traffic, which is to say, it's a Gangnam neighborhood.
The area around Hanti still retains much of its early Gangnam character. Multi-unit dwellings and commercial buildings from the 80s and 90s, many people coming and going, a mix of sophisticated shops and practical everyday stores—all this gives people a sense of comfort.
The long, rectangular shop isn't large. The kitchen is on the left of the entrance, and three tables are placed further inside. The roaster is by the window, and coffee beans are displayed in front of the kitchen table. The labels on the bean bags specify the type of water used, including Samdasoo and Baeksansu. Honestly, I hadn't paid much attention to what kind of water was used, but when I asked the barista, they said that the water used for extraction does affect the coffee's taste to some extent. The shop primarily uses sodium-filtered water. Well, coffee does 'drink' water, so of course, the taste of the water would be important.
On one side of the kitchen, there's a machine (which seems to be a water station), with levers labeled 'Hydrogen', 'Carbon', 'Sodium', and 'Raw Water'. It seems to be used for manipulating the levers to filter water.
A fan rotates on the ceiling, and there are no particular props or distinct interior features. It has a bit of a workshop feel.
I ordered today's coffee. It was Panama beans, I was told.
The first taste was acidic and light. It went down smoothly and comfortably. There were two women in the kitchen, and a rather portly man, presumably the owner, was in the shop. He was engrossed in some work, looking at his laptop. He had a gentle demeanor. The owner seems to be involved in roasting, lecturing, and various other coffee-related activities. He looks busy.
A comfortable neighborhood coffee shop where you can enjoy coffee in a not-so-spacious place—that's Hanti Station's Coffee Roasting Bear.