The shop is on the first floor of a commercial-residential building in Haengsin 2-dong, close to the Han River. The rusted sign and the appearance of the entrance give it a Seongsu-style vibe. Inside, the roasting area and the retail space are separated, with coffee bean sacks, seemingly weighing about 20 kilograms each, stacked on white angle shelves. By the window next to the coffee bar table, various coffee tools and accessories are displayed, and in the center of the shop, there's a counter with disposable coffee beans and drip bags.
The shop is bustling with local customers. From middle-aged and older individuals to ajummas, and men and women in their twenties, a diverse crowd comes and goes. It's immediately clear that this is a popular cafe in the neighborhood.
There's a male and a female barista working here. A banner announcing an award from the '21 MOC Competition' hangs at the shop's entrance. MOC stands for 'Master of Cupping.' It's a coffee competition hosted by Monthly Coffee since 2011, where participants must identify coffees with the same aroma and flavor using just one spoonful, and do so quickly.
First, one must be able to distinguish subtle differences in bean flavors, which doesn't seem easy. That's probably why such a competition exists.
Given that the owner won an award in this competition, one can infer that they possess an exceptional coffee palate.
When I asked the owner for a hand-drip recommendation, they offered choices: acidic, non-acidic, or 'something different.' I opted for 'something different,' which then led to options like grape flavor, alcohol flavor, and other unique tastes. Since I chose grape flavor yesterday, today I decided to go with alcohol. It's called 'Colombia Rocoseries No. 23' beans. They described it as a coffee with a whiskey aroma, served iced.
I take a sip, savoring the initial taste. A flavor like premium gin immediately hits me. The first taste is strong, with a clean finish.
The shop is located at a spacious intersection on a back road, offering a good view. Through the rusty entrance door's glass, I watch the leisurely street scene and people passing by, and, with my 'iced gin (?),' I immerse myself in the unfamiliar neighborhood ambiance.
There's a saying, 'first love.' This phrase implies a first-time experience. Travel is similar. The first impression experienced in an unfamiliar place, even if it's right next to where I live, if it's a first impression, it can be called first love.
I find 'first loves' in many places. Anywhere is fine, as long as I can experience love.
They don't provide coasters or stirrers here. This is a place busy focusing on roasting and coffee flavor. It's a place that harmonizes well with the rusted entrance and the coffee bean sacks visible here and there.
A comfortable and casual neighborhood coffee shop, yet a special coffee shop where one can discover subtle coffee flavors—this is Haengsin-dong Coffee Natural Specialty.