Having an inkling before I arrived, of the coffee scene that I might find here, I was even more amazed by what I actually discovered. Not only is there an entire street called ‘Café Street’ but there are coffee shops quite literally everywhere! The vibrant coffee culture in Busan Korea is next level amazing.
Take Out
Probably the most popular and frequented by locals, is the simple take-out window style coffee sellers. These are either trendy or humble and everything in-between. Many are chains that you will begin to notice as you walk around each day.
Most however, are small local businesses. They offer no seating or perhaps a stool or two outside of their window. Many have an extensive menu of drinks, but what most locals from Busan are ordering are Iced Americano’s.
You will see people carrying around this particular drink, all, day, long. 😋 The cheapest I saw these was at a local chain that I have heard one should not frequent unless absolutely desperate. Here they were 1,500 or $1.50 CAD each. And I saw them as high as 6,000 or $6 in a fully tourist-oriented coffee shop. Ouch!
Café Street
Not only a street but an area in Jeonpo that seems to have a coffee shop every few doors or so. Now this is a somewhat touristy area, not crowded by any stretch. The café’s here are trendy and fun. Many have a little counter of baked goods that you can select from and enjoy with your drink.
One favourite café here is Vintage 38. It is quite dim inside and the décor is cool. On a large brick wall of the original factory building, is a projector showing manga and other films. Outside is a camper van that you can actually sit inside to enjoy your beverage.
Their baked goods were the best I found in this type of setting, from the café’s I frequented. Quite a large selection and everything was fresh. The very local thing to eat is the ‘salt bun’. A sweet bread roll sprinkled with sea salt. Here they pan fry the bottom in butter, and serve it to you hot. Yum!
Big Café’s
I have never seen café’s that are as large as they are here in Busan. Some I entered are three and four stories! I was amazed that the spaces are so vast. A beauty called BlackUp Coffee in the Seomyeon district is one of these.
Three floors, wood and metal décor, very clean modern lines and some exquisite coffee and glassware. The first day I enjoyed a café latte and fig/caramel scone. The second visit was purely to try the sea salt coffee which was exquisite.
Told not to stir the two layers, I couldn’t wait to dive into this drink. The ultra thick creamy concoction is a slightly sweet and languidly coats the top of your mouth. As the iced cold coffee flavours your tongue, the two sections meet in the middle and a little pop of salt arrives. This coffee is an experience.
Brooks Café is another one of these larger-than-life cafés. With a table of baked goods near the door, one enters a large space and orders their drink of choice from the rear. The seating in here is all one level, but with various different vignettes artfully placed around the room.
The vibe is dim and factory like with a playful edge. The coffee is delicious to match the quality of the pastries.
Popular Times
I am out and about each morning exploring the city. My norm is to find a coffee shop or café around 9-10 am when I am looking for a little pick me up after being on foot for a couple of hours. I was surprised when I discovered that almost all of these sit-down café’s, don’t open their doors until 10am at the very earliest! Many at 11am and some not until 12 noon.
The coffee culture in Busan is at its most busy at 9pm, this is why they open so late. Visitors will find the take away windows open early (8am usually) but not the sit-down cafés. If you are used to having a pastry and coffee for breakfast, you will be waiting until mid morning or later.
Duf Coffee
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Duf Coffee in Gamcheon near Busan. This coffee shop is the most unique I have every been to in my entire life. Knowing it was going to be unusual from the external décor, I wanted to see just what was inside.
The menu, absolutely entertaining with some bizarre combinations of drinks. Who orders a ‘Crazy Woman’, a coffee mixed with aloe, sparkling water and watermelon juice?
There are ducks out in the back garden, yes ducks. When you order your drink, you are presented with a little bag of corn and another of dried fish. This was going to be a highlight for me, I mean who doesn’t love to feed ducks?
Creepy 💀
The problem is getting there. Down two incredibly steep, narrow and treacherous staircases, through a terrifying series of pitch-black halls, covered in things dangling from the ceiling, tripping hazards and frightening creatures.
The coffee shop itself is three large floors absolutely filled with every type of eclectic décor, dress up costume, photo op, stuffed animal, beds, colouring tables, games, cards, uncomfortable décor and seating arrangements, hammocks…….
It’s a fascinating, terrifying, fun and hugely creative space that would be an absolute blast with a group of friends. As a solo visitor, it was scary and weird, and I would never use that bathroom. Who puts two toilets inside the same room with no barrier in-between?
Creepy, creepy and creepy are the words I use to describe this place.
Coffee is a booming business in Busan. I tried to go to a few coffee shops that were purported to have really amazing coffee, roasting and grinding their own brews. Unfortunately, none were open when I arrived, too early. If you are after a good cup of java you will absolutely find it in Busan, you might have to wait until lunch time to have it. 😂
