I was lucky enough to spend this Spring semester in Gwangju, South Korea as an exchange student. Visiting Korea has been my goal for a long time, and now I can say confidently that Korea has a lot to offer. Even though the country is well known for K-pop, beauty brands and its delicious cuisine, there are other things that tourists might find fascinating. For me, it was the cafe-hopping culture (visiting more than one cafe daily) and the variety of cafes. I didn’t realize how much Koreans love coffee and hanging out in cafes until I came here.

When I met one of my Korean friends at my favorite cafe on my university’s campus, I told him that one of my culture shocks in Korea was the variety of cafes. To this, he asked me: “Do you know why we have so many cafes?” This question got me thinking, and I gave him many answers, such as “The cafes are usually aesthetic. I would rather meet people in aesthetic places” or “It’s just more convenient.” My friend laughed at this and explained to me the real reason. Apparently, there are not many parks around the cities. The dense population requires lots of residential buildings, and there is a need for gathering places outside houses. Cafes have become one of the best solutions for this.

Coffee culture is relatively new to Koreans. Coffee was first introduced to Koreans during the Joseon Dynasty in the late 19th century when Russian diplomats introduced the drink to King Gojong. In the beginning, it was a “royal” beverage that only the royal family and the noble families could afford. Years later, Starbucks came to Korea and the whole cafe culture began.

Korean cafes offer more than just a good cup of coffee. The variety of concepts is actually shocking: pet cafes, study cafes, PC cafes, and pop-up cafes dedicated to K-pop idols' birthdays. This list can go on. Whether you go to a mega-popular cafe trending on Tiktok or a cafe chain 2 minutes away from where you live, you will get an unforgettable experience.

Why are Korean cafes so different? Well, there are lots of reasons. First, since cafes are hangout spots for Koreans, the owners do their best to make the place feel as cozy as possible. Once you enter the cafe, you don’t need to rush.

From my observation, Koreans can sit and talk for hours. Sometimes, families go to cafes on weekends to spend time with each other. Of course, during rush hour, it gets crazy, but generally, there’s no sense of being late. Once you enter the place, you dedicate your time to enjoy the experience fully. Lots of students study in cafes, they bring their books or laptops and have study sessions with their friends. Imagine comfortable furniture, aesthetic interior design, and a great playlist (I can’t recall how many times I used Shazam to find the songs I heard at one of my favorite cafes). What else do you need to stay there for hours? Oh, a good cup of coffee!

I noticed that Koreans don’t like complicated coffee orders. If in the US you go to a coffee shop and get an iced caramel latte with almond milk, cold foam on top, and caramel drizzle, Koreans will get a simple iced Americano, and that’s it. There’s even an abbreviation for it: AA (아이스 아메리카노, a-i-seu a-me-ri-ka-no). Even before moving here, I enjoyed my coffee as simple as possible, and now I can officially say that AA is my favorite. I guess this is because even small-owned cafes regulate coffee bean sourcing, and it’s easy to find artisanal coffee made with high-quality coffee beans in almost all cafes.

I’m not surprised that South Korea is one of the top consumers of Americano. Besides iced Americano, you can find many interesting drinks, such as sweet potato latte, strawberry latte, Jeju citrus tea (another favorite of mine), or black sesame frappuccino. Even popular cafe chains, such as Starbucks, prepare seasonal drinks and unique baked goods. Oh, about the desserts... This is another topic that deserves attention. All the current trends, such as crookie (croissant and cookie baked together), keep changing almost every month, and the cafes and bakeries come up with more delicious options to satisfy their customers' sweet tooth.

Another huge difference or more like an advantage for students like me is the prices. You get a 16-20oz cup of iced americano for just ₩2000 (equivalent to $1.45). A matcha latte will cost around ₩4000 (around $3). These are the prices in Gwangju. Seoul will obviously be a bit more expensive. However, this is still way cheaper than any cafe I have been to in the US.

As I sit in my favorite cafe, writing this paragraph while enjoying my cup of AA, I reflect on my time in South Korea and all the wonderful cafes I have been to. I didn’t realize how big the cafe culture was and how much it reflects Korean society. The simplicity and uniqueness of Korean cafes reflect the country's character and how much people love coffee. In my opinion, the cafe culture will only get bigger and have more impact on Korea and other countries. And I’m not against this at all; I think many cafe owners can learn a lot from Korean cafe owners. Cafes are a third place for Koreans where they socialize, de-stress, study, and of course, enjoy a cup of coffee. If you ever come to Korea, add cafe hopping into your itinerary, stop by a cute cafe, and enjoy a cup of AA, just like I’m doing right now.

Article by Anahit Aharonyan, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine
Tearsheets by Daniel López, Art Director, PhotoBook Magazine

How I Fell in Love with Iced Americanos in South Korea