Upon popular request, welcome back to this semester’s first Coffee Column, a series in which we explore, as the name implies: coffee shops. For this first edition we go back to the roots of this column, and we talk about some of the cafés that are nearest to NMH.

Mammoth Coffee

GSIS students are delighted to have a Mammoth Coffee now near the NMH building. Though its collection of sweets and pastries doesn’t compare to the ones available in the Paik’s coffee near the NMH basement, the price of the iced americano is significantly lower for a (generally more tasty) espresso, and so an appealing option for the students simply looking for a pick-me-up before classes.

Mammoth also has a good selection of non-coffee drinks, ranging from the classic matcha to a few different lemonade base drinks. Our tasting team tested out the Yuzu tea, and they found that it was both fruity and sweet, even without additional sweetener. 

Considering that Mammoth is in many locations a pick-up only kind of café, there were no high expectations of the interior, and the establishment did not challenge those expectations either. With a simple white and beige interior, it’s clearly meant to drink-and-go (a very literal experience of the Korean word) rather than linger around with friends or to sit and get some work done. If you are looking for a place that delivers a more comfortable experience, you might find our second coffee shop to be more up to your standards.

From Hearts

A short walk down the hill from the NMH we can find the From Hearts cafe, your one-stop shop for a coffee break that requires a little more comfort. Downstairs there are window seats for a casual sip and go as well as a larger table for group meetings. We’ve tested the location with a crowd of twelve and found it perfectly adequate. The upstairs section features more tables that are perfect for solo or duo study (or yap) sessions, and the seats are comfortable enough to linger. So it is the perfect location both for smaller and larger meetings. Plus, the wifi is pretty stable, so if you need to take a zoom-call, you don’t have to worry about losing connection randomly.

Drinks wise, From Hearts delivers a solid selection of both coffee and non-coffee options, and the coffee connoisseurs among us will be pleased to find that this is one of the few coffee chains where you can get a decent European style cappuccino or flat white. 

Note: From Hearts also has a student discount with your Yonsei card, so don’t forget to whip it out when ordering at the counter.

Happy sipping, and I’ll see you in October with some moody, autumnal recommendations!