Morré Frédérique
Yonsei GSIS Newsletter, Editor

Today's coffee shop is in an unlikely neighbourhood: Seongsu. While I am definitely not Seongsu's greatest fan (the area is known to be crowded, loud, did I say crowded?), There are a few places I will gladly brave the crowds for. One of those is COMOFF Coffee. The windows are large, the chairs are comfortable, the vibe is laid-back, and the coffee is frankly incredible. They offer three different blends that they roast in-house: Floli, a more acidic blend with notes of citrus and syrup; Low Stems, chocolatey, with a rich roasted aftertaste; and a Sugarcane decaf blend that has a smooth finish and somehow manages to avoid that decaf aftertaste that always reminds me of the back of a musty closet.

Given the choice, I will always gravitate toward chocolate and nutty undertones, so with an iced Low Stems Americano in hand, I settled into a seat and let the surprisingly strong May sun beat down on my face through the large window. A friend and I had come to get some work done, but it wasn't long before we both had to admit the day was calling for quiet enjoyment instead –  it has to be said that I was horrendously hungover, and fairly certain that any attempt at reading or editing would send me into orbit. The coffee and a red velvet cookie on the side managed to soothe the worst of the aches, and we opted for people-watching over productivity. We spotted a group of birthday celebrators with balloons attached to their brightly colored caps, tourists who looked to be spending their first day in Seoul, and a young child with a fashion sense that would impress even the most established influencers out there.

The baristas are also lovely and genuinely warm – decisively beating the allegations of the so-called Gen Z stare with little jokes and easy banter behind the counter between customers, laughing in a way that makes the whole atmosphere feel more welcoming. As the hours blended and we lost ourselves making plans for the weeks ahead, a new set of beans was being loaded up for roasting, and the space filled with the rich scent of fresh coffee and the cookies being brought in from the back.

I have high standards for my coffee shops, so when I recommend a place for both the vibes and the coffee, you know I'm not joking around.

You can go experience one of my favorite Seongsu escapes for yourself at 656-450 Seongsu-dong 1(il)-ga, Seongdong-gu, or check out their Instagram at @comoff_coffee.

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