Coffee is relatively new to South Korean culture, but once it caught on in the early 2000s, it spread like wildfire! Now there are literally over 100,000 coffee shops around the country! Follow Dojeon team member, Gabriella, as she discovers her true passion, brewing the perfect cup of "Joe".
Midnight In Paris, except the coffee was the Midnight
The world of coffee transformed me.
My experience of coffee has been somewhat graded throughout my life, you see, I was always a tea girl. I probably only got into coffee in my early 20s and that too with a very dark espresso in a small, sunlit hotel in Paris. The experience of that espresso was far from pleasant, it was as though I was drinking the waters of a deep, dark forest (thinking Harry Potter) but still, I thought there could be a chance I would get used to this. Getting through those few sips of that espresso (eventually accompanied by dark chocolate) I wanted to experiment more.
Classes in Seoul
Slowly this experience of coffee became a significant part of my life. After moving to Seoul, I was awakened by the many opportunities and classes available to me. I have tried burlesque, traditional Korean painting, ballet, and many other classes. One I was eagerly searching for and could not seem to find (especially in English) was a coffee course, that was until I stumbled upon Standing Coffee.
I walked into the Noksapyeong Branch of Standing Coffee on a chilly winter's day, I had come by to try a well-known little burger stand nearby (perhaps you've heard of it - Burger Snack?). You could say that trying Standing Coffee was on my Korean bucket list (I was preparing to leave Korea to go back home). When we walked in there - my partner, knowing I had been looking for a barista class quickly pointed out the Standing Coffee Club's classes they had stuck on the wall.
More about the Class
The class is conducted in English and Korean (don't fret too much if you don't speak Korean, if you have a genuine interest in coffee and know some of the basics it will be a breeze!) The barista course is structured as three different classes, each covering a key component of being a Barista and the foundational knowledge of coffee. The classes are as below:
Brewing (hand drip) and history of coffee and how coffee is made
Espresso (cue Sabrina Carpenter)
Milk Steaming and Latte art
Each session was around two hours and included great insight into the steps and methods needed to make the perfect cup of coffee. I felt so inspired and motivated after each session! The instructor's name is Sung Hoon and I had the best time learning with him! He’s super friendly and kind and now a good friend in the coffee industry!
If you’re interested in taking this amazing class don't hesitate to contact Standing Coffee! Details below:
Contact via Instagram or Kakao
Class cost (the class I took was the Barista class and consisted of three different classes): 220,000won other classes have varying prices
Location (this may also vary): Gyeongridan Standing Coffee branch (instructor will inform you).
What I’m doing Now
In March, this year my little Korean adventure (3 years) came to an end (well for now) and I moved back home to New Zealand. I live close to the beach and saw a local group post about a cute little coffee cart that had opened in front of the beach and they were looking for baristas! So I put my name forward and now I’m working as a barista and manager there hoping to start something of my own one day. We’ll see.
If you'd like to visit our cute, little beachside coffee cart, please do! We have delectable coffee (at very good prices I might add), warm and friendly staff, a breathtaking view of St Heliers Beach (as shown above), and a place for you to relax, drink coffee, eat baked goods, and soak up the sea in all its glory.
Coffix St Heliers
Location: 347 Tamaki Drive, St Heliers, Auckland, New Zealand
Opening hours: Tues-Sun 8 am-1 pm
Coffee for me has become an art and a special shared moment of present life. If you’re like me and love to explore and try new things give this class a try! It’s worth it!
Do you love coffee? Do you want to learn the art? Let us know in the comments below! We will answer any questions you’ve got!
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