A Cappuccino Road Trip in Seoul! Exploring Australian Coffee Shops!

Seoul's Aussie-Style Cappuccino Road! A Coffee Shop Exploration!

Hello! Markbol, your coffee buddy, here! Today, I'm taking you on a journey to discover a special coffee: the "Aussie-style cappuccino"! I'll introduce you to places that serve Australian-style cappuccinos, which have a distinctly different charm from the cappuccinos commonly enjoyed in Korea.

Before we begin, I think I should briefly explain the Australian-style cappuccino.

Australian-style Cappuccinois a bit different from the cappuccinos you find in Korea. Instead of cinnamon powder, chocolate powder is sprinkled on top. The milk foam is also about 1.5cm to 2cm thick, slightly different from a typical cappuccino. Many of you might think, \"Isn't this the same as a cafe mocha you can get in Korea?\" While it does contain espresso, a cafe mocha includes chocolate syrup. It essentially has no milk foam and only a small amount of milk. A cafe mocha also often comes with whipped cream. In short, because the ingredients are slightly different, the Australian-style cappuccino has a stronger coffee flavor, while the cafe mocha has a stronger chocolate flavor. Unique, right?!

1. Summer Lane

• Location : 49, Itaewon-ro 55ga-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
• Operating Hours : Daily 07:30 - 18:00
  • Last Order : 17:00
• Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/summerlane_brunch
  

Summer Lane is an Australian-style brunch cafe run by an Australian owner. I heard it's quite famous in Itaewon. I really liked the cozy and bright atmosphere.

My ordered Australian-style cappuccino finally arrived! The visuals were different from the cappuccinos commonly found in Korea. Thin, soft milk foam was topped with cocoa powder. One sip, and the coffee flavor and milk's creaminess were perfectly balanced. It was exquisite, both bitter and sweet. It was much deeper and richer than the cappuccinos commonly enjoyed in Korea. It truly felt like I had tasted a proper Australian-style cappuccino!

The smashed avocado I ordered was also delicious. Freshly mashed avocado spread was generously layered on toast, served with an egg, tomato, and salad. The combination of the avocado's creaminess, the toast's crispness, and the fresh vegetables was excellent. Having smashed avocado with the Australian-style cappuccino made for a perfect brunch.

I had a truly happy time enjoying delicious coffee and brunch at Summer Lane. Eating delicious food in a cozy and comfortable atmosphere made me feel all my stress melt away. I understood why Summer Lane is considered one of Seoul's popular brunch cafes. It truly felt like I was in Australia.

2. Upstanding

• Location : 99-11, Sinheung-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
• Operating Hours : Daily 10:30 - 19:00
  • Last Order : 18:30
• Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/upstanding_coffee
  

Upstanding is run by an owner who gained barista experience in Australia and offers Australian and New Zealand style coffee. It's a three-story building, and I think the unique spiral staircase is an iconic element of the cafe. The coffee menu is divided into black and white, and you can taste various types of coffee reflecting Australian coffee culture. Upstanding Coffee has introduced Australian coffee culture to Korea and has become a hot place in Haebangchon.

3. Camouflage Coffee

• Location : 9, Acha-sanro 1-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul
• Operating Hours : Daily 09:00 - 18:00
  
• Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/camouflage_seoul
  

Run jointly by the 2018 World Barista Championship winner and a barista with extensive experience in Australia. It has been listed in the Blue Ribbon Survey for three consecutive years. It's a space that only sells \"coffee\", and they don't offer desserts, I heard. The authentic Australian-style long black is their signature menu, characterized by its appropriate acidity and harmonious flavor.

4. Coffeepauly

• Location : 1st and 2nd Floor, Coffeepauly, 14, Yanghwa-ro 11-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul
• Operating Hours : Daily 07:00 - 23:00
• Instagram : http://instagram.com/coffeepauly

It's a fairly large cafe spanning two floors on the Seogyo-dong street. Large cafes aren't very common in Seoul. It has a comfortable and friendly atmosphere, perfect for extended stays. The menu is characterized by its focus on Australian-style coffee. The signature menu is the flat white (known for its smooth foam and intricate latte art). Decaffeinated options and alternative milks (soy milk, oat milk, etc.) are available, making it accessible even for those with lactose intolerance.

5. Chatswood Coffee

Location : 42, Seong-an-ro, Gangdong-gu, Seoul

Operating Hours : Daily 10:00 - 22:00

Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/chatswoodcoffee

The owner named the cafe after their experience staying in the \" Chatswood\" area of Sydney, Australia. The signature menu is the \" Aussie Cappuccino\", a uniquely Australian coffee that uses cocoa powder unlike regular cappuccinos. It's characterized by its smooth milk foam and sweet cocoa powder combination and is only available as a hot option. They also sell a variety of desserts (cookies, tarts, cakes, croffles, etc.), making it known as a dessert hotspot. It offers a quiet and comfortable atmosphere and plays a role in introducing Australian coffee culture to Korea.

That's all for today's introduction. While there are more places selling Australian-style coffee in Korea than I expected, compared to the total number of coffee shops, it's a very small number^^;; I hope to see more coffee cultures from various countries introduced to Korea.