Coffee M Works, a roaster-cafe that opened in Cheongdam-dong this April, merges a hip, snap-worthy interior with solid, artisanal brews.

Helmed by head roaster and CEO Moon Jong-chul, the 50-seat, neo-industrial hangout serves up coffee that reflects its owner’s penchant for fragrant brews. 

 

The shop’s cold-brewed coffee is crafted from Ethiopia Koke Honey beans and is extracted over six to eight hours, then aged three days in a wine refrigerator.

Stressing that he does not know the science behind it, Moon voiced his belief that aging the cold brew seems to change its depth of flavor.

“The fragrance and acidity is very good,” Moon said of why he chose to use Ethiopia Koke Honey beans for his cafe’s cold-brewed coffee.

As iced coffee, the cold brew runs light and smooth on the tongue, hitting first with rich notes of dark chocolate, then following with mellow, fermented notes of brandy and finishing with sour notes of passion fruit. 

As an iced latte, the cold brew is creamy and chocolaty, the perfect antidote to a hot summer day.

Moon’s cafe also serves pour-over coffee as well as a line-up of espresso-based drinks, including a particularly toothsome Valrhona mocha.

For the mocha, Moon revealed that Valrhona chocolate couverture is combined with two ristretto shots and steamed milk.

The mocha is silken in texture, creamy and tastes like crushed peanuts and dark chocolate, an addictive combination of flavors that results from the combination of nutty coffee, cacao-rich couverture and full fat milk.

All espresso shots are pulled from a La Marzocco machine and the beans are roasted every other day, said Moon.

“My parents really liked coffee,” said Moon, explaining how he got into roasting. “I started off by roasting at home and having my colleagues and family taste my pour-over coffee.”

After roasting at home for five years, Moon went on to learn how to roast more professionally for two years before opening Coffee M Works in a beautifully-designed space behind the Hotel Prima Seoul.

“I wanted a place where people could connect,” he said.

A huge shared table is the first thing that greets customers at the entrance, setting the tone for a gathering spot bathed in the warm hues of copper, brass and dark wood. 

 

Coffee M Works

57-2 Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul

02-6104-9519

Open 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily

Espresso-based drinks cost 5,000 won to 8,000 won, cold-brewed lattes and coffee cost 6,500 won, pour-over coffee costs 6,500 won to 8,500 won

By Jean Oh (oh_jean@heraldcorp.com)