Why Busan is Korea’s coffee capital with its award-winning baristas and variety of beans

“Take a sip of water first, then a shot of espresso. You’ll experience the aroma more vividly as it spreads through your mouth.” That is the advice of barista Lim Jung-hwan at Aery Coffee, one of the most talked-about cafes in Busan, South Korea, these days. Lim’s espresso, made with competition-grade beans, bursts with fruity aromas and sweetness that challenge the stereotype of espresso as a bitter drink. Originally from Busan, Lim won the 2024 Korea National Barista Championship and placed fifth in the World Barista Championship. Coffee lovers now travel from across the country just to sample his creations. Busan is quickly earning its title as Korea’s newest coffee hotspot. Local baristas have made names for themselves in national and global competitions, and word of mouth has spread. The city is geographically positioned for coffee excellence – over 90 per cent of imported coffee in South Korea clears customs through the port of Busan, enabling rapid and cost-effective delivery of fresh beans. With subway access, visitors can easily reach many of the city’s top cafes in just 30 minutes. The city’s coffee boom began in 2007 with Momos Coffee in Bugok-dong, Geumjeong district. Its barista, Jeon Joo-yeon, won the World Barista Championship title in 2019, drawing coffee enthusiasts nationwide. In 2021, a second location opened in Yeongdo district. Located in a converted shipping warehouse, the Yeongdo branch offers a full view of the coffee-making process, from roasting to brewing. View this post on Instagram A post shared by 모모스커피 | 특별함을 모두에게 (@momos_coffee) With industrial-sized roastery equipment and a wide-open entrance facing the docks, the space blends cafe culture with Busan’s port-city aesthetic. A signature drink exclusive to Yeongdo is Momos Candy, an approachable espresso-based drink with milk and yuja (yuzu) zest sugar cubes. The cafe offers four core blends – Esschocolat, Fruity Bonbon, Busan and Mucho Berry – as well as seasonal blends and a broad range of single-origin beans. Coffee newcomers can explore their preferences by sampling the scent of each blend from small glass jars filled with ground beans. Across the harbour in Jung district, Lim Jung-hwan operates Aery Coffee, a four-storey cafe right outside Jungang station on Busan Subway Line 1. The must-try items here are coffees from the Competition Series, which features espresso and condensed milk lattes brewed with beans used in national and global championships. Since last month, Lim has been using a rare bean: the Colombia CGLE Las Margaritas Sudan Rume Natural, known for its sweetness and floral aroma. Each cup is personally delivered to your table by a barista, who explains the origin, flavour notes and best drinking method. Another stand-out is the Ethiopian Tamiru Aloo Anaerobic Natural bean, which offers a delicate profile with berry notes, followed by subtle yeast undertones. Aery Coffee emphasises light extractions to preserve full flavour without overwhelming strength. Just a three-minute walk from Aery Coffee is Yeongyeongjae, a speciality cafe that blends traditional and modern influences, housed in a building with a distinctive brick facade. The cafe offers both premium coffee and traditional Korean beverages like non-alcoholic yuja makgeolli and hwangmaesil or plum tea. Its signature blend, 7.01am, features dark-roasted beans from Colombia, Guatemala and India with a rich, nutty flavour and virtually no bitterness. The aroma resembles a nut-topped chocolate drink, and the texture feels like a smooth grain tea. Dessert pairings are encouraged here, especially their signature jar-shaped chocolate cakes filled with cream. While Yeongdo and Jung districts host Busan’s rising stars, the original coffee scene is in Seomyeon’s Jeonpo Cafe Street. Blackup Coffee, founded in 2006, is among Busan’s first speciality cafes and still stands strong after nearly 20 years. Known for blends with low acidity and rich cacao notes, Blackup offers two signature blends – Nero and Mono – as well as a rotating seasonal blend called Ego, with a more vivid and distinct profile. The Seomyeon flagship is the only location that serves the Ego Signature, a non-alcoholic cocktail designed to amplify the blend’s qualities. Baristas at Blackup prepare drinks directly in front of customers at the bar, explaining each ingredient and technique as the drink comes together. The current Ego Signature is based on the fruity and citrusy Twenties blend, mixed with yuja, coconut and lemon zest, brewed via immersion with coconut water. Located on the edge of Seomyeon district, the heart of Month Coffee Bar is its bar counter, where customers often engage in casual conversations with baristas. View this post on Instagram A post shared by 먼스커피 | 원두납품, 로스팅교육 (@month.coffee) The cafe is known for its intimate atmosphere and serious coffee focus. Its owner, Moon Heon-gwan, is the 2022 World Cup Tasters Championship winner. Each month, he selects a new bean to feature in the Month Platter, a trio featuring an espresso, latte and filter coffee. The set allows patrons to appreciate how the same bean can express widely different flavours, depending on the brewing method. Those visiting Busan for its beaches need not choose between ocean views and quality coffee. Just 100 metres (330 feet) from Gwangalli Beach is Hytte Roastery’s Gwangalli branch, one of several locations around the city. While its filter coffee menu is consistent across all branches, the espresso offerings vary by location. Hytte Roastery is known for light roasts that highlight the beans’ natural characteristics, served in cosy, homelike settings. Popular blends include the citrusy Ethiopia Flower blend, the balanced Hi, Hytte blend, and the mellow yet distinctive Fukuoka blend. Only at the Gwangalli location can visitors sample the aroma of every in-house blend. Also near Gwangalli is Oas Roasters, another speciality cafe known for its broad selection of beans and creative desserts. Favourites include the Geisha Tiramisu and Geisha Gelato, both made with the rare and prized Geisha coffee bean. This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times. Read the original story at The Korea Times.

Why Busan is Korea’s coffee capital with its award-winning baristas and variety of beans

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Busan’s coffee scene is thriving, with award-winning baristas and unique blends that make it the best place for the drink in South Korea

Busan’s coffee scene is thriving, with award-winning baristas and unique blends that make it the best place for the drink in South Korea