Nowon café for coffee and ssanghwacha tea lovers: Jeong Ji-young

While looking for a good coffee spot in Nowon, I ended up ordering coconut coffee and ssanghwacha at Jeong Ji-young Coffee Roasters (정지영커피로스터즈). A coffee shop order that includes a traditional tea too: who is that combo for?

What did I order at the Nowon branch?

At Jeong Ji-young Coffee Roasters, Lotte Department Store Nowon, I ordered two drinks: coconut coffee and ssanghwacha. Picking a coffee and a traditional tea together gives you a contrast right in the menu names. When we look for a café, we usually check the coffee list first, right?

But looking back at this order, options beyond coffee mattered too. Everyone you visit with wants something different to drink. So when choosing a Nowon coffee spot, it helps to think about your companion's taste, not just the types of coffee. If one person wants coffee and another wants tea, this combo is worth a look.

Who is the coconut coffee for?

The coffee I picked at Jeong Ji-young Coffee Roasters this time was coconut coffee instead of an Americano. It's an option for anyone curious about something different from their usual coffee. That said, you can't judge the sweetness or richness from the word "coconut" alone. Even drinks with the same name can be put together differently from shop to shop.

If it were me, I'd ask about the balance of sweetness and coffee flavor before ordering the coconut coffee. What satisfies you changes depending on whether you expect a sweet drink or want coffee's bitterness. By body, I mean the heaviness you feel in your mouth. Whether you like a light drink or a rich one also helps you choose. If you're curious about the coconut aroma, it's easier to judge your taste by treating it as its own coffee drink rather than comparing it with an Americano.

Why did I pick ssanghwacha at a coffee shop?

Ssanghwacha at Jeong Ji-young Coffee Roasters: a slightly unexpected combo, isn't it? What stands out in this order is that I didn't choose only coffee. Even when you go to a café together, not everyone has to drink coffee. On days when coffee doesn't appeal, a tea on the menu is a welcome choice.

For anyone looking for a familiar traditional tea, the name ssanghwacha can be the deciding factor. But sweetness and the strength of the aroma vary with how it's made. People who like a strong aroma and people who prefer a mild taste will naturally rate it differently. When ordering, check the temperature, sweetness and toppings. If there's an ingredient you don't want, it's good to ask whether it can be left out.

What to check before visiting this Lotte Department Store café in Nowon

When you search for a Nowon coffee spot, the conditions of use matter as much as the taste. What you should check depends on whether you're just grabbing a drink or sitting down to talk. If you plan to stay long, check the seating and eating area first. Not every café inside a department store is set up the same way.

If you're driving, it's also good to check whether parking registration is possible and under what conditions. Whether a drink purchase alone qualifies can differ from shop to shop. Prices and opening hours are also more accurate if you check the notice on the day you visit. If you go by the numbers in old reviews, they may differ from the actual information. If you're curious about the brand, check the store guide on the official Jeong Ji-young Coffee Roasters website too.

How to split coconut coffee and ssanghwacha by taste

Judging by this order, coconut coffee and ssanghwacha are a pairing for different tastes. If you want to try a new coffee, look at the coconut coffee; if you need a drink other than coffee, put ssanghwacha on your list too.

Still, rather than hearing "it's delicious for everyone," it helps to first think about the aromas and sweetness you like. Even a drink picked because it photographs well has to suit your taste to satisfy, right? If you're looking for a good coffee spot in Nowon, don't decide on the menu name alone; check the sweetness, the strength of the coffee and the seating too.

At Jeong Ji-young Coffee Roasters, splitting a coffee and a tea like these two orders is worth keeping in mind when planning a visit. Thinking about your companion's drink as well as your own is quite an important part of choosing a café.