Seocho café with bottled milk tea and apple financier: Mini Male

These days I find myself gravitating toward cafés where both the coffee and the desserts are good, not just the coffee. ଘ(˵╹-╹)━☆ [I really think I'm going to gain weight haha] This time I went to Mini Male Roastery & Coffee Bar Seocho Gyodae Branch near Gyodae Station to have both coffee and bakery items.

I had the Helsinki Latte and the handmade baton financier apple crumble in the store, and took the milk tea flasche home to try there. Tasting everything from drinks to desserts, I could see why this place gets mentioned as a Seocho café bakery!!

Mini Male Seocho Gyodae: location and hours, 2 minutes from Gyodae Station

Mini Male Roastery & Coffee Bar Seocho Gyodae Branch was really easy to find, about a 2-minute walk from Exit 9 of Gyodae Station. It's close to the station but tucked slightly inside an alley off the main street, so instead of a crowded busy vibe, it felt quiet and calm.

Basic info for the Seocho café dessert spot Mini Male Roastery Coffee Bar

• 📍 Location: 15 Seochodae-ro 51-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul, 1st floor [3-minute walk from Gyodae Station Exit 9]
• ⏰ Hours: Open daily year-round / weekdays 8am-10pm, weekends 9am-7pm

Solo-friendly seats and the roastery space at Mini Male

Walking inside, I immediately felt how clean and tidy everything looked~~ Glass and stainless steel materials mixed with modular furniture gave it an overall modern, stylish feel..🤍🤍 There were several tables, and there was good seating for when you visit alone, so it seemed like a decent spot to enjoy solo café time.

When I go to a café alone, sitting at a big table can feel awkward sometimes, so I liked that there was good seating for spending time drinking coffee by myself. ₍ᐢ. ༝ .ᐢ₎🌸ɞ˚

There were also outdoor seats, which looked nice for cool weather, and with quiet music playing and blankets provided, it felt like a comfortable place to relax.

What stood out compared to other branches was the roastery. Mini Male's Seocho Gyodae branch is the only one with a large roasting machine, so on weekday afternoons you can apparently watch the roasting happen live. For coffee lovers, this space itself would be interesting to see.

What coffee and bakery items Mini Male Seocho Gyodae sells

Looking at the menu, there were not just coffee drinks but various teas and ades too. And the most famous menu item here is the Helsinki Latte.

It's said to be inspired by the best latte they encountered in Helsinki, Finland, finished with their own recipe capturing that calm Nordic mood. Apparently over 100,000 cups have been sold, so naturally I got curious and ordered the Helsinki Latte.

Evening visits: which bakery items sell out first

There was a wide variety of bakery and dessert options too. From handmade New York cookies to egg tarts, pain au chocolat, and pound cakes, there were plenty of items that went well with coffee — though since I visited in the evening, some items were already gone. If you want a full selection to choose from, it's probably better to visit in the morning or at lunchtime.

There were also coffee beans, cookie sets, and bottled drinks, which looked good to take to work or give as simple gifts.

Mini Male Seocho Gyodae menu and prices

Coffee

• Americano (Balance) — ₩3,600
• Americano (Dunkel) — ₩3,600
• Americano (Decaf) — ₩4,100
• Latte — ₩4,300
• Cappuccino — ₩4,300
• Flat White — ₩4,100
• White Americano — ₩4,100
• Helsinki Latte — ₩5,200
• Vanilla Latte — ₩4,800
• Condensada Latte — ₩4,800
• Café Mocha — ₩5,200
• Flat Green (Iced) — ₩5,200
• British Einspänner — ₩4,800

Cold Brew

• Cold Brew — ₩4,100
• Cold Brew Latte — ₩4,700
• British Einspänner (Cold Brew) — ₩4,800
• Cold Brew Concentrate: Dunkel — ₩15,000
• Cold Brew Concentrate: Ethiopia — ₩16,000
• Cold Brew Concentrate: Decaf — ₩17,000

Tea & Non-Coffee

• Earl Grey Grapefruit Tea — ₩5,200
• Earl Grey Lemon Tea — ₩5,200
• Boseong Matcha Latte — ₩5,200
• Real Belgian Dark Chocolate — ₩5,500
• Royal Black Tea — ₩5,300
• Ronnefeldt Herbal Tea — ₩5,300
• Golden Assam Milk Tea — ₩5,200

Fresh Fruit Drinks

• Fresh-Squeezed Lemon Ade — ₩4,800
• Fresh-Squeezed Grapefruit Ade — ₩4,800
• Fruit Strawberry Latte — ₩4,800
• Fruit Mango Latte — ₩4,800
• Fruit Strawberry Ade — ₩4,800
• Fruit Mango Ade — ₩4,800

Flasche

• Helsinki Latte Flasche — ₩6,500
• Milk Tea Flasche — ₩6,500
• Matcha Latte Flasche — ₩6,500

Bakery

• Handmade New York Cookie (Dark S'more) — ₩4,500
• Handmade New York Cookie (Original Levain) — ₩4,500
• Handmade New York Cookie (Matcha Choco Chip Levain) — ₩4,500
• Handmade New York Cookie (PB&J) — ₩4,300
• Handmade New York Cookie (Oatmeal Raisin) — ₩3,900
• Handmade Butter Bar (Caramel) — ₩3,300
• Handmade Baton Financier (Plain) — ₩2,800
• Handmade Baton Financier (Apple Crumble) — ₩3,500
• Handmade Baton Financier (Caramel Pecan) — ₩3,300
• Handmade Baton Financier (Bacon Jalapeño) — ₩3,800
• Portuguese-style Egg Tart — ₩2,800
• Plain Scone — ₩3,900

Ice Cream

• Vanilla Ice Cream Latte — ₩5,800
• Matcha Ice Cream Latte — ₩5,800
• Vanilla Ice Cream — ₩5,800
• Vanilla Affogato — ₩6,300
• Matcha Affogato — ₩6,300
• Matcha Ice Cream — ₩5,800

Coffee Beans & Drip Bags

• Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Aricha G1 — ₩16,000
• Ethiopia Sakiso Guji G1 — ₩16,000
• Balance (Signature Blend) — ₩15,000
• Dunkel (Dark Blend) — ₩14,000
• Colombia Sugarcane Process (Decaf) — ₩16,000
• Drip Bag (Dunkel) — ₩1,500
• Drip Bag (Balance) — ₩1,500
• Drip Bag (Decaf) — ₩1,500
• Drip Bag (Brazil Cerrado) — ₩1,500
• Drip Bag Set (10 pcs) — ₩14,000

🎁 Gifts & Goods 🎁

• Cookie Gift Set (5 pcs) — ₩22,000
• Cookie Gift Set (6 pcs) — ₩25,900
• Cookie Gift Set (7 pcs) — ₩29,500
• Cookie Gift Set (8 pcs) — ₩33,000
• Flasche Catering Set — ₩11,000
• Reusable Cup — ₩5,000
• Mini Male Mug (280ml) — ₩10,000

This time I tried three things: the Helsinki Latte, the handmade baton financier apple crumble, and the milk tea flasche. I had the Helsinki Latte and financier in the store, and took the milk tea flasche home. ʚ ᐢᴗ.ᴗᐢ ɞ

1. What does Mini Male's signature Helsinki Latte taste like?

First I tried the Helsinki Latte, which I'd been most looking forward to. Looking at the cup, the milk and coffee were separated into layers, so you're meant to mix it well before drinking. I stirred it up and took a sip — compared to a regular iced latte, the nutty, heavier taste of the milk came through more intensely. The coffee's roasted flavor and the smooth milk taste came through together, so I think anyone who likes a nutty latte would enjoy it.

I tend to prefer lattes where the milk's smoothness and the coffee's nuttiness come through together, rather than something too light or too acidic, so the Helsinki Latte suited me well. Especially when drinking it with dessert, the coffee flavor didn't overpower it but cleaned up the palate nicely, making it great to pair with bakery items.

2. Handmade apple crumble baton financier: how sweet is it?

The handmade baton financier apple crumble is Mini Male's own recipe — a baton-shaped financier with apple flavor and a nutty crumble added on top. The look was different from a typical financier, which made me curious. Taking a bite, the financier's characteristic moist, nutty texture was there with a sweet apple flavor added in. The crumble on top gave it a crunchy texture here and there, which went well with the soft financier.

The menu description listed the sweetness at 3 out of 5, but when I actually tasted it, it felt more like a 4 out of 5 to me.

I usually enjoy sweet desserts, so I personally liked it, but if you prefer more restrained desserts, this might feel a bit too sweet for you. Still, since the apple flavor was mixed in, it wasn't just straightforward sweetness, and it paired well with the coffee.

3. The bottled milk tea flasche I took home

The milk tea flasche came in a plastic bottle, easy to carry as is, and the label had the production date along with a note to drink within 3 days. I brought it home, kept it refrigerated, and sipped it slowly — the strong black tea aroma came through first, followed by a heavy milk taste.

Rather than a light, water-like milk tea, this one had a stronger black tea and milk flavor, so it would suit people who love milk tea. [For me it was a total hit, honestly!!!!] It was nice to keep in the fridge and pull out whenever I wanted something sweet.

Also, the Seocho café bakery Mini Male was running a review event — participate with a Naver receipt review and they'll give you a crispy, moist egg tart or ₩3,000 in points!

Is Mini Male Seocho Gyodae worth a visit for coffee and bakery?

Trying these three items, I felt that Mini Male Roastery & Coffee Bar Seocho Gyodae Branch is more satisfying when you enjoy bakery and dessert items alongside the coffee, rather than just going for coffee alone.

It's nice to try the store's signature coffee like the Helsinki Latte along with a baton financier or another bakery pick, and on busy days it's also fine to grab a bottled drink or bakery item to go and enjoy it at home or the office. It's really close to Gyodae Station, so it's easy to stop by before or after an appointment, and it's a good spot if you're looking for a quiet place to have coffee in Seocho.

Personally, I really enjoyed the Helsinki Latte and want to go back for it again..🥰 Next time I'll try to visit a bit earlier so I can try the other bakery items I missed this time!!