Daegu farm-run café with caramel cream latte: Slow But Barrel

In Dong-gu, Daegu, there's a big bakery café called Slow But Barrel whose look changes with the seasons. I visited on Christmas Eve in winter and loved it, so I came back this time too. I tried an apricot drink made with seasonal fruit from the café's own farm, plus the signature coffee, so here's my summer Slow But Barrel story.

Slow But Barrel Daegu: Basic Info

Slow But Barrel Daegu is at 113 Sinpyeong-ro, Dong-gu, Daegu. It's open 10:30–22:00 (last order 21:30). Use the dedicated parking lot behind the building.

• A large bakery café in Dong-gu, Daegu
• A pet-friendly café
• Fruit desserts made with fruit harvested on its seasonal farm
• A coffee shop with lovely photo spots

Where Do You Enter the Slow But Barrel Parking Lot?

You can drive straight into the parking lot by turning down the tree-lined road marked by an orange sign. If you're driving fast, you might miss it, so be careful.

Once you're inside, there's a big parking lot. It was a scorching but beautiful summer day, so the tree shade in the lot was very welcome.

Slow But Barrel on a Weekday Morning

Park, follow the building along, and you reach the entrance. Even early on a weekday, there were plenty of customers.

When Can You Taste the Farm Fruit at Slow But Barrel?

Slow But Barrel harvests its own cherries, apricots and melons (chamoe, Korean yellow melon) for its drinks. Since fruit is harvested by season, the menu can differ depending on when you visit.

• Cherry: mid-May to end of June
• Apricot: mid-June to mid-July
• Korean melon: May to August

Visit during these periods and you can try them. I went in July.

Indoor, Outdoor and Terrace Seating, and the Pet Area

Besides large indoor seating, Slow But Barrel has outdoor seats and a terrace right in front of a garden where pets are allowed.

People call it the "Louvre of Daegu", and it's definitely a unique space. It's outdoors, so it's too hot to sit there in summer, but it photographs beautifully and is fun to look around. Everyone who visits snaps at least one photo before going in.

There's a separate area where pets are allowed. Please read the pet etiquette guide first.

The sofa seats were comfy, and the pretty outdoor area makes it nice to take your time over coffee. The seating is split into two sides and the space is wide, so it's good for drinking coffee quietly.

You can step out to the outdoor area from here too. The red tables with white parasols are pretty.

What Breads Does the Slow But Barrel Bakery Have?

Slow But Barrel is famous for its bakery selection too. What I was curious about is that the seasonal fruit harvested on its own farm goes into the baked goods, not just the drinks.

Financiers / madeleines / scones / salt bread / balsamic sauce / mini jams

Angbutter (red bean and butter bread) / cheese ciabatta / croissant / pain au chocolat / mascarpone mocha bun

Peach-filled bottle / apricot brot kuchen / apricot-filled Danish. The brot kuchen and Danish made with apricots they harvested themselves look absolutely lovely.

Seasonal Apricot Smoothie and the Signature Caramel Cream Latte

This time I ordered the apricot smoothie (₩7,500), the caramel cream latte in decaf (₩7,200) and the angbutter ciabatta (₩6,100).

Caramel Cream Latte (Caramel Iced)

On the menu, Slow But Barrel's signature caramel cream latte is simply called "Caramel Ice". I checked what it was: a latte topped with caramel cream and cinnamon powder. I switched mine to decaf.

A fairly dense, rich cream sits generously on top of the coffee shot. The cream is heavy, but its not-too-sweet caramel aroma joins the creamy nuttiness and really lingers in your mouth, and then the coffee follows and cleans things up nicely. The cinnamon scent throughout keeps this cream latte from feeling greasy and holds it together. It paired really well with plain bread, and it was a cup that made me understand why it's the signature.

Apricot Smoothie

The apricot smoothie was a must-order. Fresh fruit harvested on their own farm, how could I not pick it? They said it's packed with apricots, and the color was a deep, vivid orange, blended thick rather than watery.

You can feel the richness, right? It let me really taste what apricot flavor is like, and the sweetness was just right so the apricot came through. In summer, this is a menu item you shouldn't miss.

Angbutter Ciabatta

The nice thing about the angbutter ciabatta is that they toast it once more before serving, so you can eat it warm. I like plain meal breads, so I chose it, and the crust is super crispy and nutty.

It was hard to cut with a knife, but that's how crispy it is. The crust in particular gets nuttier the more you chew, and it was a ciabatta tastier than at most bakery specialty shops.

The red bean inside isn't strongly sweet, so it suited the ciabatta, and blended with the butter flavor it made me savor each bite. It's even better if you spread the butter all the way inside! Overall it's an angbutter whose charm comes from the subtle red bean and the nuttiness of the bread. It looks like a huge portion, but it's plain enough that you can eat a lot, and it went very well with coffee.

Summer Verdict on Slow But Barrel

Slow But Barrel, a large café in Dong-gu, Daegu, stands out for its thoughtful touches: a smoothie made with apricots harvested on its farm, quality bakery items, distinctive outdoor spaces, and an area where pets are welcome. I was worn out by Daegu's summer weather, but I had a really good time with delicious desserts. I highly recommend it as a date spot in Dong-gu, Daegu.

Slow But Barrel gets a makeover every season. The winter version I visited at Christmas is really pretty too.