Suwon café with a vegan banana muffin and yuzu ade: Caffeine Focus

The weather's been so nice lately that I took a trip out to Haenggung-dong for the first time in a while~ While walking around near the fortress wall path, I spotted a café that just looked cozy from the outside, called 'Caffeine Focus.'

Where Caffeine Focus is in Suwon, plus parking and hours

Caffeine Focus is at 15 Changnyongdae-ro 80beon-gil, Paldal-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do, right next to the Hwaseong Fortress wall path in Haenggung-dong. It's open daily 11:00–20:00, closed every Tuesday.

There's a resident-priority parking zone right outside the café along the outer wall, and apparently self-parking is free there until 6pm~ But it's so busy out front on weekends that spots are likely to be full, so if you're planning a weekend visit, I'd recommend parking at a nearby public lot and just walking over!

The photo spot at the entrance and the bread case at Caffeine Focus

The exterior is so cute and warm-looking that I walked right in like I was hypnotized! There's an Instagram photo backdrop to the right of the entrance haha. Got a mirror selfie in before getting started~~~

Cute, right? I was curious about the ciabatta too but I was already full, so next time haha

The bread looked so good, ugh

Next time I'm trying the scone and the ciabatta!

Write a receipt review and get handmade granola!!!!

3rd-floor window seats full? Take a 2nd-floor window table

Caffeine Focus uses the entire building from the 1st to the 3rd floor as café space! Each floor has a slightly different mood, so it's fun to pick where to sit. I'd heard the 3rd floor has a huge floor-to-ceiling window with a sweeping view of the Hwaseong Fortress wall and Paldalsan Mountain, so I went up full of expectation — but sure enough, since it's such a popular prime spot, there were already customers there.

A bit disappointing, but I decided to try the 3rd floor next time and came down to grab a seat on the 2nd floor! The 2nd floor didn't have the full floor-to-ceiling window like the 3rd, but the view outside the window paired nicely with the indoor lighting, giving off a cozy, warm feeling~ For sitting and chatting quietly, the 2nd floor was plenty appealing and satisfying too~

The bathroom was also super clean haha

Cushions, blankets and baby chairs at Caffeine Focus

Settled in on the 2nd floor for a look around~ I liked that every seat had a cushion, and they'd thoughtfully set out blankets too!

Also noted the Wi-Fi and the review QR code~

While admiring the outdoor view through the window, I spotted people taking snap photos haha, looked like they'd turn out pretty. Let's go check out the 3rd floor!

The view was so pretty I ended up staring at it for a while. There's a terrace too, so on a nice day it'd be great to have a coffee out there.

Next time, a drink out here!!

Coming back down to the 2nd floor, the sun was pouring in and it looked even prettier haha

Oh, and there's a baby chair too, just so you know!

What we ordered: vanilla bean latte, iced americano, yuzu ade and vegan banana muffin

• Americano
• Vanilla Bean Latte
• Yuzu Ade
• Banana Muffin (vegan)

Isn't the fortress view so pretty haha? The backdrop and the coffee are both gorgeous~

Vanilla bean latte, 6,500 won

The drink I remember most and was most satisfied with out of everything we ordered today! Taking a quick peek at the bottom of the cup, you could actually see real vanilla bean flecks studded through it. Instead of fake syrup flavor, a rich, luxurious vanilla aroma spread through it, and it was just sweet enough that I enjoyed every sip! I'd recommend this one~

Iced americano, 5,500 won

The weather was a bit warm so I took a cool sip of this first — not too heavy, clean and nutty in style~ It's the safest, most foolproof choice to pair with dessert, the standard done right!

Yuzu ade, 5,500 won

A drink that was perfect for cleansing the palate between bites of dessert! The bright sweetness of the yuzu (Korean citron) mixed with the crisp fizz of the soda perfectly, waking up my mood the moment I took a sip! If you like a refreshing, sweet ade, this is a flavor you'd like without question~

Vegan banana muffin, 3,800 won

After all that walking my blood sugar was dropping fast, so I picked this dessert too, and it was an excellent choice~ The bread wasn't dry at all — moist and soft, with a subtle banana aroma lingering, and eating it with the americano meant the whole plate disappeared in no time! It's labeled a vegan muffin, and I was surprised how moist it was with no dryness at all!

Is Caffeine Focus worth going back to?

Overall the space was cute and had a relaxed, open feeling without any stuffiness, so I felt like I got a proper dose of healing. If you're taking a trip to Haenggung-dong or looking for a fortress-view café in Suwon, I think it's worth a visit at least once!

The open layout of the space also felt trustworthy and free of any stuffiness! Overall a satisfying visit to Caffeine Focus, would recommend~