Ricotta sandwich lunch with a friend in Seocho: Selecto Coffee

My friend and I had brunch near Gangnam Station and slowly walked over to Sinnonhyeon Station — the shade made it manageable now, thankfully.

Today's spot, Selecto Coffee Sinnonhyeon Branch 24 Auto Brew Cafe, had as many good points as its long name suggests. If you're a study-café regular or someone who needs a laptop-friendly spot nearby, you probably already know it as the 24-hour café near Sinnonhyeon Station.

So let's take a look at what made it good!

Location and hours of Selecto Coffee Sinnonhyeon Branch

31 Gangnam-daero 79-gil, 1st floor, Seocho-gu, Seoul, South Korea.

Open 24 hours every day (Mon-Fri: 08:00-22:00 staffed / 22:00-08:00 unstaffed, Sat-Sun: 10:00-21:00 staffed / 21:00-10:00 unstaffed).

It's a 1-2 minute walk from Exit 9 of Sinnonhyeon Station, so accessibility is great, and even from outside it looks like a good-sized café. It was the largest Selecto Coffee I've seen. There's outdoor seating under an orange awning too, a nice spot to linger now that the weather's cooler.

Seat types and the study-café atmosphere

It was as spacious inside as it looked outside, with a variety of seat types — a cozy small table, a table with a comfortable cushioned backrest, a window-side bar table great for sitting alone — a bright, clean bakery café near Sinnonhyeon Station!

While I was there, the music wasn't loud, which made it good for studying. And since it's a 24-hour café near Sinnonhyeon Station, you can drop in anytime for an all-nighter or last-minute cramming. It's not just space they're offering — there's a copier and printer ready too. During unstaffed hours, you use the small kiosk shown in the photo.

Behind the register, on the left as you walk in, there's seating like this — clearly meant for getting down to serious studying. Worth emphasizing: outlets are generously placed everywhere.

Five americano blends — which to choose?

Selecto Coffee Sinnonhyeon Branch has plenty of drinks, but the americano is still the signature menu item. With a full five blends available, you can enjoy the special beans Selecto Coffee has carefully selected. And nothing wakes you up for studying quite like an americano. With a guide explaining all five blends, we each picked to our taste — Geisha and Mocha blend.

Sandwiches and baked goods too

It's not just coffee. There's a range of baked goods and desserts for when you want a little something, plus sandwiches and salads hearty enough to stand in for a meal. We visited right around the start of lunchtime, and a lot of customers were grabbing sandwiches. Turns out Selecto Coffee is known for its sandwiches too.

We ordered and took our seats! There's a clean indoor restroom to the right of the counter, easy to use — and even nicer, the women's side has 2 stalls.

What we ordered and the prices

• Americano, Mocha Blend ₩3,800
• Americano, Geisha Blend ₩3,800
• Ricotta cheese sandwich ₩7,500

Geisha vs. Mocha: the taste difference

They look almost the same, but surprisingly the flavor and aroma differed clearly by blend. The Geisha blend in particular had a flashy aroma and a clean, standout acidity — Geisha is actually the name of the bean's origin region. The Mocha blend was heavier, nuttier, and less acidic, a more crowd-pleasing pick. The portions were generous too, which made the price feel reasonable smack in the middle of Gangnam.

Ricotta cheese sandwich

A sandwich packed with a thick layer of fresh house-made ricotta cheese! With just lettuce added, it looked like a simple, unremarkable combination — but wait, this is nutty and delicious! The bread was soft and moist too. A sandwich that easily holds its own as a full meal.

Space, coffee, and a sandwich all added up — that's the 24-hour café near Sinnonhyeon Station, Selecto Coffee!