Suwon coffee shop after Gwanggyo: Tak latte, free refill, Jo Hui-tak

On the way back from Gwanggyo with my wife, we stopped by Jo Hui-tak Coffee (조희탁커피), which was nearby. We went because I'd heard the coffee is good, but maybe because of its spot right in front of Ajou University, it felt like a perfect place for laptop studiers! A holy land for the study-café crowd in front of Ajou Univ.

Where is Jo Hui-tak Coffee in Suwon, and where can you park?

Jo Hui-tak Coffee is in a side alley diagonally across from the Ajou University main gate. If you drive, use the Uman 2-dong public parking lot, a 1-2 minute walk away. It might be a little confusing the first time, but if you just keep Naver Map on and follow it, it's not hard to find.

The Uman 2-dong public lot is free for the first hour, so it's perfect for parking briefly without worry. Or you can just find a spot in the alley.

Inside Jo Hui-tak Coffee: is it good for studying?

Inside, Jo Hui-tak Coffee is a cozy space with calm lighting, comfortable for both studying and chatting. The moment I opened the door, a cozier space than I expected opened up. Unlike the daylight outside, the lighting inside is soft, so my eyes relaxed. It wasn't too dark either, just the right brightness, exactly "this is it."

The playlist drifting softly in the background was at just the right volume, not getting in the way of conversation. It was a perfect atmosphere for chatting quietly with whoever you came with.

There were also plenty of outlets, which is a real selling point for laptop studiers! That's probably why so many people seemed to be there studying with their laptops.

Jo Hui-tak Coffee menu and the signature Tak latte

The signature drink at Jo Hui-tak Coffee is the Tak latte. Glancing over the drink menu, the name Tak latte jumped out at me, haha. It seems to be named after the owner, Jo Hui-tak. It's the signature, so I ordered it.

There's also a cake showcase with a really wide variety. A sign said they're handmade cakes with 100% dairy fresh cream, so they looked delicious. We just came for a light coffee that day, so we skipped the cake!

A notice said you get one free Americano refill when each person orders one drink, which was partly why I picked the Tak latte, hahaha

We ordered a Tak latte, an Americano and one cookie and enjoyed a relaxed afternoon.

How do Jo Hui-tak Coffee's Tak latte and Americano taste?

The Tak latte at Jo Hui-tak Coffee hits you with the nutty richness of the cream first, followed by the bitterness of the espresso. And here it finally was. At the first sip, the rich, heavy aroma of the cream hits your nose first, then the deep bitterness of the espresso follows with real weight.

The Americano is clean and cool with no acidity. Studying in a cool café on a hot summer day with an ice-filled Americano would make the studying come naturally, haha

Free Americano refill after finishing the Tak latte

I tried a sip of my wife's, then quickly finished my Tak latte and got an Americano refill, hahaha. For laptop studiers who stay in a café for a long time, this seems like a pretty great system.

You get your water right here.

We shared a cookie too, and it went well with the coffee.

If you like the coffee at Jo Hui-tak Coffee, it seems you can buy the beans too. Overall, as a café in front of a university, it's a space made for laptop studiers. It brought back memories of my college days, now already more than ten years ago, and I enjoyed the space.

Jo Hui-tak Coffee near Ajou University: visit summary

• Recommended: the sweet Tak latte, espresso with peanut cream
• One Americano refill when each person orders one drink
• A place that would feel like paradise to laptop studiers in front of Ajou Univ