Suwon café for dark Americano and floor-by-floor exploring: Jeong Ji-young Coffee Roasters

It was much bigger than I expected, and being able to watch coffee being roasted right on the first floor made me think it was well worth a visit for coffee lovers. It is also a nice place to pause for a while over good coffee in Haenggung-dong, so it could be useful to keep in mind if you are planning a date course there.

A Haenggung-dong roastery café on another scale

I had passed it a few times before, and the huge roasting machine on the first floor had always stood out to me. That day, while looking around Haenggung-dong, I wanted a good cup of coffee, so I finally stopped in.

At first I thought it would simply be a somewhat large café, but once inside, I found that it uses the entire building, so it was far more spacious than expected. The first-floor roasting area caught my eye before I even entered, giving it a slightly different feel from a typical large café. Jeong Ji-young Coffee Roasters Haenggung Main Branch runs a roasting room alongside café spaces on several floors, so there is fun in looking around the building as well as drinking coffee.

They really roast coffee beans on the first floor using the roasting machine. Seeing the space where coffee is roasted right in front of me was impressive because I could get a close look at the process behind the coffee I was about to drink.

Do you order on basement level one?

The ordering spot at Jeong Ji-young Coffee Roasters Haenggung Main Branch may feel a little unusual on your first visit. You go down to B1 to order your drink, then head upstairs to the café spaces.

Even on the way down to the basement, there were stylish objects tucked around the space, and there was plenty to look at while waiting to order. Rather than placing an order and heading straight upstairs, I found myself taking a look around.

In particular, the café did not feel like one continuous space throughout; each floor had a slightly different atmosphere and layout. Choosing where to sit with my drink was quietly fun, too. The actual roasting machine is visible on the first floor, and the coffee-making area blends naturally into the café space, which really gives it that roastery-café feel.

A café atmosphere that was hipper than expected

When I stepped inside, I was a little surprised because it was quite different from the atmosphere I had imagined. I expected a calm, quiet roastery café, but the vivid primary-colored furniture and assorted objects came together to create a very hip feel.

There were lots of cute little objects around and pieces of statement furniture, so it was more fun to walk through in person than it looked in photos. Rather than feeling neat and uniform, it had a free-spirited, distinctive atmosphere.

Choose your Americano to suit your taste

Looking over the menu, I saw that Americanos came in dark, medium, and decaf options. I asked a staff member, who said the medium beans had acidity, so I chose dark because I normally prefer deep, bold coffee to acidity. I was curious about the coconut latte too, but I wanted to try the basic coffee flavor first, so I ordered an Americano. My companion chose honey grapefruit black tea.

I also liked being able to choose according to my bean preference. If you enjoy coffee but do not prefer acidic beans, dark could be a good choice like it was for me; if you like bright, acidic coffee, medium would be the way to go.

The drinks came on a reusable tray, which made them easy to carry. You can take your order upstairs to whichever floor you like and find a seat.

What the dark Americano was like

The interior also had cute objects and accent furniture in primary colors, which gave it a stylish feel. With its relaxed atmosphere, it felt less like a café where you had to sit quietly to match a prescribed mood and more like a place where everyone could spend time comfortably. There were group tables as well as seats that worked nicely for two to four people, so it was easy to choose based on the size of your party.

It looked like a nice place to take a quick coffee break while walking along Haengnidan-gil or to spend time chatting with friends. However, because the café uses the whole building, you need to use stairs to move between floors, and it operates as a no-kids zone, which is good to know before visiting. The café also states that each person must order one drink and that outside food is difficult to bring in.

Then I finally tried the coffee I had been most curious about. The dark Americano I ordered was richer and deeper than I expected. It may feel a little strong for anyone who usually likes mild, smooth coffee, but I already like bold coffee, so I actually loved it.

Perhaps because they roast their own coffee, the aroma was impressive too, and personally, it was exactly my kind of coffee. Rather than going down lightly with one sip, it left behind a bold aroma and flavor, so I think it would suit anyone who normally enjoys a strong Americano.

The honey grapefruit black tea, on the other hand, had a gentle fruit aroma and was not as sweet as expected, so it was also a good choice for my companion, who does not really enjoy coffee. If someone visiting with you does not drink coffee well, a tea like this would work nicely. Coconut coffee is known as one of the signature menu items here, so if I visit again, I would like to try it next time.

After spending time at the café, you can leave your finished drinks in the designated spot on your way out. There is a space set up for self-return, so it was not difficult. There was also a water station on the side, which was convenient when I needed water. These small details meant that, despite being a large café spread across several floors, it did not feel complicated to use.

Having the roasting area on the first floor naturally made me more interested in the beans, too. They also seemed to take inquiries about supplying coffee beans, so if you love coffee or are interested in beans, it could be nice to look around the roasting area as well as order a drink.

Different moods on every floor, plus a rooftop

Jeong Ji-young Coffee Roasters Haenggung Main Branch is not a café operating on just one floor; every floor had a slightly different mood. The third floor is used as a coffee academy, so it felt different from the floors used for café seating, and the fourth floor had another feeling altogether. In particular, there were large tables, which looked good for people studying or working alone.

After having coffee on the second floor, I became curious about the mood on the other floors and found myself going up to each one. Even within the same building, every space felt different, so rather than just drinking and leaving, it was nice to take time to look around.

There is a rooftop on the fifth floor, too. When the weather is not too hot, I think it would be lovely to go up and drink coffee while taking in the view outside. The sun was a little strong when I visited, so I did not stay long, but I think the rooftop would have an even better atmosphere in cool autumn weather. Especially after walking around Haenggung-dong, it seemed like it would offer a different kind of relaxation from drinking coffee indoors.

A good stop for a Haenggung-dong date

Haenggung-dong is the kind of place where, after looking around Suwon Hwaseong Fortress and Hwaseong Haenggung Palace, you can have fun walking along Haengnidan-gil in search of restaurants and cafés. Jeong Ji-young Coffee Roasters Haenggung Main Branch felt like a good place to stop midway through that route and rest over a cup of coffee.

Because the café itself has several floors with different atmospheres, there was more fun in exploring the spaces than simply having coffee and leaving. There are seats for talking over coffee, and when the weather is good, you can use the rooftop too, so I think it is a nice option for anyone looking for a Haenggung-dong date course.

Still, since it operates as a no-kids zone, it is worth noting that this café is better suited to visiting with friends or enjoying a date than to a family outing with children.

After visiting in person, Jeong Ji-young Coffee Roasters Haenggung Main Branch felt like more than just a place for one cup of coffee: it is somewhere you can explore the roasting area, several café floors, the academy, and the rooftop together. I especially liked the dark Americano because I enjoy rich, deep coffee, and next time I would like to try the coconut coffee I was curious about.