Yangjae-dong dessert café for Dark S'more cookies: Mini Male Roaster

I can't resist coffee and a good bakery!! I swear I'm only happy if I eat something delicious once a day, haha. Lately I'm hooked on dark s'mores. I read a review of a Yangjae-dong café/dessert spot called Mini Male Coffee Roaster Juam Branch and got so curious I couldn't stand it. So I went, and I was super satisfied — it was really good!! Let's get into the review.

Where is Mini Male Coffee Roaster Juam Branch and when is it open?

This Yangjae-dong café/dessert/bakery spot, Mini Male Coffee Roaster Juam Branch, is near Yanggok Wholesale Market and Costco Yangjae. It opens super early, but it also closes early, at 4pm.

• 38 Maeheon-ro 1-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul, South Korea, 1st floor
• Weekday hours 07:30–16:00
• Closed weekends

What the space and seating are like

It was a cozy space with black tables — 4 tables for two and 2 tables for four. I went around 2pm, past the peak hour, so there were more takeout orders than dine-in guests. I liked that it was quiet and calm.

Dessert and bakery lineup at Mini Male Coffee Roaster

New York cookie Dark S'more, original levain, peanut butter cookie, oatmeal raisin, matcha chocolate chip levain, orange pound cake, plain scone, egg tart, and more — this place is clearly known for its cookies. I even saw someone packing 30 of them to go, probably to hand out one each at a group gathering — everyone must have loved them, haha.

Menu and prices

• Americano ₩3,700
• Helsinki latte ₩5,200
• British Einspänner ₩4,800
• New York rose latte ₩5,300
• Flat white ₩4,100
• Decaf swap available

Cookie gift boxes and specialty beans for sale

They source and roast their own specialty beans, using only high-quality beans that score 80+ in cupping. You can buy the specialty beans in-store, and the cookies can also be wrapped in a gift box.

How does the Helsinki latte taste?

The Helsinki latte, their signature menu item, was a coffee with a clean, smooth taste and no bitterness. They apparently use a blended milk with a bit of condensed milk mixed in. It wasn't overly sweet, but you could taste the clean sweetness of the condensed milk, so it wasn't cloying, and it stayed clean and delicious to the last sip!! Instead of the usual heavy, cloying dairy taste, it was fresh, nutty, and delicious!!!

The homemade Dark S'more New York cookie

This is an American chocolate cookie, Dark S'more, made with chewy marshmallow and rich dark chocolate. The outside is super firm yet moist and crisp — not a dry crisp, but a chewy sort of crisp.

Because it's dark chocolate, it's not just sweet — the moderate sweetness and deep cacao flavor were really good!! The chewy texture of the marshmallow was perfect too!!!

Want something less sweet? The orange pound cake

This orange pound cake has a fresh orange scent. The soft cake texture paired well with the citrusy brightness. It wasn't very sweet at all, which made it just right!! If you're not a fan of chocolate's sweetness, I'd recommend this one. It was light and refreshingly delicious without being heavy.

Final thoughts on Mini Male Coffee Roaster Juam Branch

The Helsinki latte and the Dark S'more went really well together!! I'd built up a lot of expectations after seeing the photos before visiting, and it really was delicious!!! The cookies can be frozen, and eating one after letting it thaw naturally was still tasty. If you love café desserts and bakeries in Yangjae-dong, I highly recommend Mini Male Coffee Roaster Juam Branch!!