Beginner's guide to drip coffee on a weekday visit: Central Site Hapjeong

Central Site, a roastery café near Hapjeong Station

Hi, this is Mengo~! I've gotten really into one thing lately — hand-drip coffee. I used to order iced lattes basically every time I went to a café, but ever since I tasted a good drip coffee, I somehow stopped reaching for lattes haha.

This time when I was out in Seoul, I had lunch in Hapjeong and wanted a good cup of coffee afterward, so I looked up cafés near Hapjeong Station. I wanted somewhere with lots of drip coffee options but didn't want to walk far, and Central Site Hapjeong happened to be right near the station, so I went!

1. Location — 1 minute walk from Hapjeong Station Exit 2

Central Site is only about a minute's walk from Exit 2 of Hapjeong Station, so it's really accessible. If I'd had to walk far after lunch it would've been a hassle, but being right by the station makes it convenient to stop by before or after meeting someone in Hapjeong.

2. Interior — full house even on a weekday afternoon

Walking in, the interior was smaller than I expected. I visited on a weekday, after lunch, and the seats were nearly all full. I figured it would be quieter on a weekday — totally wrong haha.

On one side there was a separate roasting space. Seeing that they roast their own beans made me even more curious about the coffee.

Around 1-2pm the place was packed, but after about an hour the crowd thinned out fast. It got quiet, which I liked haha. There are also tables outside, and I think drinking coffee outdoors in weather like this would be really nice!

3. Hand-drip coffee — from ₩8,000 to ₩24,000

This was the main reason I chose this place — the range of hand-drip coffees! At the time of my visit, drip coffee prices ranged from ₩8,000 all the way up to ₩24,000, quite a wide spread. I wanted something really good, but wasn't sure what would be the best pick. I'm just starting to get into drip coffee, so it's hard for me to guess the taste just from bean names haha.

Why I could choose even without knowing much about beans

But the staff kindly recommended options based on my taste, which made choosing much easier. You can also smell the beans directly before deciding, so if you're like me and don't know much about coffee, I'd recommend just asking without overthinking it. Rather than blindly picking the most expensive coffee, it's much better to describe the aromas or acidity you usually like and get a recommendation.

The drip coffee I chose had a gentle acidity and floral aroma when I drank it. Honestly I still don't have the skill to break down exactly what percentage of which aroma or nuance it had haha. But compared to when I only drank Americanos, drip coffee has this fun quality of slowly savoring the aroma as you drink.

What surprised me especially was how the taste subtly changed between the first sip and after some time had passed. With such variety in types and price ranges, I'd say this Hapjeong café is worth a visit not just for beginners like me, but also for people who usually seek out high-end coffee or distinctive beans.

4. Tiramisu — a soft, moist coffee companion

I considered just having coffee, but ended up ordering tiramisu too.

When tiramisu is dry or the cream is too heavy, I tend to lose interest after a few bites, but the tiramisu here was soft and moist all the way through.

Taking a bite and then drinking the drip coffee felt different from just drinking the coffee alone. After the sweet, soft taste of the tiramisu, the coffee's aroma followed nicely — a good pairing. If drinking coffee alone feels a bit plain, I'd recommend ordering a tiramisu to go with it!

And Central Site Hapjeong is a dog-friendly Hapjeong café! It would be perfect for people looking for a place to grab coffee while out walking their dog. You also get a ₩1,000 discount for takeout, so that's a nice bonus!

5. Final thoughts

I've been getting into drip coffee lately and trying out various flavors, and what I especially liked about Central Site was the wide range of choices. Even without knowing much about coffee, I could get recommendations from the staff and smell the beans before choosing, so it turned out to be easier than I expected. The floral drip coffee I had was satisfying, and pairing it with the moist tiramisu made it the perfect stop after lunch!

That said, the shop isn't very spacious, so if you want a relaxed atmosphere, it's best to avoid the busy hours. They also sell beans separately, so next time I'm planning to buy some here and try brewing drip coffee myself at home haha.