Seongsu Station date café: vanilla latte and flat white at T Coffee

A quiet Seongsu café for a relaxed cup of tea: a Seongsu date course at T Coffee

Seongsu has so many pretty cafés, and so many people, right? This time I wanted to relax somewhere with a slightly different mood, so I went to T Coffee (티 커피). It's not far from Seongsu Station, but it sits a little away from the crowded main street, so it was a calm place to take a break.

On weekdays lots of office workers from the area come here, so I figured it's best to skip lunchtime and visit after 1 p.m.

How do you get to T Coffee from Seongsu Station?

Come out of Seongsu Station (Line 2) Exit 2 and walk straight. It's about 5 minutes on foot, so it was easy to find.

T Coffee is on the basement level, so on your first visit you'll need to take the interior stairs or the elevator down one floor. It's close enough that it's no bother to stop by for coffee after shopping or a meal around Seongsu Station, so it works well as part of a Seongsu date course. (If you hate crowds and waiting, come here.)

Is a basement café stuffy?

Even though T Coffee is underground, the space is large and sunlight comes in through the windows, so it didn't feel stuffy. At first I wondered whether a quiet basement café in Seongsu would feel closed in, but inside it was spacious and calm. Best of all, with sunlight coming through the windows, I forgot I was underground.

The lighting overall isn't too bright and has a soft mood, which was easy on the eyes and nice for staying a while. The spacing between seats was also fairly roomy.

It has that stylish Seongsu feel without being loud, so it's a good Seongsu date spot for drinking coffee alone or chatting with a partner or friends.

The outside view and natural light were impressive. Best of all, there are green plants planted outside the window, which made it even prettier. It was lovely to step away from a busy day and enjoy a cup of tea at leisure.

What did we order at T Coffee?

From T Coffee's menu I ordered an iced vanilla latte, an americano and a flat white. For the americano, you can choose between a bean with acidity and one without.

Because the kitchen is open, you can watch your drinks being made, so the wait never got boring. When the staff member brewed drip coffee, the aroma was so good that my eyes wandered over without my noticing. The space itself is tidy, easy on the eyes and nice to linger in.

There's a dessert menu too, which pairs well with drinks. The selection, including scones and cakes, was quite varied. If you want a sweet afternoon, adding one seems like a good idea.

Hot americano with a low-acidity bean

First, the americano, which I had hot, made with the bean without acidity. It was moderately full-bodied and smooth, and the finish wasn't overly bitter, which I liked. The beans tasted good, so next time I'll try the one with acidity. I bet it feels much brighter!

How is the iced vanilla latte?

Next up is the iced vanilla latte at T Coffee, the quiet Seongsu café. The sweet, smooth flavor blended naturally with the milk, and I liked it. It wasn't cloying or heavy, so I finished every drop.

A flat white with clear espresso flavor

The flat white at T Coffee has less milk, so the espresso's taste and aroma came through a little more clearly. The balance between the two was good. This quiet Seongsu café is calm enough for reading, doing some light work or chatting with a friend.

Who is T Coffee right for?

T Coffee is a good Seongsu date course when you've been wandering around and want to sit down for a cup of tea. I think it suits people like these:

• People looking for a space where they can talk quietly
• People who want to enjoy some time alone
• People who prefer calm over crowds

Office workers visit often on weekdays, so if you want a quiet atmosphere, I recommend skipping lunchtime and going after 1 p.m.