# Cafe near Deoksugung Palace for Colombia Geisha drip: Center Coffee - By Yeoreum (https://superchart.com/en/@meals-remembered/) - Written Sep 19, 2026 - Local places › Cafés › Jung-gu, Seoul - Sponsored: This visit was sponsored by the business. - English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@meals-remembered/center-coffee-gwanghwamun-geisha-handdrip/ - Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@meals-remembered/center-coffee-gwanghwamun-geisha-handdrip/index.md) ## In short Center Coffee Gwanghwamun is a hand-drip specialty coffee shop on the basement floor of SFC Mall in Jung-gu, Seoul, a short walk from Deoksugung Palace. After a walk around Deoksugung, the writer and her mother drank the Colombia Dewan El Mirador Geisha Natural hot and the Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Banko Taratu Washed iced, and buying a bag of beans came with a coupon for a free cup of the same coffee. If you like bright, acidic hand drip and Geisha beans, Center Coffee Gwanghwamun is worth the trip. ## Good to know - **Location**: 136 Sejong-daero, B1 SFC Mall, Jung-gu, Seoul (3-minute walk from City Hall Station or Gwanghwamun Station) - **Hours**: Weekdays 7:30–21:00, weekends and holidays 11:00–21:00 - **Parking**: 90 minutes free in the building - **Today's Coffee**: Good-value hand-drip menu, orderable until 3pm - **What we ordered**: Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Banko Taratu Washed (iced), Colombia Dewan El Mirador Geisha Natural (hot) - **Bean purchase perk**: Buy a bag of beans and get one free cup of the same coffee, on the day or as a coupon usable at any branch *as written by the visitor on Sep 19, 2026* Today I went on a Deoksugung Palace date with my mom, who loves hand-drip coffee, and afterward we headed to Center Coffee Gwanghwamun 🌀 If you're looking for a café near Deoksugung, pay attention 👀 Center Coffee is famous for its hand drip, and I've visited other branches often, but this was my first time at the Gwanghwamun location, so I was extra excited ➰ ## Center Coffee Gwanghwamun location, hours, and parking - 📍Location: 136 Sejong-daero, B1 SFC Mall, Jung-gu, Seoul - ⏰ Hours: Weekdays 7:30–21:00 / weekends and holidays 11:00–21:00 - 🚘 Parking: 90 minutes free in the building ## How to find Center Coffee: 7 minutes on foot from Deoksugung Palace to B1 of SFC Mall Center Coffee Gwanghwamun is a 3-minute walk from City Hall Station and a 3-minute walk from Gwanghwamun Station. I walked about 7 minutes from Deoksugung to get there. ![The street near Center Coffee Gwanghwamun after walking from Deoksugung](https://img.superchart.com/images/center-coffee-gwanghwamun-geisha-handdrip/center-coffee-gwanghwamun-geisha-handdrip-01-yqp1k-966.webp) Center Coffee Gwanghwamun is on the first basement floor of SFC Mall. I went into the building, took the elevator down, and there it was right in front of me — super easy to find. ![Floor-to-ceiling window exterior of Center Coffee Gwanghwamun on B1 of SFC Mall](https://img.superchart.com/images/center-coffee-gwanghwamun-geisha-handdrip/center-coffee-gwanghwamun-geisha-handdrip-02-suck4-966.webp) It had an open, floor-to-ceiling window structure. This was my first time visiting SFC Mall, and it turned out to be a pleasant, quiet space with plenty of restaurants and things to see. ## Inside Center Coffee Gwanghwamun: 8 Blue Ribbons and the seating At the entrance I spotted a whopping 8 Blue Ribbon marks‼️ If you're looking for great coffee near Gwanghwamun, this is a must-visit stop. ![Eight Blue Ribbon marks posted at the entrance](https://img.superchart.com/images/center-coffee-gwanghwamun-geisha-handdrip/center-coffee-gwanghwamun-geisha-handdrip-03-1hdvb-966.webp) Inside, it was much bigger and had an even better atmosphere than it looked from outside — I was surprised. The interior was cozy and minimal, perfect for a quick rest, reading, or working 💻 ![Minimalist interior of Center Coffee Gwanghwamun](https://img.superchart.com/images/center-coffee-gwanghwamun-geisha-handdrip/center-coffee-gwanghwamun-geisha-handdrip-04-j5fyn-966.webp) There was a variety of seating, from bar seats great for solo visits to tables for two and tables for three or four. Since the SFC building is an office building, I noticed a lot of people working solo here. That said, it's not a stiff atmosphere at all — it's just as comfortable for chatting together 🌀 ![Store seating with bar seats and tables for two](https://img.superchart.com/images/center-coffee-gwanghwamun-geisha-handdrip/center-coffee-gwanghwamun-geisha-handdrip-05-1w75k-966.webp) True to a specialty coffee shop, the bean selection was diverse too! ![Lineup of displayed specialty beans](https://img.superchart.com/images/center-coffee-gwanghwamun-geisha-handdrip/center-coffee-gwanghwamun-geisha-handdrip-06-1yzfy-966.webp) ## Center Coffee Gwanghwamun menu: Geisha hand drip and Today's Coffee There's a wide range of basic coffee, tea, and non-coffee drinks, but if you come to Center Coffee Gwanghwamun, I recommend trying the hand-drip coffee!! Center Coffee is especially famous for its seasonal Geisha coffee ☕️ ![Menu board listing hand drip and coffee options](https://img.superchart.com/images/center-coffee-gwanghwamun-geisha-handdrip/center-coffee-gwanghwamun-geisha-handdrip-07-6a0az-966.webp) Today's Coffee, orderable until 3pm, lets you enjoy high-quality hand drip at a low price — a great-value menu I'd definitely recommend. They also had a variety of desserts that pair well with coffee, like cakes, tarts, and financiers 🍰 ![Dessert case with cakes and financiers](https://img.superchart.com/images/center-coffee-gwanghwamun-geisha-handdrip/center-coffee-gwanghwamun-geisha-handdrip-08-sdovo-966.webp) ## What we ordered at Center Coffee Gwanghwamun, and an honest review We ordered two: Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Banko Taratu Washed and Colombia Dewan El Mirador Geisha Natural. ![Order details for Ethiopia Yirgacheffe and Colombia Geisha](https://img.superchart.com/images/center-coffee-gwanghwamun-geisha-handdrip/center-coffee-gwanghwamun-geisha-handdrip-09-1oila-966.webp) Since I visited before a meal, I only ordered coffee, but they also had Greek yogurt and a ham-cheese panini on the menu, so it seems like a good spot for a simple brunch too! ![Brunch menu listing Greek yogurt and panini](https://img.superchart.com/images/center-coffee-gwanghwamun-geisha-handdrip/center-coffee-gwanghwamun-geisha-handdrip-10-2xyl2-966.webp) It was fun to watch the barista brewing the hand drip right in front of us ➰ ![A barista brewing hand-drip coffee](https://img.superchart.com/images/center-coffee-gwanghwamun-geisha-handdrip/center-coffee-gwanghwamun-geisha-handdrip-11-xq3aa-966.webp) Since Center Coffee is famous for Geisha coffee, my mom ordered the Colombia Geisha hot. I only ever drink coffee iced, so I went with the barista's recommendation, the Ethiopia Yirgacheffe. ![Iced Yirgacheffe and hot Geisha coffee on the table](https://img.superchart.com/images/center-coffee-gwanghwamun-geisha-handdrip/center-coffee-gwanghwamun-geisha-handdrip-12-yf175-966.webp) ### Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Banko Taratu Washed, iced Jasmine floral notes, nectarine fruitiness, lemon acidity. Just as recommended, this bean worked really well as iced coffee. It wasn't heavy but the aroma really came through, so I'd recommend it to anyone who, like me, enjoys acidity in coffee. The taste of summer... 🌻 ![Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Washed served iced](https://img.superchart.com/images/center-coffee-gwanghwamun-geisha-handdrip/center-coffee-gwanghwamun-geisha-handdrip-13-49jip-966.webp) ### Colombia Dewan El Mirador Geisha Natural, hot Bergamot aroma, peach sweetness, mandarin acidity. The Colombia Geisha was a coffee where the peach flavor really stood out — more luxurious and elegant! If you enjoy and love hand-drip coffee, I definitely recommend trying the Geisha coffee at Center Coffee, since they specialize in it ☕️ ![A cup of Colombia Geisha ordered hot](https://img.superchart.com/images/center-coffee-gwanghwamun-geisha-handdrip/center-coffee-gwanghwamun-geisha-handdrip-14-1ixwk-966.webp) ![A table scene with hand-drip coffee](https://img.superchart.com/images/center-coffee-gwanghwamun-geisha-handdrip/center-coffee-gwanghwamun-geisha-handdrip-15-md8xz-966.webp) ## Choosing beans by smell, and the free cup coupon with a bean purchase You can smell the beans yourself here too. Try smelling each one and find your preference ❣️ I liked the coffee I had today, so I bought a bag of beans too haha ![Bag of beans chosen after smelling the selection](https://img.superchart.com/images/center-coffee-gwanghwamun-geisha-handdrip/center-coffee-gwanghwamun-geisha-handdrip-16-l4hpe-966.webp) #PaidWithMyOwnMoney Every time I visit Center Coffee, I seem to end up buying beans. When you buy beans, you get a free cup of coffee made with that same bean ➰! You can get it the same day, or as a coupon. Any coupon you receive can be used at any branch 🫶🏻 I took mine as a coupon to use on my next visit haha ☕️ ## Is Center Coffee Gwanghwamun worth a visit near Deoksugung? Center Coffee is a hand-drip specialty café I already love — I've been a longtime regular at other branches, and visiting the Gwanghwamun location, it was just as great 🖤 With its modern, minimal interior that's also great for working, I got a little jealous of the office workers nearby haha ![Coffee and the atmosphere of Center Coffee Gwanghwamun](https://img.superchart.com/images/center-coffee-gwanghwamun-geisha-handdrip/center-coffee-gwanghwamun-geisha-handdrip-17-1hz49-1200.webp) If you're looking for great coffee near Gwanghwamun, I strongly recommend Center Coffee Gwanghwamun, where you can enjoy high-quality hand drip at a great price 💟 ## Where it is - Center Coffee Gwanghwamun (센터커피 광화문점) - 136 Sejong-daero, B1 SFC Mall, Room 105, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea - 서울특별시 중구 세종대로 136 B1층 105호 - 37.5684246, 126.9782701 - Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%EC%84%BC%ED%84%B0%EC%BB%A4%ED%94%BC%20%EA%B4%91%ED%99%94%EB%AC%B8%EC%A0%90/@37.5684246,126.9782701,17z --- Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@meals-remembered/center-coffee-gwanghwamun-geisha-handdrip/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt