Watermelon-fermented filter coffee at Daeheung café Ieo Coffee

Today I finally visited a café I'd starred on Naver Maps ages ago thinking 'I have to go here!' haha. And after visiting, I'm completely obsessed.

It's Ieo Coffee Roasters Gongdeok Branch, known for high-quality roasted coffee and a cozy vibe. It's in such a perfect spot to pop into while strolling the Gyeongui Line Forest Trail, so coffee lovers, pay attention haha. Let's get into the review!

Location and hours of Ieo Coffee Roasters Gongdeok Branch

Ieo Coffee Roasters Gongdeok Branch sits almost exactly between Daeheung Station and Gongdeok Station — a bit closer to Daeheung Station!

Location: 1F, 9 Baekbeom-ro 24-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Getting there: Come out Exit 3 of Daeheung Station and go straight; once you spot the S-oil gas station, it's hiding in the small alley right behind it! It felt like finding my own secret hideout, so my heart was already racing as I stepped into the alley haha.

• Weekdays (Mon–Fri) 08:00–20:00 (last order 19:30)
• Weekends (Sat–Sun) 11:00–19:00 (last order 18:30)

They open as early as 8am on weekdays, so it's perfect for grabbing a morning coffee to-go on your way to work.

Interior vibe and seating

The moment I stepped inside I blurted out 'wow, so pretty!' The whole space has a warm, cozy wood-tone base packed with cute little details.

There's plenty of bar seating where you can quietly watch the coffee being brewed if you're solo, plus quite a few table seats good for chatting with friends. The space isn't huge, but it's laid out so well that it's a comfortable Daeheung Station café.

When I went, it was already packed full of people — clearly super popular.

People really do find the good places somehow! The atmosphere the whole time was so peaceful and nice that I thought hundreds of times about just moving this whole place to my own neighborhood and making it my daily go-to café haha.

What's on the menu?

Being a roastery café, the coffee lineup here is really impressive! The filter coffee selection especially is so good that I knew I had to try one haha.

On top of drinks, there's a decent variety of desserts too, like cookies and cakes, that go well alongside.

Here's our pick!

• Colombia Via Clara Watermelon (iced)
• Egg financier (₩4,900)

Colombia Via Clara Watermelon 🍉

Isn't the name itself intriguing? Apparently real watermelon is added during the anaerobic fermentation of the green beans, giving it a special process. The description said it has notes of watermelon, black tea, and lemon zest, so I was half-skeptical as I tried it iced and cold... and wow, this is seriously incredible.

The moment I took a sip, a gentle, fragrant black tea aroma spread out, and right at the finish, the sweet juiciness of a perfectly ripe watermelon hit me! It wasn't artificial syrupy sweetness at all — it was genuinely pleasant fruit acidity and sweetness, so it was fascinating and delicious. Completely my type!!

Egg financier

You can't skip a sweet dessert, so we also ordered the egg financier (₩4,900)! Chewy on the outside, soft and moist inside — pure honey-flavored bliss.

Its subtle sweetness and nuttiness paired amazingly with the bright, acidic filter coffee. One sip of coffee, one bite of financier — that's heaven right there haha. Both together were the best combo!!

Final verdict

It was 200% worth having this place saved on my map for so long! You get to taste high-quality specialty coffee brewed by a barista who's truly passionate about coffee, and the space itself is so pretty that I got a proper dose of healing haha.

It's the perfect location to grab a delicious coffee to-go and walk right into the Gyeongui Line Forest Trail out front, so if you're looking for a Gyeongui Line Forest Trail café or a nice-vibe Gongdeok café or Daeheung café, I strongly recommend visiting Ieo Coffee Roasters~~!! ><