Gongdeok café with coworkers: handmade milk tea, pecan cookie, Ieo

A quiet café near Gyeongui Line Forest Park: Ieo Coffee Roasters

Ieo Coffee Roasters Gongdeok Branch (이어커피로스터스 공덕점) sits one step inside from Gyeongui Line Forest Park, so unlike the crowded park path, you can enjoy good coffee in peace. Now that the weather is nice, I always take a walk along the park after lunch. Don't spring wind and autumn wind feel completely different? Spring wind has warmth inside the coolness, and autumn wind has coolness inside the warmth.

I'm soaking up these last few autumn days with a daily walk, but with so many people out, everywhere is packed. So today I'm introducing one quiet café near the park, Ieo Coffee Roasters. It's perfect for a Gongdeok date too, so come check it out.

Ieo Coffee Roasters Gongdeok Branch hours and location

• Name: Ieo Coffee Roasters Gongdeok Branch
• Location: 9 Baekbeom-ro 24-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, 1st floor
• Closed: Open every day
• Hours: 08:00–20:00 (weekends 11:00–19:00)

Ieo Coffee Roasters exterior: big windows and potted plants

What catches your eye first from outside are the big windows and the potted plants. My coworkers have been dropping in lately like it's their regular spot, so I tagged along, and it was much better than I expected. I liked the windows and plants right away, and when I pass by at lunchtime, quite a few people are sitting and eating here.

What are the interior and seats like at Ieo Coffee Roasters?

The interior is cute yet modern, and there are more seats than I expected, so there was plenty of room. I always have my eye on this window seat. The mood was really good.

I especially love the clicker at the counter... do they not sell it? That clicking sound is so nice. When I came before, a man was filming himself on a tripod while making coffee. Something about that calm scene was lovely to watch.

Ieo Coffee Roasters menu and prices

The prices were so cheap I thought, "Is this really by the forest park?" Most places near Gyeongui Line Forest Park charge around ₩6,000 a cup, so I assumed it would be pricey, but it seemed about ₩1,000 cheaper.

I ordered the handmade milk tea, and the others ordered a vanilla latte and a grapefruit apple tea. The non-coffee menu is pretty special too, so it's a good place to visit.

We couldn't skip dessert, so I grabbed a walnut pecan cookie too. They warmed it up for us, which I loved. Little touches like this matter, you know? A warm cookie is truly precious.

If it's good, next time I'll have to buy Ieo Coffee Roasters beans too! We don't have a machine at home... but the office has a coffee machine, so I notice these things.

Milk tea, vanilla latte, grapefruit apple tea: how are the drinks at Ieo Coffee Roasters?

The drinks came out fast! Even though there was quite a queue that day, the staff handled the orders skillfully. Even so, they warmed up our cookie, and I was a little touched.

Overall the drinks were good. They nailed the most important thing for a café, so I'm officially a regular!

Handmade milk tea: highly recommended

The handmade milk tea was on the sweet side, but not heavy, and the aftertaste left freshness rather than milky richness. The black tea aroma was also strong, so it's a flavor anyone would like. Personally, I highly recommend the milk tea!

Grapefruit apple tea and vanilla latte

The grapefruit apple tea was good too, since the grapefruit syrup wasn't too sweet! It seemed perfect for people who can't have carbonation or caffeine. The vanilla latte was ordinary, but it definitely had a strong nutty richness. It felt a little strong, so coffee lovers will like it.

Ieo Coffee Roasters walnut pecan cookie: do you have to try it?

The walnut pecan cookie here is really good. Is that Nutella inside? It's packed with chocolate, and it goes so well with the nutty pecans and walnuts.

The outside of the cookie is crisp and the inside is moist and soft, so it's great as a light dessert. The size was just right for three of us to share after a meal, too. I highly recommend trying at least one walnut pecan cookie!