Nowon café with coffee merch and Hwaseong drip bags: Jeong Ji-young

I was out shopping on the weekend and, riding the escalator down, a store just caught my eye. This place is so famous as a real coffee spot in Haenggung-dong that I used to make a point of stopping by whenever I went to Suwon — so when I heard it had landed in Nowon, of all places, I ran straight over.

Here's my full rundown, with a hands-on review, bean info, and a look at the goods too.

What the Nowon food hall branch of Jeong Ji-young Coffee Roasters feels like

Jeong Ji-young Coffee Roasters, Lotte Department Store Nowon sits in the F&B section of the basement food hall, and the moment you arrive, the hip, polished black-and-wood interior catches your eye. Department store food halls and dessert corners tend to be crowded and busy, but here the calm, sharp mood that's signature to Jeong Ji-young Coffee comes through untouched, so it stands out even from a distance.

Even though it feels like a newly opened pop-up-style store, coffee lovers were already lined up ordering. It definitely had the buzz of a rising Nowon Lotte department store café.

Menu, bean choices and cold brew bottles

I headed to the counter to order. The menu screen laid everything out neatly, from espresso-based drinks to brewed coffee to the signature line.

What really grabbed my attention was the 'Signature Coconut Coffee'! A sweet, smooth coconut base combined with a heavy, rich espresso shot — the store's most popular menu item, letting you get your sugar fix and caffeine fix at once.

The beans are also finely categorized — decaf, medium, dark roast — so you can pick according to taste, which is great for anyone serious about coffee flavor.

The display case was packed with neatly packaged cold brew bottles, and the design was so pretty they'd be perfect to bring on a picnic or keep stocked at the office. A few bottles wrapped up would also make a thoughtful housewarming or casual gift.

The 15,000-won Suwon Hwaseong drip bag set and single-origin beans

While waiting for my drink, I browsed the beans and MD goods displayed nearby. The dripbag set (₩15,000), with its sentimental illustration of the Suwon Hwaseong fortress walls, comes in such a pretty box it's perfect to stock up on for home café use. It also looked great for camping or for brewing a quick cup at the office.

On one side, single-origin beans from Ethiopia, Colombia, and more were neatly displayed with samples, along with everyday blends and a decaf line. The notes on aroma and characteristics were helpfully labeled, making it easy to pick according to your own taste. High-quality roastery beans like these are a must these days for anyone enjoying home café culture.

'NO COFFEE NO WORKEE' merchandise

The Nowon branch of Jeong Ji-young Coffee Roasters doesn't just sell coffee — they also carry lifestyle MD items infused with the brand identity, like hats, pouches, and colorful pen sets. The goods printed with the cheeky 'NO COFFEE NO WORKEE' slogan were quietly kitschy yet charming, and fun to browse.

How does the signature coconut coffee taste?

My drink finally showed up at the pickup counter. The cloudy layers of cream and espresso stacked in the clear plastic cup looked like a work of art.

I popped in the straw and took a long sip — a deep, nutty coffee flavor followed by a smooth, sweet finish, and I couldn't help but sigh in satisfaction. It was such a sweet relief after my legs had gotten a bit tired from walking around the department store.

I snapped a photo in front of the department store escalators with the signature phrase printed on the sleeve, and it instantly made for a nice shot! If you like heavy, nutty latte-style drinks without any sourness, or if you just want to enjoy a properly roasted specialty coffee before or after shopping, this is a solid, can't-go-wrong choice.

Location, hours and parking

• Location: Food hall / F&B section, basement level, Lotte Department Store Nowon, 1414 Dongil-ro, Nowon-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Hours: Same as the department store's regular hours and holidays (weekdays 10:30–20:00 / Fri–Sun 10:30–20:30)
• Parking: Underground parking available at Lotte Department Store Nowon (discount applied based on purchase amount)

It was such a nice surprise to be able to enjoy this famous Suwon Haenggung-dong coffee right in the middle of Nowon without having to travel far. If you're looking for a good café at Nowon Lotte department store, be sure to grab a takeaway of the sweet, rich signature drink at Jeong Ji-young Coffee Roasters in the basement.