Yangjae café in Seoul: New York levain cookie and babka at Mini Male

The area near Yangjae Citizen's Forest Station is busy with office workers and students, so there's no shortage of cafés around. This time I stopped by a place with an unusual name from the start — Mini Male Coffee Roasters Yangjae Main Branch. It's already gotten some buzz for its self-roasted beans and distinctive signature menu, so I went in with high expectations. My friend and I headed over to spend the afternoon enjoying coffee and dessert.

Where is Mini Male Coffee Roasters Yangjae Main Branch, and when is it open?

Mini Male Coffee Roasters Yangjae Main Branch is located at 32 Gangnam-daero 10-gil, 1st floor, Seocho-gu, Seoul, and is open daily from 08:00 to 20:00 (closed 09/25 for Chuseok). It's about a 5-minute walk from Exit 3 of Yangjae Citizen's Forest Station on the Sinbundang Line.

• Address: 32 Gangnam-daero 10-gil, 1st floor, Seocho-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Directions: About a 5-minute walk from Exit 3 of Yangjae Citizen's Forest Station, Sinbundang Line. Cross the crosswalk, keep going straight, then turn left past the Chinese restaurant 'Rang Rang' — you'll see it right away.
• Hours: Daily 08:00 - 20:00 (closed 09/25 for Chuseok)
• Other info: Wi-Fi, delivery and takeout available, mobile payment supported
• Parking: No dedicated parking

Walking to Mini Male from Yangjae Citizen's Forest Station

Walking just a bit from Yangjae Citizen's Forest Station, you'll spot a café tucked into a quiet alley. The exterior of Mini Male Coffee Roasters Yangjae Main Branch has a simple yet stylish look that stood out even from a distance.

My friend and I arrived right at coffee-break time, and a huge crowd of nearby office workers was pouring in. A small sign and warm lighting out front gave the place a cozy first impression.

Inside Mini Male: seating and atmosphere

The interior of Mini Male Coffee Roasters Yangjae Main Branch isn't huge, but it's clean and modern. Black tables and chairs and sleek interior details made it comfortable to sit and chat.

The subtle smell of coffee drifting through the air put me in a good mood, and we were lucky enough to grab a seat near the entrance, which made people-watching through the window fun too. Since it was right after lunch, nearby office workers would sit for a chat and then head back to work, and plenty of people were grabbing takeout as well.

Mini Male menu and prices: what we ordered

The signature menu item at Mini Male Coffee Roasters Yangjae Main Branch is the Helsinki latte at ₩5,200. For dessert, they had homemade New York cookies, babka, financiers, and more.

• Helsinki Latte: ₩5,200
• British Einspänner: ₩4,800
• Americano (Dunkel/Balance): ₩3,600
• Helsinki Latte Flasche: ₩6,500
• Latte: ₩4,300
• Cappuccino: ₩4,300
• Vanilla Latte: ₩4,800
• Café Mocha: ₩5,200
• Flat Green (ICE): ₩5,200
• Golden Assam Milk Tea: ₩5,200
• Boseong Matcha Latte: ₩5,200
• Earl Grey Grapefruit Tea: ₩5,200
• Earl Grey Lemon Tea: ₩5,200
• Real Belgian Dark Chocolate: ₩5,500
• Royal Black Tea: ₩5,300
• Peppermint: ₩5,300
• Vanilla/Matcha Affogato: ₩6,300
• Fresh Tomato Juice: ₩6,300
• Fresh-squeezed Grapefruit Ade: ₩4,800
• Fruit Strawberry/Mango Ade: ₩4,800
• Fruit Strawberry/Mango Latte: ₩4,800
• Homemade New York Cookie: ₩4,500
• Butter Babka: ₩4,500
• Homemade Baton Financier: ₩3,300

That day, we ordered two Helsinki lattes, one homemade New York cookie (original levain), and one butter babka.

How do the Helsinki latte, New York cookie and butter babka taste?

Helsinki latte, 5,200 won

The Helsinki latte lived up to its reputation as the signature drink — it was genuinely unique. A nutty flavor, a distinctive aroma, and sweet mocha combined into something smooth and deep. It was clearly different from a regular latte, and every sip felt new.

Homemade New York cookie (original levain), 4,500 won

The homemade New York cookie (original levain) was thick yet moist. Surprisingly, the soft-textured cookie wasn't very sweet on its own, but it was loaded with sweet chocolate chips that made it delicious. It paired really well with coffee.

Butter babka, 4,500 won

I debated between the chocolate babka and the butter babka, and went with butter. The bread was so soft, moist, and nutty that I felt pure happiness with the very first bite — yet the outside had a surprising bit of crispness too.

Both the Helsinki latte and the babka tasted like nothing I'd had at any other café, and the coffee and dessert paired so well that I think I said 'this is so good' about ten times.

Is Mini Male Coffee Roasters Yangjae worth a visit?

Mini Male Coffee Roasters Yangjae Main Branch isn't just a place to grab coffee — it's a spot to enjoy genuinely original lattes and desserts. The Helsinki latte, New York cookie, and babka were all better than expected, and the atmosphere made me want to linger.

Prices are reasonable and the menu is varied enough that I don't think I'd get tired of coming back. Next time, I definitely want to try the British Einspänner and the coffee ice cream. If you're looking for a special café near Yangjae Citizen's Forest, I'd recommend Mini Male Coffee Roasters.