Hapjeong Station café with a strawberry-note Geisha drip: Central Site

I'm a hardcore latte person, so I mostly stick to lattes. But while searching for cafés near Hapjeong Station, I heard about a drip coffee that tastes like strawberry, and I couldn't contain my curiosity, so I went. Sharing it here! 🍓

It's Central Site Hapjeong, a 3-minute walk from Hapjeong Station Exit 2. Conclusion first: if you have clear coffee preferences, it's worth a visit at least once.

• Address: 20 Yanghwa-ro 7-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul (1st floor)
• Hours: 08:00–22:00 (last order 21:30)

How to find Central Site Hapjeong from Hapjeong Station, and parking

Central Site Hapjeong is only about 143 m from Hapjeong Station Exit 2, but if you walk straight out of the exit you won't find it. You have to turn around and go into the alley between Salady and the parking lot. It's right next to Udon Kaden, so using that restaurant as a landmark was easiest.

It's not far, but it's tucked inside an alley, so you might get lost the first time. The Yeonnam-dong flagship came first, and this Hapjeong Station branch is the second location that opened later. There's no parking lot, but we got lucky and a spot next to the shop was open, so we parked briefly.

What is the interior and atmosphere like at Central Site Hapjeong?

The moment I opened the door, it felt bigger and brighter than I expected. The interior mixes wood and black tones, and big picture windows mean it doesn't feel stuffy at all.

I could see a roasting machine inside, and only then realized this is a roastery café that roasts its own beans. When you order drip coffee, they let you pick a bean and smell it first. I'd never had that experience, so it was fun. Pets are allowed too, so it seemed fine to come with a dog as part of a walk.

Central Site Hapjeong menu and drip coffee prices

Drip coffee at Central Site Hapjeong runs from ₩8,000 to ₩12,000, with quite a range depending on the bean. I'm used to lattes but new to drip, so I hesitated a bit over the menu.

Among the drips, the Ethiopia Sidama Mulugeta Muntasha washed is introduced as a COE (Cup of Excellence) 1st-place bean, so it's worth a look if you love coffee. The peach-scented iced coffee is the café's signature, and I heard it has a barista-competition 1st-place pedigree.

Does the Colombia Finca Quebraditas Geisha really taste like strawberry?

The Colombia Finca Quebraditas Geisha washed at Central Site Hapjeong had such a clear strawberry flavor that you could mistake it for flavored coffee. Honestly, I'm a latte person and barely drink drip, but I was curious about the strawberry claim, so I ordered it.

I was shocked with the first sip. My husband, watching next to me, asked if it was flavored coffee, the strawberry came through that clearly. Even I, who don't usually enjoy drip, finished it happily.

How does the classic tiramisu taste?

The Central Site classic tiramisu we ordered alongside can't be skipped either. Only after eating it did I understand why it's known as a tiramisu spot. It was sweet and packed with mascarpone cheese flavor, with a subtle coffee aroma.

The downside: drip coffee prices

The one catch is that drip coffee at ₩8,000–12,000 is clearly pricier than at ordinary cafés, so I'd recommend it for a day you want really good coffee rather than a casual cup.

Who should visit Central Site Hapjeong?

If you're looking among Hapjeong Station cafés for a coffee experience better than a plain Americano, I recommend Central Site Hapjeong. Even if you don't usually drink drip, if you like acidic coffee, starting with a fruity-note bean like the Colombia Finca Quebraditas seems like a good way in.

On the other hand, if you just want a casual cup without worrying about price, you could keep it light with an Americano or latte.

Last order is 21:30, so it's also nice to stop by before or after dinner plans.

The vibe is different from the Central Site Yeonnam branch, so I'd definitely recommend it to people who've already been to the Yeonnam flagship too 👍