Decaf roastery café in Hagik-dong, Incheon: Sesame Dot at Tiny Dot

I dropped my mom off at Incheon Airport early in the morning for her European cruise (sob, please pack me in your suitcase...), and on the way home I suddenly wanted to travel too, haha. I can't just fly to Europe right now. So instead I wanted to go somewhere that would put me in a good mood, and I found this little treasure: Tiny Dot (타이니닷), a café in Hagik-dong, Incheon.

Is Tiny Dot in Hagik-dong worth a return visit?

Conclusion first: Tiny Dot is a Hagik-dong café with its own roasting, handmade desserts, friendly service, a cozy and comfortable space, easy parking and laptop-friendly seating. I'm definitely coming back. I'll stop by whenever I'm passing through.

Because this place is... a total hexagon café (all stats maxed)! Own roasting + handmade desserts + super friendly + comfy and warm space + easy parking + laptop OK!! Seriously 3000% sure. I'm being serious here, yes yes.

Where is Tiny Dot, and is there parking?

Tiny Dot uses an entire villa-style building.

That said, it doesn't feel like a chaotic big bakery café; it feels like a cute, vibe-y Yeonnam-dong café spread over several floors.

Tiny Dot has parking in front, behind and beside the building. Maybe because lots of neighbors use it, the lot was empty and easy to use. The kind owner saw our car and quickly moved an obstacle out of the way, so parking done, no stress!

What is inside Tiny Dot like?

When we walked into Tiny Dot, the nutty smell of beans and the sweet smell of desserts spread out so pleasantly. Oh right, when I was parking I saw something amazing at the back door. Behind the 1st-floor counter, roasting machines were packed in. (I'd never seen such professional equipment in a space this size, so cool, hehe)

But it didn't feel stiff; it felt warm, like a traditional mill shop (bangagan), and since they roast on site I was even more excited. While waiting for our order, I looked around the café.

Tiny Dot's floor layout and elevator

You order on the 1st floor, and the café space is on floors 2 to 4. The 4th floor is a reservation/rental space for groups, so normally you use floors 2 and 3. Eek? Don't be scared. There's an elevator.

This is about thoughtfulness: I think it was installed so you can go up easily while carrying a tray. It shows the owner's sense for understanding the user experience. I think little details like this shape a shop's image.

Seating and laptop spots on the 2nd and 3rd floors

Floors 2 and 3 have big windows that open up the space. The building seems left almost as it was, yet warm lighting and well-placed plants make it a cozy space.

There's even a semi-private kind of spot like this, haha.

These aren't those tiny, low, Instagram-style tables; they're comfy, roomy tables, easy for setting down drinks and for working on a laptop. Approved.

The 4th floor is a rental space that's normally closed. I was curious, so I took a photo from in front of the glass door. It looks great for small gatherings.

What drinks does Tiny Dot serve?

Tiny Dot is a café that catches both rabbits: coffee and desserts. Every time I go to a café I agonize over 1) going somewhere with great drinks or 2) going somewhere focused on desserts. But here, you get both.

Since they roast their own beans, there's a wide choice of beans. And the non-coffee menu is great too, for those who aren't big coffee people!

Charcoal-roasted beans and siphon coffee at Tiny Dot

I'd never seen charcoal-roasted beans before, so that was fun. And at Tiny Dot you can have not only hand drip but also siphon coffee. I know nothing about coffee, so I was curious and asked, and they kindly explained the brewing process and taste. Apparently siphon brewing gives a clean coffee with a lingering finish.

They also sell a variety of beans.

How much are the desserts at Tiny Dot?

Scones at Tiny Dot are ₩3,500 whatever the flavor, and the Basque cheesecake is ₩6,500. And then there was the dessert I was so curious about.

• Earl Grey scone ₩3,500
• Scallion cheese scone ₩3,500
• Chocolate scone ₩3,500
• Gourmet butter scone ₩3,500
• Croffle (croissant waffle) ₩3,500 (ice cream +₩2,500)
• Gourmet butter salt bread ₩3,000

And the Basque cheesecake (₩6,500) too. We'd just had brunch and wanted a light dessert, and both the portions and prices were reasonable. Plus they said they make everything themselves, not supplied from outside!

After some agonizing, here's what we picked.

• Sesame Dot (참깨닷) ₩6,000 - switch to decaf beans +₩500
• Iced americano ₩4,000 - switch to decaf beans +₩500
• Earl Grey scone ₩3,500
• Croffle ₩3,500

Is Tiny Dot's decaf coffee good?

Tiny Dot's decaf americano was among the best decaf beans I've ever had. Ta-da. I happily carried it up to the quiet 3rd floor. And the coffee taste, wow! I've been to a famous café in Jeju known for decaf, and I often drink decaf anyway.

Maybe because it's a blend, to me it tasted somewhere between nutty and acidic, but well balanced, with no nasty burnt taste at all, and the aftertaste lingered so much that you'd never guess it was decaf.

Decaf Sesame Dot tastes like a latte

Personally I don't like americanos and prefer lattes, and even though Sesame Dot isn't a latte, it meets the sesame cream and tastes just like one. It's full of sesame aroma without being oily, sweet but not too sweet, a coffee with the balance nailed.

Croffle and Earl Grey scone at Tiny Dot

The croffle is crispy outside, soft and chewy inside, T_T look at those layers and you'll get the feeling. I like crunchy so I skipped the ice cream, and it was delicious on its own. (Of course, adding it on top would probably be even better, haha)

The Earl Grey scone wasn't oppressively heavy either: moderate aroma, moderate density, a light size, so it worked really well as an after-meal treat. The desserts are all reasonable in size and price, and light enough to enjoy without strain even when you're full.

We went just to chat quietly, but it was so tasty that it vanished in a blink, haha. I practically did the dishes. Wow, that was really good!

Who is Tiny Dot best for?

• If you want an Incheon Hagik-dong café recommendation
• If you're looking for a Michuhol café that roasts its own beans
• If you want light-touch handmade desserts alongside
• If you want a relaxed, quiet, big laptop café

Tiny Dot, the café in Michuhol, Incheon: I really, truly recommend it.