Nowon Lotte café's sweet coconut coffee sugar boost: Jeong Ji-young

Why I went back to Jeong Ji-young Coffee Roasters, Nowon

I went to Lotte Department Store Nowon to buy Chuseok gifts for friends, and ended up thinking about the signature coconut coffee I'd had on my first visit to Jeong Ji-young Coffee Roasters, so I went again. Jeong Ji-young Coffee Roasters is a newly opened branch at Lotte Department Store Nowon. I like exploring new cafés, but in the end you always go back to the places that were actually good. This time too, I ordered the coconut coffee.

Location and hours: Jeong Ji-young Coffee Roasters, Lotte Department Store Nowon

• Address: Basement 1, 1414 Dongil-ro, Nowon-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Subway: 300m from Exit 1, Nowon Station
• Parking: Lotte Department Store parking available
• Hours: Mon–Fri 10:30–20:00 / Sat–Sun 10:30–20:30

Jeong Ji-young Coffee Roasters is located in the basement 1 food hall of Lotte Department Store Nowon. It's right next to the up escalator, so it's easy to spot as you pass by! Last time I visited after eating in the food hall, and the layout worked well for a coffee right after a meal.

A roastery café from Haenggung-dong, Suwon

Jeong Ji-young Coffee Roasters started as a roastery café in Haenggung-dong (행궁동), Suwon, back in 2017. Lotte Department Store Nowon is also its first branch in Seoul. The first time I visited, I was curious that a café famous in Suwon had opened in Nowon, but now I just come back for the coffee, haha!

Can you buy Jeong Ji-young's drip bags, beans, and cold brew?

One corner of the Nowon branch sells a range of coffee products, from drip bags to whole beans to cold brew. You can enjoy Jeong Ji-young's coffee at home too, so it's fun to browse for home café supplies. The drip bags in particular are easy to brew, so they'd make a nice gift for coffee lovers!

Menu and bean choices at Jeong Ji-young Coffee Roasters

Jeong Ji-young Coffee Roasters has a wide menu, from Americano to lattes to hand drip. Among them, the standout signature is definitely the coconut coffee! It's said to have sold over 1.11 million cups total. I enjoyed it so much last time that I ordered it again, haha. You can also choose your beans: dark, medium, or decaf.

What does Jeong Ji-young's coconut coffee taste like?

Jeong Ji-young's coconut coffee is coconut milk plus espresso, topped with a creamy shaken espresso! Stir it well from the start and you get a sweet, nutty coconut flavor with the coffee's bitterness layered in, making for a smooth drink.

Mild coconut aroma, but quite sweet

The coconut aroma itself isn't strong, it's fairly subtle, so it's an easy drink even if you're not a huge coconut fan. On the other hand, it's quite sweet, so if you like sweet coffee, this one's for you.

Why I picked coconut coffee again on a repeat visit

Getting a sugar hit while shopping... haha. Jeong Ji-young's coconut coffee was just as good this time around. I briefly considered trying something new, but I think choosing the coconut coffee again was the right call! You can still taste the coffee while it stays sweet and smooth, so it works almost like dessert. If you're looking for a good coffee spot in Nowon, stop by Jeong Ji-young Coffee Roasters at Lotte Department Store Nowon!