Seocho café for a Geisha vs. Mocha coffee tasting: Selecto

I had an errand near Sinnonhyeon Station one sunny weekday lunchtime, and while looking for a café where I could take a quick break, I stopped by Selecto Coffee Sinnonhyeon Branch 24 Auto Brew Cafe. I was planning to have coffee and take care of lunch at the same time, so I ordered two iced Americanos and a smoked salmon sandwich. I chose Geisha beans for one iced Americano and Mocha beans for the other. Being able to select different beans for the same Americano made it fun to compare the two.

A 24-hour café close to Sinnonhyeon Station

Selecto Coffee Sinnonhyeon Branch is on the first floor at 31 Gangnam-daero 79-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul, so it is easy enough to reach from Sinnonhyeon Station. Above all, its biggest feature is that it operates 24 hours a day.

It runs as a staffed café during the day and self-service café at night, so it is somewhere you can use even when you need a café late at night. When I visited at weekday lunchtime, I saw nearby office workers drinking coffee or having a quick meal. It was relatively quiet when I first entered, but customers gradually began to arrive as lunchtime approached. There was a mix too, from people having coffee alone to groups visiting together.

A clean café interior on a sunny day

The weather was truly sunny that day, making it nice to walk around the Sinnonhyeon Station area. Once inside the café, the bright, tidy atmosphere was the first thing that caught my eye. The white-and-wood space did not feel cramped, and it had several types of seating. There were standard two-person tables, tables for several people, and bar seating by the window, so it looked suitable whether you came alone or with others.

There was also seating on one side that was good for opening up a laptop and getting work done, with outlets provided throughout.

I actually saw someone spending time alone on a laptop, so I thought it would be a decent place to visit for café studying or work as well.

I chose the Americano beans myself

The coffee I ordered that day was two iced Americanos. I chose Geisha beans for one and Mocha beans for the other. What I liked about Selecto Coffee was that you can choose your beans when ordering an Americano. Even with the same iced Americano, the flavor and aroma differ depending on the bean, so coffee lovers can choose according to their preference. Ordering both together and alternating sips also let me notice the difference between the beans.

The Mocha beans were relatively easy to drink, while the Geisha beans let me enjoy more of the aroma. My preference was the Geisha beans!! Instead of simply ordering Americano as one fixed menu item as usual, choosing the beans myself that day was pretty fun.

A smoked salmon sandwich for lunch

The food I ordered with my coffee was a smoked salmon sandwich.

I ordered it to take care of lunch simply, and it was made with ciabatta rather than regular sliced bread. It had ciabatta’s mild yet chewy texture, which went well with the savory smoked salmon.

The salty richness of the smoked salmon and the mild flavor of the ciabatta came together nicely, making it a good accompaniment to coffee. I thought it would be a good light option on days when coffee alone feels a little lacking but there is not enough time for a separate lunch. Having it with an iced Americano on a weekday lunch break was enough for a simple meal.

Bakery items and desserts to enjoy with coffee

Along with coffee, the shop sold sandwiches, bakery items, and cookies. I chose the smoked salmon sandwich that day, but cookies were displayed too and looked good for a quick bite with coffee. The menu was not limited to coffee, so it also seemed useful for a simple breakfast or lunch, or when you get hungry after spending time at the café.

Laptop-friendly and group seating

Another noticeable thing about Selecto Coffee Sinnonhyeon Branch was its variety of seating. From bar seats suited to sitting alone, to two-person tables and tables for several people, there were choices for different purposes. In particular, it had seating where you could open a laptop and work, so it seemed like a decent option for anyone looking for a place to study at a café or work near Sinnonhyeon Station. Group seating was available too, so it looked easy enough for several people to have coffee and chat together.

A print area available 24 hours

One side of the café also had an AutoPRINT self-service printing area. You can print, copy, and scan there, so it looked useful if you suddenly need to handle documents around Sinnonhyeon Station or Gangnam. If you are working on a laptop in the café and need to print something right away, it is convenient not to have to move elsewhere. I thought it was quite a practical area for people studying or working at the café.

A more practical Sinnonhyeon Station café because it is open 24 hours

After visiting, I felt that Selecto Coffee Sinnonhyeon Branch was more than a café where you simply drink one coffee and leave; it was a space where you could take care of work, studying, and a simple meal too. At weekday lunch, I had a simple meal of an iced Americano and smoked salmon ciabatta sandwich, and the varied seating made it nice to stay for a while. The 24-hour operation and printing area also make it highly useful.

Especially if you are looking for a café near Sinnonhyeon Station where you can stay late, or a place to open a laptop and work or study, this is one worth remembering. Being able to have a simple coffee-and-sandwich meal during the day and use the café late into the night felt like this place’s biggest strength. I also liked being able to choose the beans, and comparing the Geisha and Mocha beans that day was fun. If you are looking near Sinnonhyeon Station for somewhere comfortable to have coffee and a light meal together, it is worth stopping by.

Selecto Coffee Sinnonhyeon Branch 24 Auto Brew Cafe: basic information

• Shop name | Selecto Coffee Sinnonhyeon Branch 24 Auto Brew Cafe
• Address | 31 Gangnam-daero 79-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul, South Korea, 1F
• Hours | Open 24 hours
• Weekdays | Staffed 08:00–22:00 / self-service 22:00–08:00
• Weekends | Staffed 10:00–21:00 / self-service 21:00–10:00
• Main menu | Americanos, sandwiches, bakery items, desserts, and seasonal drinks
• Features | Choice of Americano beans, 24-hour operation, AutoPRINT, bar seating, group seating
• Parking | No café-dedicated parking