When people think of Sindang-dong, many think of the famous Sindang-dong Tteokbokki. But for me, when I think of Sindang-dong now, this place comes to mind. The Café Elak (Sindang, Seoul), where the brewed coffee and lattes are simply delightful. I completely fell in love with this café.

Nestled at a corner in a residential neighborhood, Café Elak quietly greets visitors. The wooden signboard with "Coffee Brewing" written on it gave away its location. There’s even a bench outside, where I noticed a neighborhood grandmother resting for a moment.

The café’s sign features two horses engraved on it.

 

Menu

​Inside, there’s a bar table where you can sit and watch coffee being prepared right in front of you. Café Elak has a unique feature called "Monthly Brew," where they introduce three different specialty beans each month.

The specialty beans changes monthly. When I visited, the options were Brazil Uisque Copo, Ethiopia Yahweh Amy, and Colombia Caturra Chiroso.

Each of the three had a pleasant acidity. Yahweh Amy with a sweet berry flavor, while Caturra Chiroso leaned towards a tangy sweet berry profile.

I chose the Brazilian beans for my drip coffee. And for espresso drinks, instead of a standard latte, I went for the latte named No Sorrow, Only Love. Just the name alone charmed me.

Café Elak is a spot perfect for both solo visits and outings with someone. The café also plays a daily selection of Vinyl records, creating a wonderful ambiance.

Watching the owner grind beans and preparing coffee.

I took a seat near the entrance and this spot turned out to be perfect. I could watch people pass by, and look at the sky while listening to music.

While waiting for my coffee, I noticed a steady stream of customers coming in to drink coffee. Some even came from distant areas just to enjoy a cup here, and the café already had many regulars.

 

Monthly Brew Coffee 7,000 won

The Monthly Brew coffee, paired with a biscuit on the side. ​Although I typically prefer coffee without acidity, Elak’s Brazilian brew coffee had just the right balance. It was my first time trying this type of bean, and I found the woody notes especially enjoyable.

 

No Sorrow, Only Love (latte)  5,500 won

After finishing my brew coffee, I moved on to the latte. He told me not to stir it, so I followed the advice and took a sip. The espresso and milk blended beautifully, creating a wonderfully rich and creamy flavor.

Curious about the nutty taste, he explained that instead of regular milk, they use a blend of soy milk and oat milk, lightly sweetened and aged for a day. He mentioned that the recipe was inspired by his wife, who can’t drink regular milk. A touching story that perfectly matches the latte’s name.

The latte had a perfect balance of nutty, sweet flavors. The layers blended beautifully in each sip. Truly unforgettable.

 

Café Elak, nestled among the residential homes and small sewing workshops of Sindang-dong, perfectly complements the vibe of the neighborhood. It’s a place where you can enjoy exceptional brewed coffee and lattes in a cozy, welcoming atmosphere.

I plan to visit Café Elak whenever I’m in Sindang-dong. While I may not go often, I hope this café continues to thrive in its charming corner of the neighborhood.

 

Address : 36 Cheonggu-ro 22-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul OPEN GOOGLE MAP

Phone : +82-507-1367-7045

Operation Hours : Mon-Sun : 08:00 - 20:00

Instagram : Check out more photos

 

Source : https://blog.naver.com/santose3/223408616137

Writer : santose3

Special thanks to santose3

 

Café Elak sindang cheonggu dondaemun specialty coffee seoul