Seoul · Yonggang-dong, Mapo-gu
John Small Roastery
John Small Roastery sits on the ground floor of a building in residential Yonggang, about five minutes on foot from the Han River. The room is simple and minimal, the kind of place that invites you to linger. The beans are roasted next door, and the bar balances house blends with single origins chosen for the counter. It began as a small roasting operation and has become a neighborhood fixture with regular customers.
Filter coffee and milk drinks are both served, and visitors can choose their beans and smell them before the coffee is brewed. The cafe is open from noon to six, Monday to Saturday, and closed on Sundays, so it is an afternoon visit rather than a morning one.