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YouTubeA while ago I noticed a new coffeeshop, Coffine Gurunaru Gurunaru, which had opened up across from a movie theater (Artreon) a short walk from my home. I’ve been planning to go there but didn’t have time until Sunday.
At first I thought it was an independent coffee shop but after looking at their web site it looks like it’s another Chain. Just what Seoul needs in an already over crowded coffee shop market. It’s already pretty much impossible to walk more than five minutes without running into one of the eight major chain coffee shops in Seoul and in some areas there’s a different shop every 25-30 meters for as far as the eye can see.
In any case I went in ordered my coffee and found a seat near one of the several electrical outlets and turned on my laptop. The wifi is free but required a password which the clerk told me was 12345678. I don’t know why they have a password if it’s that easy. The coffee itself was on par with the other major chains including Caffe Bene, Coffee Bean and Starbucks. It was definitely better than Tom n Toms, Angel-in-us and far beyond the budget coffee chains of Ediya and Rosebud.
Interestingly Coffine bills itself as a coffee and wine place. This location had a wine corner and it there’s a selection of wine on the menu. Since I don’t drink much I’m not interested in that, and wouldn’t know a $200 bottle of wine from a $3 bottle, but others may be.
Interior photos in the extended entry.
The view from the front door – These loungers intrigued me when I walked by, but these are the only two.
I screwed up the exposure on this photo a bit
The door to the bathroom where you can see people through the window as they stand in front of the urinal – it’s easier to see than it seems in this photo
Coffine Gurnaru wants to be a tree and a ferry in a river just like a place to rest. A good quality of coffee and the health benefits of wine will definitely make your body and your mind upgrade and even your pride in your life. Please take a deserved break at Coffine Gurunaru. Coffine Gurunaru is a resting place for you.
Comments(2)
Doug: Tuesday Jan 11, 2011 at 08:38 PM
Hmmm, does have that chain store / upscale Burger King ambiance to it. At least the coffee was good.
A comment on the “shop every 25-30 meters” thing; on one hand I find it irritating that there are so few options other than the chains, no neat little independents to discover. On the other hand, like yourself I’ve been here long enough to remember what it was like before coffee culture was introduced here. And you often had a choice between an $8 cup of coloured water or a 25 cent shot of caffeinated beverage from the vending machine. Given that distressing memory, its hard to get too worked up over the situation.