There are so many coffee shops in our fair city that new spots need to constantly evolve and come up with cool new hooks to drag in the customers. One such coffee shop that is insanely popular is C Through. Located in Gyeongridan, I had heard about this place long before I visited, they are famous for their incredible art lattes which have foam decorated with versions of famous art works like Van Gogh’s Starry night and Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa.
The cafe itself is a bit hard to find, it’s located up in the back alleyways in between Gyeongridan and Itaewon. In fact I walked past it several times before I actually realised that it was there, with only a small pink neon sign alluding to its presence. The cafe itself is quite small and has an art studio kind of feeling to it, which is kind of what it is.
One thing that I love about the menu here is that it has pictures of all the drinks. Since they are unique creations it is nice to know what you are ordering without having to refer back to Instagram or other blog articles. During the week you can purchase all the coffee and dessert type drinks, plus very simple drawing coffees, however on weekends the Artist Lee Kang Bin himself comes in and creates his incredible art lattes. Obviously this is a skill that very few have so he only works on weekends. His special coffees vary in price depending on the time they take but are usually between 12,000 -25,000 won. I didn’t visit on the weekend so couldn’t try the art latte, however I’m not sure if I could actually bring myself to buy a coffee that expensive even in the name of blogging.
The coffee that appealed the most to me is the Caramelting (8,000). The strong short coffee is topped with a caramel coated custard filled choux bun. I mean how could you turn down a coffee with a mini choux on top. I loved this, the choux was amazing, the custard was rich, and the caramel coating added a real sweetness, it was like a real french one rather than the whipped cream filled Korean ones. It worked perfectly with the strong flavour of the coffee, and considering you get dessert too, the price is great.
My companion ordered the Hot Chocolate (7,500), a new item from their winter menu. The hot chocolate is topped with whipped cream and a fried egg. The chocolate was sweet and rich, perfect if you aren’t in the mood for coffee.
Another of their famous coffees is the Scotchno (6,000). This oozy gooey coffee looks so pretty, I adore the look of this overflowing style. The coffee itself tastes kinds sweet and marshamallowy on the top while the coffee is infused with melted butterscotch candies. It is rather yummy and beautiful to photograph, although word of warning it is rather small.
Overall I really liked C Through, it has some really unique drinks that are almost like desserts rather than coffees, plus the price point is good. For those looking for something really special, head there on the weekend and check out the amazing Korean barista Lee Kang Bin and his latte art.
C Through is located at 403-3, Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. To get there take a train to Noksapyeong Station (line 6) and exit using the lift next to the shop. Walk over the bridge and then take a right, follow the road around and you will see Gino’s Pizzeria just ahead on the corner above Nori Table. Take the left directly after Nori Table. Walk up this small hill and you will pass Rocka Doodle on the left hand side. keep walking straight up the hill and over. You will see C Through cafe on the left hand side a little way down. For more information you can call them on 070-7796-8991 or check out their Instagram. They are open from 12pm – 8pm everyday.