Lotus Lab 로투스랩

Nobody hands you a bean menu at this counter on a slope just off busy Myeong-dong: describe the acidity and aroma you like, and the barista picks from whatever is on hand that day. The Boksakkot (peach blossom) blend leans on peach, apple and floral notes, and rare single origins from Yemen or Ethiopia rotate through often. The house oddity is an espresso sweetened with sugar until it tastes like fruit candy. Seating is mostly a counter facing the barista, so watching the brew and talking beans comes with the cup. Beans are roasted at the shop's own lab in Hwanghak-dong, and prices climb with the grade and rarity of the coffee.