Cuisine

Cafe (카페)

District

Junggu (중구) , Seoul

Address

Seoul Jung-gu Samildaero9-gil 6 Myeongjinbilding 101호

Lotus Lab (LO+US Lab) is a specialty coffee shop on the first floor of Myeongjin Building along Samil-daero 9-gil in Jung-gu, Seoul. The cafe is run by a former Cup of Excellence (C.O.E) international judge whose credentials lend credibility within the specialty coffee community. Its most distinctive feature is the absence of a fixed bean menu: the barista asks about each guest's flavor preferences and then selects the most suitable beans available that day for an on-the-spot brew. The house Boksakot Blend delivers notes of peach, apple, and floral aromatics, while rare single-origin lots from Yemen and Ethiopia appear regularly on rotation. An unconventional espresso served with sugar to produce a fruit-candy-like sweetness has also gained a following. Prices range from 6,000 to over 10,000 KRW depending on the grade and scarcity of the beans. The interior centers on counter seating facing the barista, allowing guests to observe the brewing process and converse freely about coffee. Situated on a quiet slope just off the bustle of Myeongdong, the space has the feel of a hidden retreat known mainly to dedicated coffee seekers. A separate roasting lab in Hwanghak-dong supplies the shop with freshly roasted beans.