donut for lunch.

A lonely walk through the hustling bustling shopping alleys of myeong dong.
But one look at this cheery, handmade doughnut store makes anyone's day brighter.
Plain Hara Donut, Choco, and Sugarcane.
Sugarcane was the best.

coffee ssong.

I wouldn’t call myself a coffee fanatic. Or a pro. Or anything at all. I don’t even go on ‘usual runs’ to Starbucks or have a favorite cafe. that I go to regularly.

Actually I DO have a favorite cafe in Mokdong, but it’s half an hour away, and I only buy frozen yogurt smoothies.

Anyway, I was craving something warm and filling, so I stopped by this place in front of my institute: Coffee Ssong (커피 쑝)

I asked for a Cafe Macchiatto, expecting something similar to a slightly foamy, milk + coffee mixture (they all seemed the same to me anyway), but the barista politely asked me if i wanted the one in the espresso cup.

A macchiato is actually a shot of espresso, topped with milk foam. THAT much I knew… I’ve just never been to a cafe where they actually serve it in the espresso size. (Except when I was in Hungary, but in Europe, espresso is as common as drip coffee in America.) I asked for a takeout, but she told me that they don’t have an espresso-size take out cup, so I changed my order to a latte.

with less milk then? she asked me.

uh, yeah. less milk is fine.

I didn’t even pay attention as she pressed the ground coffee or steamed the milk. But she made my latte-with-less-milk drink, and told me to let her know if it’s too strong for me.

It was too strong.

So she kindly added a bit more milk. I guess i’m not that used to dark coffees.

Our coffees are a bit strong, she told me.

I tried the latte again (with more milk now) and it was much smoother, and to my liking.

Now, I normally add a bunch of sugar and syrup and cinnamon and what other junk. In fact, my coffee ends up tasting like sweet coffee-flavored milk, not actual coffee. I grabbed one packet of sugar and poured it into my cup.

It’s not going to be enough, I thought

I stirred it anyway, and walked out, because this place was obviously legit, and I didn’t want to look like too much of a noob.

One sip as I walked out of the cafe and I was shocked.

So smooth! 

I couldn’t believe my tongue! No bitter aftertaste (they may have added some salt), completely smooth, and just sweet enough, but not frappuccino-sweet. You could definitely taste the strong coffee, but the sugar didn’t overpower it like my ‘usual’ coffee…

And so much more affordable than Starbucks! $3.50 vs. $5.90???? No thank you! I’ll take my Coffee Ssong!

They have lessons. Espresso making and Drip Coffee. I’m definitely going to ask about it tomorrow during my short break between classes.

I love Coffee Ssong!

wise choices.

am i being smart? or stubborn?
am i ruining my own life?
or just proving to my parents that i can make it on my own?
is it just easier to listen to them?

who knows.