Snuggle Up At These 4 Seoul & Suwon Specialty Cafes This Winter

 

This cold weather sure knows how to reach right inside to your core! The winter chill seems to be worse this year (or so I keep telling myself this to justify the umpteenth cup of hand drip coffee or slice of cake)

During a cold spell, it’s only human nature (or forest animal-ish nature) to seek a cozy and warmer area, forage for good food and rest…. so, I challenge the inner brown bear in all of you- find some good carbs, a warm nook and snuggle up. Who says you can’t hybernate in style?!

Here are my fave cafes’ in Gyeonggi-do to snuggle up in this winter. Ill tell you why you should visit them and give you a sneak peak… Please let me know if you visit these cafes’ or if you have other favourite winter hangouts. 

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Christmas in Seoul | Ginger Lattes | Stollen and Snow | Coffee Montage Roastery

2017 is coming to an end and with its farewell we also say goodbye to sunshine and outdoorsy days in South Korea. It’s been beautiful to witness the landscape transform in to a winter wonderland. As I have mentioned previously, winter is usually one of fun in the sun for me. My home town is along the coast of the Eastern Cape of South Africa. With, the Indian Ocean running past it, we enjoy beautiful moderate weather.

December saw me wrapping up my first year in Korea, changing jobs as well as planning a trip to Vietnam. I felt homesick despite the environment not conjuring up the usually ‘Christmasy feel’ I get. So, I decided to embrace December in all of its frostiness and enjoy the wonderland on offer during Koreas winter. Here is how…

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Winter Feasting/ European Christmas Market and Berry Easy Pear Crumble Recipe

‘Tis the season to be jolly (and eat delicious winter treats)

For 27 years, Christmas has always been a swelteringly hot experience for me. My home town is along the Eastern Cape of South Africa in the Southern Hemisphere… So there is NO such thing as a ‘white Christmas’. The only thing white on Christmas is the whipped cream in the dessert trifle. I am definitely not complaining about the many lovely beach memories made during childhood Christmas vacations, however, I now find myself in the Northern Hemisphere, bundled up in thick knitted sweaters and kind of LOVING the chilly Christmas season.

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Women in Coffee – Interview with Paulina Miczka, 2017 World AeroPress Champion

Women in Coffee – Interview with Paulina Miczka, 2017 World AeroPress Champion

The 2017 World AeroPress Chamionship set a new record, with close to sixty contestants from around the globe at Cafe Alver in Gangnam, Seoul. Click the Youtube video below to watch the event and interviews with the AeroPress event Organisers.

YouTube video

Seoul, the host city of the 2017 World Barista Championship, was absolutely buzzing with caffeine and coffee aficionados. The Seoul Cafe Show took place at the same time and the who’s who of the industry all flew in for the weekend. People like Sasa Sestic, former World barista champion, Hidenori Izaki and many others could be spotted roaming around the Show.

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World Aeropress Championship | Ticket Giveaway

Photo by: @aryanjoshani

MANY friends and colleagues around me are beyond excited for the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics… Don’t get me wrong, that is massively exciting, but right now what is really lighting my olympic flame so to speak is a competition and international challenge of a different format…The olympics of coffee is here.

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Seriously Deliciously Glühwein Recipe

“Glüh-what? It’s a heated, spiced red wine, and literally means glow wine, from the hot irons which were used for mulling back in the day. In Europe, glühwein is accessible at almost all winter markets, especially over Christmas, traditionally attracting passersby with its spiced scent and emanating heat.

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추석 핫플레이스 Chuseok Seoul Staycation – What Hot Cafes Will Be Open?


This year’s Korean thanksgiving vacation, Chuseok, has landed somewhat perfectly on the lunar calendar, resulting in a 10 day vacation for most. Usually this vacation lasts 3 days. Many of us (myself included) have not booked luxurious vacations abroad and will most likely be staying in Korea for this vacation. If you were lucky enough to get an airfare ticket that won’t break the bank, good for you!! Airfare skyrockets (pun intended) during this holiday season. What is my plan for Chuseok? I will be having a vacation in South Korea… A ‘STAYcation”. I have family coming to visit me from South Africa and I’m BEYOND excited.

So, I did some scouting around and contacted some of my favourite hot spots (핫플레이스) in Seoul to see who will be open during the extended Chuseok vacation. Below is a list of places

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