Food & Cafés
Seolleung Station Series
Alexander Coffee Studio: Hand Brew Coffee Near Seolleung Station
Great hand brew coffee near Seolleung Station, Seoul — menu, prices, hours, a delivery tip, and how to find it.
What
Alexander Coffee Studio, a Gangnam cafe known for its hand brew coffee.
Where
Near Seolleung Station, about a 15-minute unhurried walk from Nongmin Baekam Sundae in Part 1.
What to Order
Hand brew coffee. Also recommended: the cafe latte, banana pudding, and banana bread.
Hours
Weekdays 7:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m., weekends and public holidays 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. Usually open all seven days.
Insider Tip
Seating is limited, so choose a quiet hour. Delivery is offered at the same price as in the shop.
The sundae-guk introduced in A Day Around Seolleung Station, Part 1 is Korea’s soul food, but it leaves one trace behind: its aroma, which settles into your clothes and hair. That is why a short walk in the fresh air after the meal is a good idea. And if a very good cup of coffee waits at the end of that walk, so much the better.
In this part, I would like to introduce Alexander Coffee Studio, near Seolleung Station, for anyone who wishes to follow a bowl of sundae-guk with truly excellent coffee. Together with Nongmin Baekam Sundae, it is what I would call an essential stop on any tour of the Seolleung area, and I recommend it wholeheartedly.
01
What Coffee Means to Koreans
For Koreans, coffee is far more than a beverage. It is a ritual that begins the day, a reason to sit and talk, and the natural way to close a meal. Standards are correspondingly high. A cafe that serves wonderful coffee becomes known quickly by word of mouth, and people will go out of their way for a single cup. This is why Seoul’s cafe culture is so deep and so varied.
02
Meet Alexander Coffee Studio
Alexander Coffee Studio is exactly the kind of place that earned its reputation by word of mouth. It opens at 7:00 a.m., and it first became known among runners out for early morning runs. Today it is well known to the general public as well. What is striking is that this happened in the middle of an office district. Its first fame came from the early risers.
Finding it is surprisingly easy. From the outside, there is so little signage that you may wonder whether this is really a coffee shop. But as you draw near, you will notice one spot busy with people, and that is the cafe. The crowd is the most reliable landmark.
There is no sign overhead. The small sign standing on the ground by the entrance is all there is. Look for that sign, and for the people gathered around it.
Alexander Coffee Studio
Gangnam-gu, Seoul, near Seolleung Station. About 15 minutes on foot at an easy pace from Nongmin Baekam Sundae — crossing over on foot at street level near Seolleung Station is quicker than heading into the subway station itself.
Hours: Weekdays 7:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. Weekends and public holidays 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. Usually open seven days a week. Closure days are announced separately, so check the official Instagram before you go.
→ View on Google Maps · Instagram: @alexandercoffee.seoul
03
What to Order: Hand Brew Coffee
The first thing I recommend here is the hand brew coffee. Each cup is brewed slowly by hand, drawing out the delicate layers of aroma and flavor, and it is a coffee worth giving a little time.
The beans come from well-known Korean roasteries, including celebrated names such as Momos Coffee and Coffee Temple. Beans roasted in-house by Alexander are also part of the offering. The lineup changes from time to time, so each visit offers the pleasure of discovering something new.
If hand brew is new to you, here is a simple explanation. Hot water is poured slowly over finely ground beans, and one cup is brewed at a time. Compared with espresso-based drinks, the result is usually cleaner and more aromatic, which also makes it a fine way to refresh your palate after a meal.
Choose by your own taste. Here you can explore both washed and natural process coffees, including cups with a lively, bright acidity. Washed coffees tend to taste clean and crisp, while naturals lean fruity and sweet, so you can follow your own palate. Personally, I like my hand brew bright and acidic, and my latte nutty and rich. Either way, the flavor here fully satisfied me.
04
Other Recommendations
$3.6
Cafe Latte
KRW 5,000. My choice if you like a nutty, rich cup.
$3.9
Banana Pudding
KRW 5,500. A lovely dessert.
$3.2
Banana Bread
KRW 4,500. A good companion to your coffee.
How to read the menu: Korean cafes often shorten prices to thousands of won. The latte price of “5.0” on the menu means KRW 5,000, about USD 3.6 at 1 USD = 1,400 KRW. The menu is posted on the wall as well as at the ordering counter. Menu items and prices may change over time.
05
The Space and Atmosphere
Seating here is limited. The space is compact, yet within it, friendly service, reasonably priced coffee, and truly delicious coffee come together to create deep satisfaction. My impression is of a place that cares about the coffee itself, not decorative interiors. Much of what draws people back, I suspect, is that sense of satisfaction.
06
Visiting Tips
01
Walk There After Your Sundae-guk
Walking is the best way to let the aroma of sundae-guk fade. From Nongmin Baekam Sundae, it is about 15 minutes at an unhurried pace. Feel the breeze of a Seoul street along the way, and a cup of coffee on arrival will leave you feeling refreshed.
02
Mind the Timing
The space is small, and at busy hours there may be no seat. Try an early morning or a quiet hour. If there is no seat, take your cup with you.
03
Staying Near Gangnam? Consider Delivery
In Korea, prices for dining in and for delivery often differ. Here, delivery is offered at the same price as in the shop — a real advantage if you’re staying at a hotel or office nearby.
04
Check Instagram Before You Visit
Hours differ between weekdays and weekends, and closure days are announced separately.
There is no sign overhead. The crowd is the landmark.
If a bowl of sundae-guk has filled you with warmth, walking off its aroma and finishing with excellent coffee makes for one perfect Seoul afternoon. Alexander Coffee Studio, together with Nongmin Baekam Sundae, is an essential stop on any tour of the Seolleung area. In the next part, I will close this series with a walking route where you can take a cup of coffee along and clear your mind.
Sources & Notes
Hours, location, menu items, and prices are drawn from the author’s own visit and the cafe’s official Instagram account. Prices are converted from Korean won to US dollars at an approximate rate of 1 USD = 1,400 KRW and are estimates, not exact conversions. Hours may change on public holidays — check the cafe’s Instagram before visiting.
Paul Cho — Your Man in Korea
Q. What is Alexander Coffee Studio?
It is a cafe near Seolleung Station in Gangnam, Seoul, known for its hand brew coffee. It first became popular among early morning runners and is now visited by many.
Q. What should I order?
The hand brew coffee. The cafe latte, banana pudding and banana bread are also recommended.
Q. How much does it cost?
The cafe latte is KRW 5,000 (about USD 3.6), the banana pudding is KRW 5,500 (about USD 3.9), and the banana bread is KRW 4,500 (about USD 3.2). These are estimates at 1 USD = 1,400 KRW. A price of “5.0” on the menu means 5,000 won.
Q. What are the opening hours?
Weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and weekends and public holidays from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. It is usually open seven days a week. Closure days are announced separately, so please check the official Instagram.
Q. There is no sign. How do I find it?
There is no sign overhead, only a small sign on the ground by the entrance. Look for the place where people are gathered.
Q. Is there plenty of seating?
No. The space is compact, so an early morning or quiet hour is recommended.
Q. Which beans does it use?
Beans from well-known Korean roasteries such as Momos Coffee and Coffee Temple, as well as beans roasted in-house by Alexander. The lineup changes from time to time.
Q. Can I try both bright, acidic coffee and nutty, rich coffee?
Yes. The lineup includes washed and natural process coffees, including bright, acidic cups. The author’s own pick is a bright, acidic hand brew and a nutty, rich latte.
Q. Is delivery available?
Yes. You can order through a Korean delivery app, at the same price as in the shop.
Q. How far is it from Nongmin Baekam Sundae?
About 15 minutes on foot at an unhurried pace. Crossing over on foot at street level near Seolleung Station is quicker than going to the station itself.
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