Lounge Clarimento has become the café I always stop by whenever I’m in Hapjeong.

The exterior, with its purple sign against ivory-painted walls, pairs together nicely. The interior feels just as cozy as I remembered — and I noticed they’ve added more seating on the first floor. Today I settled into one of the comfortable sofa seats to enjoy my coffee.

The space stays calm and warm with its brown tones, while the metal fixtures add a touch of modernity. The tap coffee and filter brewing stations are arranged neatly, making good use of the space.

There’s a nice range of beans and drip bags on display, and you can smell-test the beans before choosing. I ordered the filter coffee, and after grinding the beans, they let me smell the fresh grounds before brewing.

Today’s coffee had clean, restrained acidity — Costa Rica Santa Teresa 2000, a Beto SL28 varietal. I took some time to read through the bean card that came with it: notes of maple syrup, apricot, and red grape. I liked that this kind of detail is laid out clearly on a small card. It’s grown in the Santa María de Dota and Tarrazú regions, at an elevation of 1,900–2,050 meters. Sipping the coffee while reading a bit more about where it came from was a nice touch. Rather than making a strong first impression, it was the kind of coffee that reveals itself slowly.

It looks like they’ve redesigned the glassware too — it somehow made the coffee taste even better.

Maybe because this was a repeat visit, the space felt a bit more familiar this time. I ended up staying a while longer than planned, just enjoying the coffee and the quiet.

There’s something reassuring about returning to a place you loved before and finding that same sense of comfort is still there. Lounge Clarimento is one of those places.

If you’re looking for good coffee in Hapjeong, Lounge Clarimento is worth a visit.

Info

Address: 18, Jandari-ro 7an-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul (1F)

Hours: Mon–Fri 8am–7pm, Sat–Sun 10am–7pm (last order 6:30pm)