Cafés seem to be everywhere. From small independent shops tucked into quiet alleys to familiar coffee chains along busy streets, there was almost always a place where we could stop for a quick cup of coffee.
Since I am a coffee drinker and my wife loves hanging out in cafés, we decided to turn it into a little challenge: try different Korean coffee chains and see which one we liked best.
We ended up trying five popular coffee chains, and each one gave us a slightly different experience. To make our little coffee comparison as fair as possible, I ordered the same thing at every café: an iced Americano.
☕ Compose Coffee
Compose Coffee was probably one of the most interesting chains for us because of its affordable prices and wide selection of drinks. It is the kind of place where you can grab a coffee without spending too much, making it popular for everyday coffee runs.
Most of the Compose Coffee branches we saw in South Korea were designed mainly for to go customers. There are some branches with seating, but many seem to cater more to customers grabbing their drinks on the go.
Compose Coffee suited my taste the most. It had a good balance of natural bitterness and sweetness.
💰 Cost: ₩1,800
☕ Mega Coffee
We also tried Mega Coffee, another popular budget coffee chain in Korea. What caught our attention was how easy it was to find and how affordable the drinks were compared with many other café chains.
With its bright yellow branding and large drink sizes, it definitely stands out when walking around Busan.
It was another simple coffee stop for us while exploring the city. Nothing fancy—just good coffee, an affordable price, and a quick break before continuing our adventure. It is your ordinary iced Americano, crafted to give you that much-needed energy boost for the day.
💰 Cost: ₩2,000
☕ Ediya Coffee
We also tried Ediya Coffee, one of the familiar coffee chains you will see in many parts of Korea. With plenty of locations and a wide selection of coffee and other drinks, it felt like a convenient stop whenever we needed a quick caffeine break.
Unlike Compose Coffee, Ediya feels more like your usual café, with plenty of comfortable seats where you can stay for a while. It was a nice place to sit down, relax, and enjoy our coffee after walking around the city.
Of all the coffee we tried, this one had the strongest coffee taste. I liked it—it will really give you a boost!
💰 Cost: ₩3,200
☕ Hollys Coffee
Hollys Coffee felt a little more like a place where you could sit down and enjoy your coffee. In fact, I was already familiar with Hollys because the brand has gone international, with stores having opened in the Philippines as well.
Its red theme makes it easy to spot, and I can definitely see why younger customers, including Gen Z, would enjoy the style of this café.
We liked that it offered a comfortable café atmosphere while still being a familiar chain. It was one of those places where you could easily spend some time resting after walking around Busan.
Their coffee was just a normal iced Americano for me—it was good and served its purpose.
💰 Cost: ₩5,000
☕ A Twosome Place
And of course, we had to try A Twosome Place. The chain is known not only for its coffee but also for its cakes and desserts.
Of all the cafés we tried around the BIFF area in Busan, A Twosome Place had the biggest space. Gen Z customers seemed to love this café too—they were definitely flocking here when we visited.
I wouldn't blame them because the café has an extensive menu of drinks, pastries, and desserts. It felt more like a place where you could meet friends, hang out, study, or simply spend a little more time enjoying your coffee.
If I wanted to hang out with my iced Americano, this would be the place I would choose.
💰 Cost: ₩4,500
☕ Our Coffee Ranking
Trying these different chains became a small part of our Busan adventure. We weren't doing a serious coffee tasting or anything like that—we simply wanted to experience the coffee culture that is such a big part of everyday life in Korea.
And we didn't do it all in one go. We tried them on different days, usually at night, after spending the day exploring Busan.
For me, the best part was that I actually liked all of them. But if I had to choose a favorite, Compose Coffee would be my number one.
Not simply because it was the most affordable, but because I found it to have the best balance between the natural bitterness and sweetness of an iced Americano. It was simple, affordable, and exactly what I wanted from my coffee.
So, if I were to rank the five coffee chains we tried:
🥇 1. Compose Coffee
🥈 2. A Twosome Place
🥉 3. Hollys Coffee
4. Ediya Coffee
5. Mega Coffee
Of course, this is just my personal ranking. Coffee is very subjective, and what works for me might not necessarily be your favorite.
But if you're a coffee lover visiting South Korea, I highly recommend trying these chains yourself. It is an easy and delicious way to experience a small part of everyday Korean life.
And honestly, that's one of the things we love about traveling. The simplest experiences—walking into a café you've never tried, ordering a drink, and sitting down for a while—can become some of the most memorable parts of a trip.
Coffee chain | Your price | Your verdict |
|---|---|---|
Compose Coffee | ₩1,800 | Best overall for your taste |
Mega Coffee | ₩2,000 | Simple, budget-friendly coffee |
Ediya Coffee | ₩3,200 | Strongest coffee taste |
Hollys Coffee | ₩5,000 | Familiar café experience |
A Twosome Place | ₩4,500 | Best for hanging out |
