Three of Cups

About

A tranquil specialty cafe tucked inside Endeavor Tower in Seocho, serving hand-drip coffee with a structured three-step tasting guide.

Tucked inside the ground floor of Endeavor Tower in Seocho-dong, Three of Cups takes an intentional, multi-step approach to hand-drip coffee. Set slightly back from the main street in a space that feels akin to an open lobby, this quiet specialty coffee bar surprises visitors with an antique interior, comfortable seating, and an in-house roaster humming in the background. A chalkboard displays the daily bean lineup, with single-origin selections like Colombia taking center stage. What defines the experience here is the house tasting ritual, guided by a written card outlining how to enjoy the brew across distinct stages. Coffee is not merely handed over in a mug; it arrives as a curated spread. Guests begin by taking in the fragrance through dry grounds and brewed aroma. Next comes a concentrated pour of undiluted drip extract, allowing the palate to register the bean’s intense, unadorned character. After rinsing the palate with water, the coffee is cut 1:1 with hot water, mellowing into a clean, gentle cup. The decaffeinated Colombia exemplifies this precision, delivering a dark, grounded profile layered with subtle notes of sugarcane, tangerine, toasted corn, and roasted nuts. The final pour is generous and crisp, making it an easy match for the cafe’s rich dark chocolate cake, whose concentrated sweetness balances the acidity and depth of the drip. While the building foyer setting can feel slightly open during busier hours, the calm atmosphere, unhurried extraction, and meticulous tasting method make Three of Cups a standout hideaway for dedicated pour-over drinkers near Gangnam.