INC Coffee Gasan Branch had lived rent-free on my must-visit list for ages—I’d even been recommending it for Seoul’s best holiday decor without having stepped inside! Now, after a long-pending plan finally came together, I made my way to this renowned coffee destination. While my initial mission was simply to capture its famous festive Christmas vibes, I was immediately in awe of so much more the cafe has to offer. From the striking amalgamation of rustic industrialized design and modern decor across its multi-level space to its delicious, specialty coffee and impressive array of baked goods, INC Coffee truly seems to have it all.
In this post, I will share stunning pictures captured from my visit, provide a detailed look at the ambiance, and offer helpful tips to ensure you make the most of your own trip to the INC Coffee Gasan Branch!
About INC COFFEE:
INC COFFEE (인크커피) is a distinguished South Korean coffee brand that places an exceptional focus on creating architectural destinations for the enjoyment of specialty coffee. Far beyond a simple cafe, INC COFFEE designs its spaces as unique, multi-level experiences that perfectly blend sophisticated ambiance with high-quality roasted coffee. If you’ve visited any of their locations, you’ll immediately understand this commitment to extravagant, thoughtful design. There are currently five celebrated branches established across Seoul and other major cities: Gasan, Hanam, Starfield Suwon, Dasan, and Gwangju, each one boasting a unique and striking design for visitors to fully immerse themselves in the atmosphere.
The Gasan Branch:
Conveniently located right in Seoul, the Gasan Branch is easily accessible for both city travelers and local visitors. While its unique industrial design is a year-round attraction, the cafe truly transforms during the holiday season. They spare no expense in decorating, featuring beautiful Christmas installations and, most famously, a gigantic Christmas tree that dominates the interior courtyard—making it a seasonal must-visit and a guaranteed hit for your Instagram feed.
How to Get to INC COFFEE Gasan
Fittingly located in Gasan-dong, an area known for its strong industrial and working environment, the cafe is highly accessible via public transit. The simplest route is by taking the Seoul Subway (Line 1 or 7) to Gasan Digital Complex Station. Use Exit 8 or 9—from there, the striking INC Coffee building is just a quick and easy 5-minute walk!
Naver Map: 서울 금천구 가산디지털2로 127-20
A Floor-by-Floor Tour of INC Coffee Gasan
The Gasan branch masterfully blends rustic, industrial elements with modern design, and the best way to experience it is to explore every level.
🏭 1st Floor: The Industrial Heart
The first floor of the INC Coffee Gasan Branch has this cool mix of industrial and cozy vibes. With its concrete pillars, warm lighting, and neatly stacked brick walls, the space feels stylish without trying too hard. You can see the dedication to coffee with the in-house roastery visible through a wide doorway, showcasing sacks of beans and large black roasting equipment. The open coffee bar lets you watch the baristas in action with multiple machines ready to go. The curved walkway leads you past an impressive circular glass display and shelves of bright orange INC Coffee merchandise. It’s spacious, warm, and surprisingly calming—a really nice spot to grab a drink, wander around, or just chill for a bit.
💡 2nd Floor: The Bright & Airy Workspace
The second floor of the INC Coffee Gasan Branch is a long, bright haven designed for comfortable lingering and focused activity, contrasting with the bustling roastery and bar below. A long strip of light down the center of the ceiling illuminates the rows of clean, modern white tables and chairs, some accented with touches of warm orange. The consistent use of the exposed brick wall and large windows keeps the space feeling connected to the rest of the cafe while offering a more spacious and quiet environment, making it the perfect spot for working, studying, or enjoying a relaxed conversation.
🔬 3rd Floor: The FACTORY LAB
The third floor, aptly named the INC COFFEE FACTORY LAB, shifts the focus toward an immersive retail and specialty coffee experience, distinct from the floors below. It features a stunning, elongated specialty bar with high stools, offering a more intimate setting for enjoying unique brews and perhaps watching different brewing methods. The extensive shelving is dedicated not just to retail, but likely to showcasing coffee specimens, brewing gear, and various coffee-related items relevant to their R&D and quality control process, underscoring the “LAB” concept.
🌟 The Rooftop: The Holiday Hotspot
The rooftop offers a lovely outdoor lounge area, ideal for enjoying a peaceful moment on a nice day. This elevated vantage point provides a unique perspective, allowing visitors to look down upon the circular open space on the first floor. This central area is typically reserved for displaying beautiful artwork, but during the festive season, it becomes the perfect spot to capture the cafe’s grand holiday spirit. From above, you can see the magnificent, brightly lit gigantic Christmas tree—adorned with a shining star, ornaments, and gifts—centered in a ring of dark rocks, making the rooftop the ultimate viewpoint for appreciating this stunning seasonal display.
The Menu: Coffee & Delicious Bites
The menu at INC Coffee perfectly complements its status as a coffee factory and lab. Their signature offering is the single-origin hand drip coffee, where you can select from a rotating variety of premium beans from origins like Ethiopia, Kenya, and Guatemala. Crucially, every selection is accompanied by a detailed description of its unique taste profile and aroma, making the ordering process an educational experience.
Beyond the specialized brews, the espresso bar offers a generous handful of latte options, including the classic café latte, a trendy Oatly latte, a sweet condensed milk latte, a vanilla bean latte, and cold brew variations. For non-coffee drinkers, the cafe provides a rejuvenating array of choices, spanning smoothies, sparkling ades, fresh juices, and milk teas.
To accompany your drink, the cafe features a delightful selection of mouthwatering baked goods, though note that the lineup may be seasonal. During my visit, the display case was packed with assorted cakes (like strawberry, orange grapefruit, and cheesecake), numerous flavors of madeleine and financier, cookies, salted bread, bagels, croissants, scones, and butter bars, ensuring every visitor finds a perfect treat.
Pro Tips for Visiting INC Coffee Gasan
To ensure you make the most of your trip to this architectural coffee haven, keep these tips in mind:
Timing is Everything: As a popular destination, especially during the holiday season, try to visit on a weekday morning (09:00 – 12:00) if possible to enjoy the space when it’s less crowded. Weekends and late afternoons will be the busiest.
Elevator Convenience: With multiple levels to explore, use the internal elevator to easily move between the roastery on the 1st floor, the seating area on the 2nd, the FACTORY LAB on the 3rd, and the Rooftop. It saves time and energy!
Best Photo Spot (Christmas): The most iconic Christmas tree photos are best captured from the Rooftop (looking down into the circular courtyard) or right next to the massive tree in the 1st Floor central area.
The Coffee Deep Dive: Don’t just order an Americano! The cafe specializes in single-origin hand drip coffee and even offers unique options like their signature Rum Barrel-aged beans. Take a moment to read the bean descriptions before ordering.
Final Verdict
My visit to INC Coffee Gasan Branch was more than just a coffee run; it was a journey through a carefully crafted world of design and flavor. It’s a place that truly has something for everyone: the energy of the roastery for the curious, a quiet nook for the worker, a lab for the coffee enthusiast, and a stunning backdrop for the content creator.
It’s the perfect blend of experience and coffee, and it has firmly secured its place as a must-visit destination in Seoul.
Access Map
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