Coffee Prince: The Korean Drama That Made Café Culture Romantic

Coffee Prince is a 2007 South Korean romantic comedy drama that aired on MBC from July 2 to August 28, 2007, starring Gong Yoo and Yoon Eun-hye. Set in a run-down Seoul coffee shop that is reinvented as a café staffed by handsome young men, the 17-episode series became a ratings hit and is still remembered as one of the dramas that made café culture look romantic, stylish and modern to a generation of viewers.

Here is what the show is about, the real café where it was filmed, why it matters to Korean coffee culture, and how to make a Coffee Prince–style latte and waffle at home.

What Is Coffee Prince About?

The drama is based on the novel The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince by Lee Sun-mi. Yoon Eun-hye plays Go Eun-chan, a hard-working young woman supporting her family who is often mistaken for a boy. Gong Yoo plays Choi Han-gyeol, the carefree grandson of a food company’s chairwoman.

To escape the blind dates his grandmother keeps arranging, Han-gyeol hires Eun-chan, believing she is a young man, to pretend to be his partner. His grandmother answers with an ultimatum, and he ends up taking over a shabby old coffee shop to prove he can run a business. He renames it Coffee Prince, hires an all-male staff, and Eun-chan, still in disguise, joins the team. Feelings grow, confusion follows, and the café becomes the center of everyone’s lives.

The main cast

The Coffee Prince Café Setting

The café itself is almost a character. The show turns a tired old coffee shop into a bright, playful place with good coffee, fresh waffles and staff who know how to charm customers. Much of the drama’s gentle humor comes from everyday café life: learning to make drinks, handling difficult customers, cleaning up after closing and figuring out how to bring in business.

For filming, the production remodeled an old coffee shop in the Hongdae area of Seoul, a lively neighborhood near Hongik University known for art, music and student life. After filming wrapped, the café reopened with set props on display, including the flower painting by Yoo-joo’s character, and it became a destination for fans. In 2011, the Hongdae area and the coffee shop were even featured in a National Geographic Channel documentary about the Korean Wave. We cannot confirm what is at the site today, so check current information before planning a visit.

What made the café feel so romantic

• Coffee as craft. The show presents making a good cup as a skill worth learning, which was still a fresh idea for TV audiences in 2007.
• Waffles and coffee. The café’s signature pairing gave viewers a cozy, very visual image of café life.
• Community. The staff are a found family, and the café is where they grow up together.
• A modern, youthful look. The space felt creative and relaxed rather than formal, the kind of place you would want to spend an afternoon.

Coffee Prince and Korea’s Café Boom

When Coffee Prince aired, coffee shops were becoming a major part of urban life in South Korea, especially among young people looking for places to study, meet friends and date. The drama captured that moment and made the café look like the most exciting place in the city.

The ratings show how many people were watching. According to TNS Media Korea figures, the drama averaged about 24% of the nationwide audience, peaking at 29.9% nationwide for episode 12. It also won major awards, including Best Actress (TV) for Yoon Eun-hye at the 2008 Baeksang Arts Awards, and it was later remade in Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia and China.

No single show created Korea’s love of cafés, but Coffee Prince is often remembered as a cultural touchstone for it. Today South Korea is famous for its huge, design-led café scene. Our guide to Korean café culture explains why the country fell so hard for coffee, and the viral dalgona whipped coffee shows how Korean coffee trends keep traveling the world.

Make a Coffee Prince–Style Latte and Waffle at Home

This is our own café-at-home recipe, inspired by the show’s coffee-and-waffles vibe. It is not an official recipe from the drama.

Vanilla café latte (serves 1)

• 1 double espresso, about 60 ml (2 fl oz), or 120 ml (4 fl oz) strong brewed coffee
• 180 ml (6 fl oz) whole or oat milk
• 1 to 2 tsp (5 to 10 ml) vanilla syrup, to taste

1. Brew the espresso or strong coffee into a large mug and stir in the vanilla syrup.
2. Heat the milk to about 140–150°F (60–65°C) and froth it until glossy.
3. Pour the milk into the coffee, finishing with a spoonful of foam. Try a simple heart if you are feeling romantic: our latte art for beginners guide shows how.

Simple café waffles (makes about 4)

• 250 g (2 cups) all-purpose flour
• 1 tbsp (12 g) sugar and 2 tsp (8 g) baking powder
• 2 eggs, 420 ml (1 ¾ cups) milk and 80 g (⅓ cup) melted butter

1. Whisk the dry ingredients in one bowl and the wet ingredients in another.
2. Combine gently; a few lumps are fine.
3. Cook in a preheated waffle iron until golden and crisp, about 4 to 5 minutes.
4. Serve with whipped cream, fruit or a drizzle of honey.

Variations

• Iced version: pour the espresso and cold milk over ice. Iced coffee is hugely popular in Korean cafés.
• Flavored coffee shortcut: brew a vanilla or hazelnut flavored coffee and add steamed milk, no syrup needed.
• Tea option: swap the espresso for a matcha latte for a café-style green drink.

Coffee Prince FAQ

How many episodes does Coffee Prince have?

Coffee Prince has 17 episodes, each about an hour long. It aired on MBC on Mondays and Tuesdays from July to August 2007.

Is Coffee Prince based on a book?

Yes. It is adapted from the novel The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince by Lee Sun-mi. The drama’s writers adapted the story for television.

Where was Coffee Prince filmed?

The café scenes were filmed in a remodeled coffee shop in Seoul’s Hongdae neighborhood. After filming, it reopened with props from the show and drew many fans.

Is Coffee Prince worth watching today?

Many fans still consider it a classic. Some elements feel dated after more than 15 years, but its warm café setting, chemistry between the leads and found-family cast still make it a comforting watch.

Open Your Own Coffee Prince Café at Home

Coffee Prince made the café the most romantic room in Seoul, and you can borrow that feeling with a good latte and a warm waffle. Feel Espresso roasts every order 1–5 days before delivery. For a sweet, café-style cup, try our French Vanilla or Hazelnut flavored coffee, or explore all our flavored coffees and find your own signature drink.