A café crawl that led me to reunite with a dear friend I hadn't seen in almost a year since her move to Seoul, Korea

Iced Americano, Excellent Latte, and Strawberry Cheese cake | Coffee Blog by Von Brown

After taking a bite of cheesecake with coffee, all the hangovers were gone.

After a long 14-hour flight, I checked into my hotel room and immediately fell asleep. I was awakened by the ringing of my phone and groggily answered, realizing it was almost time for my dinner plans with a friend. "Will be there asap!" I responded before catching a taxi to the restaurant near my hotel. Finally, we reunited! Hannah, a close friend from my college years in New York, had recently moved to Seoul, South Korea after getting married. After dinner, we invited her back to my hotel room for some late-night snacks, including chicken and beer. The following day, we woke up early and searched for a nearby cafe. We stumbled upon the charming Cafe Genial—a compact, cozy spot with a warm wooden interior and a delightful selection of desserts. We ordered an Iced Americano, an Excellent Latte, and a Strawberry Cheesecake.

Cafe Genial in Seoul | Coffee blog by Von Brown

As someone who usually prefers black coffee, I'm always wary of drinks that are overly sweet. Fortunately, the Excellent Latte struck the perfect balance—rich coffee blended smoothly with cream, offering just the right amount of sweetness. The cozy ambiance of the cafe, coupled with the fact that my friend and I were the only customers at that moment.