The Story
Mesh Coffee was founded in 2015 by Kihoon Kim and Hyunsop Kim, two former colleagues at a coffee fair-trade company whose lives changed the moment they tasted coffee brewed by Coffee Libre founder Seo Pil-hoon . That encounter was a revelation, sparking both men to leave their corporate careers and pursue specialty coffee full time . Hyunsop began learning to roast directly from Seo in 2011, while Kihoon took a position at El Cafe Coffee Roasters, one of South Korea’s early specialty pioneers, to build his own foundation in the craft.
When they opened Mesh Coffee in Seoul’s Seongsu-dong neighborhood, the eastern district had virtually no specialty coffee culture . The roastery was intentionally tiny, with just seven seats and handmade furniture built by the founders themselves, creating an intimate space where every detail reflected their personal vision . What Mesh lacked in size it made up for in intensity of focus, quickly drawing a devoted following of coffee enthusiasts who recognized the quality of what two obsessive roasters could produce in a space barely larger than a closet.
Beyond the cafe, Kihoon and Hyunsop authored “Oh Yeah Specialty Coffee,” a guidebook that became an essential reference for Korean coffee enthusiasts . The book helped demystify specialty coffee for a broader Korean audience and cemented Mesh’s reputation as more than just a tiny roastery . Both founders are also active as competition judges on the international coffee circuit, lending their palates and expertise to events that evaluate roasting and brewing excellence worldwide.
Sourcing & Relationships
Mesh Coffee’s sourcing is guided by the same focused intensity that defines everything about the operation . The founders select single origins that will perform exceptionally well under their ultra-light roasting style, favoring beans with pronounced fruit acidity, floral character, and clean sweetness . This means their menu rotates frequently, with each new offering chosen for its ability to showcase distinctive origin character when roasted to preserve maximum brightness.
The connection to their origins is personal and informed by the founders’ background in fair-trade coffee . Having started their careers at a fair-trade company, both Kihoon and Hyunsop bring an awareness of ethical sourcing that goes beyond marketing language . They prioritize transparency in their supply chain and seek out producers who share their commitment to quality and sustainability, sourcing from regions across East Africa, Central America, and South America.
Roasting Philosophy
Mesh Coffee is one of Seoul’s most committed practitioners of ultra-light roasting, pushing the Nordic style further than most of their peers . Their approach is fast and light, designed to preserve the fruit acidity of each bean at a level that challenges many baristas to extract properly . The founders acknowledge that their roasting style is demanding, which is one reason they rarely sell wholesale, preferring to brew and serve the coffee themselves where they can control every variable.
The roasting method is designed to show the characteristics of each coffee with absolute clarity, stripping away any roast-derived flavors that might mask the origin’s natural profile . This approach requires exceptional green coffee to begin with, as there is nowhere for flaws to hide under light development . The result is coffee that can taste startlingly different from what most customers expect, with vibrant fruit notes, tea-like body, and a brightness that reads as almost juice-like in the cup.
What to Try
The rotating single-origin filter brews are the reason to visit Mesh Coffee, each one a carefully chosen lot roasted to highlight what makes it unique . The founders prepare every cup with meticulous attention, and the intimate seven-seat setting means you are likely to have a conversation with the roasters themselves about what you are drinking . For something different, the Coffee Shake has become a signature offering, an iced cafe latte with a touch of sweetness that makes the ultra-light roast style accessible to those who might find a straight black filter brew too intense.
Because Mesh is such a small operation, availability is limited and the experience is best had in person at the Seongsu-dong location . The neighborhood itself has transformed into one of Seoul’s most dynamic creative districts, making Mesh a natural stop on a day spent exploring galleries, studios, and independent shops . While the roastery does not maintain a large online retail presence, visitors to Seoul who care about specialty coffee should consider Mesh essential, a place where the quality of the cup matches the devotion of the people behind it.