Would You Like a Cup of Coffee: Episodes 1-2 (Review)

by missvictrix

In KakaoTV’s latest minidrama Would You Like a Cup of Coffee, we get a sweet slice-of-life story that’s about little things like dreams, goals, and good coffee. There’s nothing loud or dramatic about the setup, but settling into the story is like settling down to enjoy a nice piping hot cup of coffee — and maybe that’s the idea.

Note: This is an opening week review only.

 
EPISODES 1-2 REVIEW

We never quite know what we’re going to get from KakaoTV these days, as they dip their toes into dramas (well, maybe they’re wading by this point) and give us very different drama fare. Their latest effort, though, has a lot to recommend it.

Much like their previous The Great Shaman Ga Doo-shim, it’s a pretty compact and spare story, with a much shorter run time than we’re used to. Also like Ga Doo-shim, the cast is lovely, and the short episodes make you reach for more. But unlike Ga Doo-shim, with its supernatural plot and spirit-seeing characters, Would You Like a Cup of Coffee’s story is about as ordinary as you can get.

The drama opens with our lead character KANG GO-BI (Ong Sung-woo) leaving an entrance exam of sorts, trying to find the right words to text his mom that he failed — again.

She calls him right away after seeing his message, but rather than the squawking we might expect, it’s a sweet and supportive conversation. It ends with him deciding to hang out in a coffee shop and study for a few hours before heading home (“I should have a strong cup of coffee and start again,” he says). It’s that coffee shop where our story takes place.

Would You Like a Cup of Coffee is created by manhwa artist Heo Young-man of Gaksital and Tazza fame. But rather than feeling epic or action-y, where Would You Like a Cup of Coffee excels is its world-building and atmosphere. The microcosm of the coffee shop, the warm tones, the way the neighborhood and characters are captured — it all feels very cozy, real, and like a story you could step into.

This warmth works to set the stage for our hero and his journey ahead. According to his plan, Go-bi finds a local coffee shop called Second Generation Coffee House — but before going in, he checks out the reviews to get an idea of the neighborhood consensus. When satisfied, Go-bi settles down at a table and then instead of studying, soon falls asleep.

When he wakes up a while later it’s near dusk, the owner of the shop brings him a new hot cup, and a croissant from someone in the neighborhood who’s learning to bake. Go-bi’s first sip of that coffee is like Proust’s madeleine — but instead of causing a rush of memories, it gives him a dream for his future. In that moment, Go-bi decides to change his path and pursue the world of coffee instead. He even charges up the cafe owner after hours and announces that he must take responsibility for changing Go-bi’s life.

He doesn’t know it at the time, but Go-bi later learns from one of the regulars that the term for what he’s had is a “godshot” — that one cup of coffee with the power to change someone’s entire life.

Of course, this change and this new dream is about more than just coffee. Go-bi’s trajectory is impacted by the perfection of the cup (godshot) he received, but also, the story is about the community in the coffee shop and the surrounding neighborhood. From the regulars, to the people that come and go, it’s clear the coffee shop is about people as much as it is perfect coffee.

As expected, the cafe owner has zero interest in employing Go-bi, never mind mentoring him, but Go-bi shows up every day, talks to every customer that goes in for a cup of coffee, and learns a lot about the business. His eagerness and persistence and passion finally win over the cafe owner, and that’s when they have their first official introduction. The coffee shop owner is PARK SEOK (Park Ho-san), and he decides to put Go-bi’s feet to the fire.

Park Seok is surprised to learn that Go-bi has worked in a lot of coffee shops and knows all the technicalities of pulling the perfect shot of espresso… but when he samples it, it isn’t up to his standards. This is when Go-bi’s real journey begins, and to start, it’s a trial by fire where he has to spend days toiling over the espresso machine trying to pull a shot so it tastes identical to Seok’s.

At the end of Episode 2, Go-bi has gotten close enough, and we are poised for the rest of the story, which will inevitably be as much about the art of coffee as it will be about community and culture.

The episodes have a short runtime of around 30 minutes, but the slow and gentle pace makes them feel more substantial, and with 12 episodes in total, it seems like the perfect length for Go-bi’s story to play out.

And how charming is Ong Sung-woo (rhetorical question)?! I last saw him in More Than Friend, where he was a charming punk that you wanted to slap a little bit — he’s much more easy to love whole-heartedly here, and to root for.

I’ll repeat myself and say that the atmosphere is really what makes this drama. You don’t have to be a coffee nerd to understand the heart and soul that goes into a good cup, or a good cafe, and the mentor/mentee relationship is the main dynamic of the show. But really, it’s the sweet little world of the drama that pulls you in.

While watching, it reminded me of another smaller (and favorite) drama, Cheers to Me, which has a lot of the same dynamics: an ordinary main character, a contemplative tone, and the backdrop of restaurants and eateries.

I didn’t want yet another drama to watch, but I don’t think I can say no to this one. Sometimes it’s the quiet slice-of-life dramas that give you the biggest comfort, and I’m looking forward to seeing how Go-bi’s story unfolds at the coffee shop — and maybe learning a thing or two about coffee while I’m at it.

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