Protokoll Roasters Yeonhui (프로토콜 연희점) is a specialty coffee roastery cafe that is located in Yeonhui-dong (연희동).

“PROTOKOLL is a specialty coffee roastery whose name originates from the German word meaning “storage” and “record.” It is a space that captures the process of documenting through the lens of coffee.
Records are preserved in thick notebooks, in moments of contemplation, and in the act of putting pencil to paper—remaining in all visible and invisible forms over time. From roasting profiles and extraction recipes to individual sensory impressions, we create a diverse archive shaped by every coffee experience.” —Protokoll

I found this place when I was doing my research on cafes around Yeonhui-dong area and the interior of the cafe was what first caught my attention. The cafe occupies the second floor of a pretty spacious building and is set up like what feels like an open floor architect firm. The coffee bar is made out of wooden architect drawers and their coffee and desserts display/cashier is set up on a drafting table. Pretty nice setup. The main seating area is filled with 8 sets of table of four with additional single seatings along the side walls next to the windows. The wooden furnitures combined with the metal chairs, study lamps and concrete walls really give the whole space a clean and modern vibe.

Greysuitcase Seoul Cafe Series: Protokoll Yeonhui (프로토콜 연희점), Yeonhui-dong (연희동), Seoul, South Korea.

The place has been on my cafe-to-go list for a while but since their menu is very coffee-centric, I thought it’s probably better for me to go with a friend who drinks coffee rather than alone so I can find out if their coffee is good. And the day finally came when my friend who works at a coffee bean company happened to be in Seoul and asked me to bring him and his colleagues to a good coffee spot. And so I took them to Protokoll Yeonhui, wanting to hear what they think about their coffee.

We went on a Monday around 2 pm and the place was full. I was honestly surprised since it was a weekday (later I found out it’s even busier during the weekends so be prepare for that if you’re planning to visit). There was a wait list going on so we put our name down for a table. While waiting, I noticed that there were a lot of people who are studying/working on their laptops. Given how the cafe is set up, I guess it makes perfect sense why this place is popular for remote studying/working. Good thing we didn’t have to wait too long because 15 minutes later, we got a table.

Since I don’t really drink coffee, I ordered their Earl Grey Classic (₩4,000) and it was good. I think cafes in Korea have great teas in general. The rest of the group ordered their Cafe Latte (₩6,000) with different kinds of coffee beans they have in rotation. The group’s verdict was they all think that Protokoll’s cafe latte was pretty good and the ratio between the coffee and the milk was great. The group gave an 8/10 rating for their coffee orders so I guess my coffee spot recommendation was a success.

If you’re looking for a great coffee spot or a place where you can study or work around Yeonhui-dong area, Protokoll Roasters Yeonhui (프로토콜 연희점) is definitely a good option to check out.