[Seukon Exploration] Ediya Lab, a Coffee Laboratory with a Classic Mood

A Place Where Coffee Experts' Passion Comes Together for the Perfect Cup of Coffee

Editor's NoteWords like ‘special, hot place, limited-time popup store’ instantly make your heart race. It's because you're curious about what exactly makes these places so special and different that so many people visit them. You might not want to revisit places you've already been, but you don't want to miss out on the HOT spots others are going to. If you want to visit somewhere special, you've come to the right place. Drinkit editors have explored each store and are here to share their experiences. Introducing Scone Exploration (Special Concept store Exploration)! Could the editors really catch a whiff of something ‘special’ at the places they visited?

Before setting off on today’s Scone Exploration, let me share a bit of TMI. I believe some Drinkit subscribers know the editor’s background. (Hint for those who don’t!) Thanks to working as a mate at Ediya for a full five years, I was even called an ‘Ediya veteran’ among friends. Every time I visited an Ediya nationwide, I felt as cozy and warm as visiting my grandmother’s house. I would wander around talking about “how this branch is, how that branch is,” acting like I knew everything about Ediya. But! I heard there’s an Ediya that feels completely different from the usual ones we often see, so I went to check it out. Today’s Scone Exploration spot is Ediya Coffee Lab (hereafter Ediya Lab). Let’s hear the vivid stories from a former Ediya mate!

Ediya Lab is located on the hill in Nonhyeon-dong. The nearest stations are Eonju Station on Line 9 and Hakdong Station on Line 7, and you can also get there by bus. If you walk, be warned that you might get tired before arriving as if climbing a steep hill, so you need to be determined to go. But once you get close, there’s a building that stands out clearly. Even though it doesn’t have the usual blue Ediya signboard, you can tell you’ve arrived at Ediya Lab from across the street. Seeing the exterior design made me even more curious about the interior, and my steps quickened.

Upon entering, you can see a spacious area that doesn’t obstruct your view. The brown-tone interior and dim lighting create a luxurious atmosphere. It’s a style that’s both classy and classic.

To the left of the entrance, there is a bar for tastings. You could taste various coffee beans from around the world directly, but currently, due to the impact of COVID-19, only capsule coffee tastings are available, so please keep that in mind.

On the opposite side, roasting machines are housed behind glass windows. This is the coffee lab itself, where the beans supplied to Ediya stores nationwide are roasted. Using a variety of advanced equipment, including one of the largest roasters in Korea and smart roasters, they create excellent quality flavors.

Familiar items like MD products, coffee beans, and RTD (ready-to-drink) beverages are also on display. While exploring the store, you can find vintage-style goods and roasting machines here and there. This classic atmosphere adds to the charm of Ediya Lab, making it feel like a more attractive space.

What clearly sets it apart from regular Ediya stores is right here. The variety of freshly made bread, desserts, and salads excites us. The bread is produced daily in-store, with specific breads released at different times starting from 7:30 AM.

The view of the main bar on the first floor.

The view of the seats on the second floor.

This is the main bar on the first floor where you can order drinks and make payments. Viewed from the second floor, the main bar is an open kitchen style, ensuring hygiene. At the center of the store stands a grand sculpture connecting the first through third floors. The widely spaced tables and chairs, along with the magnificent chandelier in the center, offer a sense of openness and feel like viewing a piece of art.

To wrap up the Scone Exploration, we ordered the most basic iced Americano and the signature menu, Cool Cr?me Br?l?e Latte. To sample one item each from salad, bread, and dessert, we also placed a roasted chicken salad, sliced bread, and black sesame chiffon cake on the table.

For the iced Americano, you can choose from Guatemala La Bella single origin (mild), Persona Blend (medium), or Black Label Blend (dark). This time, I chose the mild iced Americano, which features a sweet and sour acidity like white peach and stone fruits, the nuttiness of cashew nuts, and the sweetness of brown sugar blending softly. This bean, similar yet different from regular Ediya beans, has a mild acidity that suited the editor’s taste well. Its fruity freshness paired nicely with all the ordered items.

Cool Cr?me Br?l?e Latte is a barista’s signature menu where sugar is sprinkled on top of the drink and caramelized with a torch to form a hard layer. When you tap it with a spoon and break it, it tastes soft and sweet like custard, with a crunchy texture that’s very appealing. The drink overall tastes similar to Ediya’s previously released Cold Brew Cream Nut and Cream Shot Latte. It’s a very sweet drink, so just one sip feels like a rapid sugar boost.

Black Sesame Chiffon Cake was quite dry for a chiffon cake. Between the layers was black sesame cream, and on top were fresh cream and cookie crumbs, but the cream’s softness couldn’t offset the dryness of the cake. It was somewhat disappointing compared to the cream’s flavor. For the Roasted Chicken Salad, I chose balsamic dressing among balsamic, ranch, and Caesar. It contained quail eggs, broccoli, paprika, lettuce, cherry tomatoes, corn, and various fresh vegetables. It’s a reasonably priced product that can serve as a full meal.

At Ediya Lab, I discovered an interesting (?) sliced bread. They sell only two slices of sliced bread, called Sliced Bread. Next to the passageway leading from the main bar to the second floor, there is an oven, so you can enjoy warm toast in-store. The first bite of the bread was no different from any other sliced bread, but it was moist and chewy enough to be addictive. The soft chewiness of the bread captivated my mouth so much that the crust felt somewhat tough. Also, I thought it would be nice if there were jams available to accompany it besides butter. After finishing the Scone Exploration, the editor left Ediya Lab carrying various breads in both hands. Review coming soon!

Four-word review: “Definitely different”

Photos by Yoon Eun-ae, Kim Bomi