Comparison of Coffee at 17 Gyeongbu Expressway Service Areas, Specific Brand at Manghyang Service Area Ranks 1st

As a result of comparing the coffee taste of 17 highway service area cafes stretching from Seoul to Busan along the Gyeongbu Expressway, stark differences in quality were revealed at each service area. According to a video from the YouTube channel Anstar, the participants evaluated the taste by tasting iced Americanos from each service area, assuming a holiday homecoming trip.

The factors creating differences in service area coffee quality are 'management' and 'bean condition'

The participants cited the management environment as the reason why the taste of service area coffee varies greatly from shop to shop. The analysis suggests that unlike general road shops, it is difficult to maintain quality because it is hard for headquarters or supervisors to manage them, and they do not have a structure where regular customers flow in continuously. In particular, cases of poor quality management were identified, such as certain stores using beans that were roasted a long time ago or where the influence of water was felt more strongly than the coffee taste.

In the case of the Giheung Service Area, the intensity of taste and roasting points varied completely depending on the store even within the same brand, Caffè Pascucci, surprising the participants. One participant mentioned the quality deviation between service areas, saying, "Even though we pay the same amount of money, the coffee taste is so different." One participant pointed out one of the Caffè Pascucci locations at the Giheung Service Area, expressing regret that the intensity of the taste was low, noting, "It tastes too much like water."

The HOLLYS tasted at the Meeting Plaza Service Area showed a popular taste with low acidity and a strong dark chocolate feel, though personal opinions were shared that it would be better if a little less water were used.

Specific brand at Manghyang Service Area selected as 1st place for rich layered taste

The place that received the highest evaluation in this comparison test was a specific brand at the Manghyang Service Area. The participants evaluated the coffee at this store as "number one so far." The coffee in question was evaluated to have a wider spectrum with a richer layer of taste compared to other brands, with flavors such as peach or candy being felt. The composition using expensive beans and stable extraction led to high scores.

Other brands within the Manghyang Service Area showed an acceptable taste centered on sweetness or felt acidic, but they could not show the complex flavor of the brand selected as first place. While DROPTOP at the Manghyang Service Area was evaluated to lack balance because the intensity was too high despite being a specialty blend, the brand chosen as first place implemented a harmonious taste along with a composition that included African coffee.

Angel-in-us Coffee at the Cheonan Service Area also made it into the upper ranks, receiving opinions that the balance was good along with the evaluation that "the store is well-managed so the quality is decent."

Popular tastes of HOLLYS and Paris Baguette, disappointing robot cafes

Among popular brands, HOLLYS and Paris Baguette received good evaluations. For the HOLLYS at the Giheung Service Area, opinions were given that it was suitable to drink without being polarizing because the acidity was low and the balance was good, and Paris Baguette also rose to the list of highly recommended items by showing a highly complete taste. The HOLLYS at the Cheonan Service Area showed a characteristic of having a sweet potato scent by using Ecopia beans.

On the other hand, cafes where robots make coffee or certain brands showed disappointing results. The robot cafe at the Cheonan Service Area received negative evaluations because the bitterness was excessively strong, and for some brands, quality degradation issues were pointed out, such as the coffee taste feeling more like water than the coffee taste because the roasting date of the beans was old. In particular, one store at the Cheonan Service Area was identified as a cause of quality degradation as the roasting date was confirmed to be March.

In the case of Dunkin', the evaluations were mainly "not tasty" or "average," and at some stores in the Cheonan Service Area visited last, results remained disappointing regarding quality management, such as the water taste being felt more strongly than the coffee taste.