My all time favorite kdrama is Coffee Prince. When I merely glimpse a meme from it on Pinterest, I get a major urge to watch all 17 hours all over again despite the fact that it's only been a month since the last marathon. It was only my second kdrama, but it will always be My #1 Kdrama Love! I truly believe that anyone who gives this drama a real shot will fall in love with it. As evidence of this fact, I recently was temporally living with one of our other best friends and her husband and I made them watch Coffee Prince as their first exposure to kdramas. We collectively got addicted to the point where one night we were out with a group of friends and her husband turned and whispered, "I just want to get home so we can watch Coffee Prince," so the three of us bailed! Main Plot Summary: A spunky, androgynous looking girl, who is the head of her family, has a run-in with an immature but attractive heir of a family company. He thinks that she is a boy, and she lets him believe that in order to be able to get a job at the coffee house his grandmother demands he take on. They gradually fall in love, but he is incredibly torn because he thinks she is a guy and he doesn't want to be gay, but he can't resist her. An emotional roller coaster ensues. Here is a list of reasons you should watch Coffee Prince immediately:
1.The Chemistry between the OTP
Come on, we all know this is the #1 deal maker or breaker for whether or not we truly love a kdrama! It doesnt' really matter whether the story line is that great, or if the clothes are things we would actually want to wear, or even if the characters have that great of hair (as we can see from all the weird bowl hair cuts so many kdrama female leads have). What we really want is for there to be so much sexual tension that we are seriously satisfied when they finally actually HUG. Coffee Prince delivers! I can't stand how freaking cute Han-kyul and Eun-chan are. I want to be them.
2. The Amazing Supporting Cast
All of the characters in this kdrama are pure gold. I have no complaints about the casting whatsoever. There is eye candy galore! And just plain adorableness everywhere. Coffee Prince has the perfect love square. Both male leads have amazing chemistry with both female leads and you don't actually hate the second female lead. And as a bonus, the side stories are for the most part fun and interesting. There is something about the characters that make them really relatable and slightly more believable than the average kdrama romantic comedy.
3. The Range of Emotions
Oh man, I have to admit to you guys that I am not a kdrama cryer. I'm sorry, but a lot of kdramas are a little over the top in the wailing department. However, there were some pretty intense emotional moments for me in Coffee Prince! Both on the deep despair side and the overflowing joy side. Our OTP goes through a lot, and I was right there the whole way, ups and downs and everything!
4.The Kiss Scenes
We can all admit that kdramas do not always have the best kissing scenes, (here's a survey of the best), but what they lack in style they often make up for in substance! Coffee Prince takes the cake on some of the most passionate kisses in the kdrama universe. None of this slow motion stuff! See exhibit A below.
5. It's a Classic!
Coffee Prince is one of the most popular kdramas throughout the world. It had incredible success in not only Korea, but also throughout Asia when it aired. I don't believe you can be a true kdrama aficionado if you have never seen Coffee Prince.
Bonus: 6. The Fantastic Soundtrack
We love kdrama soundtracks and the soundtrack to Coffee Prince is amazing! It's full of Korean Indie music that matches the emotions of the scenes perfectly. Here's an example of my favorite song that really just makes the sad scenes so powerfully tragic.
So I would think of more reasons you should watch Coffee Prince, but instead I am going to go start episode one because looking at all these pictures and listening to the music makes me miss the characters like they're old friends. Enjoy!
12345678 Note: After a recent layout switch, we're seeing comments posted before April 7, 2017 missing on a few posts. We're working on a solution, and in the meantime, any new comments you leave will work!
As if I couldn't get enough of running through every episode a million times, you make me want to watch them all over again! XD I completely agree with every point; this drama has to be the best if not in the top 3. This is one out of many Kdramas that I can honestly say that I loved every member (especially the supporting female--I usually want her dead for being in the lead's way lol). Because of your blog I've been keeping myself occupied with your list of Best Kdramas, your site is awesome.
All of my friends are now teasing me for me new obsession with KDramas....I just started watching 6 weeks ago and based on your reviews I just started watching Coffee Prince...and am addicted. I love all of the characters and am totally lost in the show! I love everything about this story....thank you for your blog!!! (although now I'm afraid I might just watch this a million times and never get any sleep)
....just finished all 17 episodes...and I love this drama for all of the reasons you highlighted in your review. I love this show...and I only wish that I could convince at least one of my friends to watch it. Love Love Love.
I first watched this barely a month ago, as about my 3rd K Drama, and have already watched 3 more times since. The only downside to reading a review like this is that it creates the urge to watch it again, when I really don't have the time!
I'm SO glad I stumbled upon your blog ladies....Coffee Prince is now my favorite Kdrama thx to your blog, I decided to see for myself why you consider it to be your #1 Kdrama. Fantastic acting by everyone especially Gong Yoo and Yoon Eun Hye. Have you ever seen a 38 year old married woman being all giddy and weeping during those intense tear jerking moments....HA Love love love it! I've enjoyed your blog, reviews and your humor on here.....thank you for sharing
Coffee Prince is also my all-time favorite Korean drama. My wife and I have been watching them for several years, now. My wife got me started by trying to get me to watch Princess Hours, but I thought the whole idea was silly...Korean language with subtitles about a monarchy that never existed. Totally ridiculous! Then she had me buy the DVDs for her birthday and would I please watch the first episode or two. Well, I was hooked. I really like Yoon Eun-Hye in the show, so I looked for others with her in it. I found Coffee Prince and loved everything about it. I have since watched over 45 Korean dramas. I am a 71 year old white American male. My wife and I have been trying to introduce others to these dramas but almost everyone shudders at watching something foreign with subtitles.
Yeah, the first time someone tried explaining Korean dramas to me, I wasn't at all interested. Once I actually watched one, I was hooked! I'm glad that they have such a diverse audience. I think as more people give them a shot (especially now that they are available on Netflix and Hulu), the fan base will only grow!
I neglected to mention one of the major drawbacks to getting people to watch Korean dramas...time. Usually, a minimum of 16 hours. We have watched a few Korean movies but find them less interesting than the tv shows. We have some friends who agree to watch an episode or two, but then you have to figure out which episodes of which show to watch.
Hi Gals First and foremost, I love your blog and your review on Coffee Prince. It sums up everything I felt when I watched the series (now this is making me watch it again). I dare say that I did my fair share of internet stalking for about a month after I finished the series. I totally agree about the first impression thing. When my sister first asked me to start watching K Dramas, I was like, 'Are you kidding me.. who would have time to watch that crap??'. And then she being my very persistent sister, burnt a DVD and asked me to give it go.. And I started off with my first K Drama 'Full House' (do watch it when you have time.. You will not regret...) and boy or boy I was so hooked, I ended up finishing the whole series in one go. Bi Rain (the guy who comes in Ninja Assassin) and Song Hye Kyo is the best and they both were soooo freaking gorgeous. And then my sister sent me 'Coffee Prince'. I was reluctant at first because I did not want to end up being an addict all over again. But I was too emotionally involved that I ultimately could not wait till the last episode and so I jumped from Episode 7 to Episode 17 just to see if they are gonna end up with each other.. Oh Bliss at last.. Anyways, keep up the good work on your blog gals. But if you can please check out 'Full House" (My #1 KDrama). I promise that you will fall in love. And here are a couple of shows I have watched during the past year, "Boys over Flower (Just like you said I thought the story dragged a bit too much but I was satisfied with the Eye Candy that is Kim Hyun-Joong, Lee Min Ho and Kim Bum)", "You're Beautiful (Good music but I wanted the girl to end up with someone else)", "To the beautiful you (The 2 leads are from 2 famous KPOP groups and they were so Cute together + great soundtrack)" After I watched this series, I got hooked onto KPOP music. Try the groups SHINEE and U-Kiss, Heartstrings (Purely watched this because of Jung Yung-Hwa. When It comes to music, he is such a raw talent) My Princess (I love the chemistry between the 2 leads and the main actor Song Seung-Hun) Ok gotta go and start watching Coffee Prince again and I might try City Hunter from your list next. Thanks again gals
Warm regards all the way from Melbourne, Australia Dush
I agree about Full House--it's a total classic! The one that I know I need to get around to watching is Heartstrings. There are just too many dramas out there! I will get around to it someday!
I guess I'll have to cave and watch this on Hulu. From what I've read online, this has been the most raved about K-drama. Was rather hoping it would get to Netflix or Amazon, but no such luck. Guess I'll have to suck it up and sit at my computer to watch instead of on my couch. :-\
Viki and DramaFever are actually better options if you want fewer commercials. Between the two, you can find pretty much any drama out there (including King 2 Hearts and Coffee Prince). What I do is connect my computer to the TV with an HDMI cable so that I can still watch it on the big screen! I highly recommend it.
Dear Coco and Vivi, I watched Coffee Prince because of your blog review and now I blame you for my severe Coffee Prince withdrawal symptoms. To cope, I made a convert out of my friend and bullied her into watching it just so that I could gush with someone over Han Kyul and Eun Chan and every single point in between all 17 episodes. And "White Love Story" was on my playlist repeat several times a day. So there. Then I had to go and watch Sungkyunkwan Scandal but that's another story... Kidding aside, seriously love your blog. :D
Here's something that'll make you folks jealous -- when I went to Seoul a few years back, I got to visit the actual cafe the drama was taped in! It's actually in a fairly discreet location (remember from the show how the shop was recessed in from the street and you had to drive in past some trees?) and I had to ask neighbors for directions, but yup, it's still actually called the Coffee Prince Cafe, and they'd kept the interior just as it was shown in the drama. The flower mural Han Yoo-Joo painted was still there, and there were framed autographs of the stars on the wall. Couldn't go upstairs, though, it was for staff only at that time. There were also some Chinese tourists taking pictures^^.
The thing with this series is..the more you say, the less you have said..one of those things..beauty of which can not be said or written but only felt..and like you said..
they want me to be them!..period.
PS: if you are overly romantic types and haven't found the perfect one..or are going thru a breakup..don't watch :P .. you can't have a more perfect man than the lead here!
I enjoyed this drama but it's not my favourite. I don't know that I actually HAVE a favourite! I like specific parts in several but if I had to choose, I'd probably go with "Lie to Me", "Padam, Padam", "Secret Garden", "Rooftop Prince", "Gentlemen's Dignity"... ok, just proved my point! lol I son't seem to have one specific favourite! ;-)
Wow, this kdrama is more than amazing! The way it deals with the lead's confusion is brilliant. I felt his pain. I am a girl and I like boys, but after having seen the kissing schene where he tells her he doesn't care about her gender, I reconsidered the whole notion of love and acceptance. I want to believe that I love my boyfriend not because he is a guy, but for the person he is inside and if he would have been a girl I would love him the same. IThis drama is great on so many Levels. I loved the mature type of relationship that the second leads had and I loved how they tackled real issues like sex and well...being horny haha. Refreshing and every episode was like a Christmas gifrt for me, finished the series in 3 days, I wish I would have slowed down so I would enjoy it for a longer period of time. Thank you for the review! Great blog!
Your Coffee Prince review makes me want to give it another try! I actually stopped watching after about the third episode. I love Gong Yoo and I love the idea of the story but I just couldn't get past some of the gross stuff. For a drama that seems to be aimed at girls there are a lot of things like people picking their noses and talking to each other in the bathroom or about the bathroom, and what was up with the big ant on that one guy's face (in episode 3 I think)?! And that eating contest in the beginning, Yuck!! Those kinds of things really turned me off and distracted me from the story. Does it get better?
I'm watching Coffee Prince for the 3 or 4th time (its on Netflix now!) and wanted to see if other people enjoyed it as much as me. This review makes me happy :).
i just finish this perfect drama, is one of my favorite, the kiss scene OMG! i love tat scene. i have to go to re -watching my favorite parts which is the full episodies.
Every single point made is absolutely true and I echo them!
ReplyDeleteThanks! Still every time I come back to this post I end up putting on the OST or re-watching my favorite parts :)
DeleteAs if I couldn't get enough of running through every episode a million times, you make me want to watch them all over again! XD I completely agree with every point; this drama has to be the best if not in the top 3. This is one out of many Kdramas that I can honestly say that I loved every member (especially the supporting female--I usually want her dead for being in the lead's way lol). Because of your blog I've been keeping myself occupied with your list of Best Kdramas, your site is awesome.
ReplyDeleteI know, I can't get enough of Coffee Prince! I'm so glad you're enjoying our blog :) Let us know if you have any suggestions for us to watch.
DeleteI just finished this yesterday. I loved it. I need to check out your blog further as I am an american redhead gal who is becoming obsessed too!
ReplyDeleteWow, just finished it this week as well! I loved loved loved this show. It's so nice to hear that other people feel the same way :)
ReplyDeleteAll of my friends are now teasing me for me new obsession with KDramas....I just started watching 6 weeks ago and based on your reviews I just started watching Coffee Prince...and am addicted. I love all of the characters and am totally lost in the show! I love everything about this story....thank you for your blog!!! (although now I'm afraid I might just watch this a million times and never get any sleep)
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you loved it! Now all you have to do is find some friends to join you in your obsession :)
Delete....just finished all 17 episodes...and I love this drama for all of the reasons you highlighted in your review. I love this show...and I only wish that I could convince at least one of my friends to watch it. Love Love Love.
ReplyDeleteI first watched this barely a month ago, as about my 3rd K Drama, and have already watched 3 more times since. The only downside to reading a review like this is that it creates the urge to watch it again, when I really don't have the time!
ReplyDeleteI'm SO glad I stumbled upon your blog ladies....Coffee Prince is now my favorite Kdrama thx to your blog, I decided to see for myself why you consider it to be your #1 Kdrama. Fantastic acting by everyone especially Gong Yoo and Yoon Eun Hye. Have you ever seen a 38 year old married woman being all giddy and weeping during those intense tear jerking moments....HA Love love love it! I've enjoyed your blog, reviews and your humor on here.....thank you for sharing
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading! I'm so happy whenever I make Coffee Prince converts :)
DeleteCoffee Prince is also my all-time favorite Korean drama. My wife and I have been watching them for several years, now. My wife got me started by trying to get me to watch Princess Hours, but I thought the whole idea was silly...Korean language with subtitles about a monarchy that never existed. Totally ridiculous! Then she had me buy the DVDs for her birthday and would I please watch the first episode or two. Well, I was hooked. I really like Yoon Eun-Hye in the show, so I looked for others with her in it. I found Coffee Prince and loved everything about it. I have since watched over 45 Korean dramas. I am a 71 year old white American male. My wife and I have been trying to introduce others to these dramas but almost everyone shudders at watching something foreign with subtitles.
ReplyDeleteYeah, the first time someone tried explaining Korean dramas to me, I wasn't at all interested. Once I actually watched one, I was hooked! I'm glad that they have such a diverse audience. I think as more people give them a shot (especially now that they are available on Netflix and Hulu), the fan base will only grow!
DeleteI neglected to mention one of the major drawbacks to getting people to watch Korean dramas...time. Usually, a minimum of 16 hours. We have watched a few Korean movies but find them less interesting than the tv shows. We have some friends who agree to watch an episode or two, but then you have to figure out which episodes of which show to watch.
DeleteHi Gals
ReplyDeleteFirst and foremost, I love your blog and your review on Coffee Prince. It sums up everything I felt when I watched the series (now this is making me watch it again). I dare say that I did my fair share of internet stalking for about a month after I finished the series.
I totally agree about the first impression thing. When my sister first asked me to start watching K Dramas, I was like, 'Are you kidding me.. who would have time to watch that crap??'. And then she being my very persistent sister, burnt a DVD and asked me to give it go..
And I started off with my first K Drama 'Full House' (do watch it when you have time.. You will not regret...) and boy or boy I was so hooked, I ended up finishing the whole series in one go. Bi Rain (the guy who comes in Ninja Assassin) and Song Hye Kyo is the best and they both were soooo freaking gorgeous.
And then my sister sent me 'Coffee Prince'. I was reluctant at first because I did not want to end up being an addict all over again. But I was too emotionally involved that I ultimately could not wait till the last episode and so I jumped from Episode 7 to Episode 17 just to see if they are gonna end up with each other.. Oh Bliss at last..
Anyways, keep up the good work on your blog gals. But if you can please check out 'Full House" (My #1 KDrama). I promise that you will fall in love.
And here are a couple of shows I have watched during the past year,
"Boys over Flower (Just like you said I thought the story dragged a bit too much but I was satisfied with the Eye Candy that is Kim Hyun-Joong, Lee Min Ho and Kim Bum)",
"You're Beautiful (Good music but I wanted the girl to end up with someone else)", "To the beautiful you (The 2 leads are from 2 famous KPOP groups and they were so Cute together + great soundtrack)" After I watched this series, I got hooked onto KPOP music. Try the groups SHINEE and U-Kiss,
Heartstrings (Purely watched this because of Jung Yung-Hwa. When It comes to music, he is such a raw talent)
My Princess (I love the chemistry between the 2 leads and the main actor Song Seung-Hun)
Ok gotta go and start watching Coffee Prince again and I might try City Hunter from your list next. Thanks again gals
Warm regards all the way from Melbourne, Australia
Dush
I agree about Full House--it's a total classic! The one that I know I need to get around to watching is Heartstrings. There are just too many dramas out there! I will get around to it someday!
DeleteWelcome to the blog!
City Hunter is my favorite - it's a wonderful stepping stone into Lee Min-Ho obsession!
DeleteI guess I'll have to cave and watch this on Hulu. From what I've read online, this has been the most raved about K-drama. Was rather hoping it would get to Netflix or Amazon, but no such luck. Guess I'll have to suck it up and sit at my computer to watch instead of on my couch. :-\
ReplyDeleteViki and DramaFever are actually better options if you want fewer commercials. Between the two, you can find pretty much any drama out there (including King 2 Hearts and Coffee Prince). What I do is connect my computer to the TV with an HDMI cable so that I can still watch it on the big screen! I highly recommend it.
DeleteDear Coco and Vivi,
ReplyDeleteI watched Coffee Prince because of your blog review and now I blame you for my severe Coffee Prince withdrawal symptoms. To cope, I made a convert out of my friend and bullied her into watching it just so that I could gush with someone over Han Kyul and Eun Chan and every single point in between all 17 episodes. And "White Love Story" was on my playlist repeat several times a day. So there. Then I had to go and watch Sungkyunkwan Scandal but that's another story... Kidding aside, seriously love your blog. :D
I'm so glad you loved as much as me! Thanks for coming to our blog :)
DeleteHere's something that'll make you folks jealous -- when I went to Seoul a few years back, I got to visit the actual cafe the drama was taped in! It's actually in a fairly discreet location (remember from the show how the shop was recessed in from the street and you had to drive in past some trees?) and I had to ask neighbors for directions, but yup, it's still actually called the Coffee Prince Cafe, and they'd kept the interior just as it was shown in the drama. The flower mural Han Yoo-Joo painted was still there, and there were framed autographs of the stars on the wall. Couldn't go upstairs, though, it was for staff only at that time. There were also some Chinese tourists taking pictures^^.
ReplyDeleteYou're right. I'm officially jealous!
DeleteSam, I'm jealous too.
ReplyDeleteYou nailed it..
ReplyDeleteThe thing with this series is..the more you say, the less you have said..one of those things..beauty of which can not be said or written but only felt..and like you said..
they want me to be them!..period.
PS: if you are overly romantic types and haven't found the perfect one..or are going thru a breakup..don't watch :P .. you can't have a more perfect man than the lead here!
I loved this drama.... everything about it. I thought it was really top notch. thanks for your great reviews.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this drama but it's not my favourite. I don't know that I actually HAVE a favourite! I like specific parts in several but if I had to choose, I'd probably go with "Lie to Me", "Padam, Padam", "Secret Garden", "Rooftop Prince", "Gentlemen's Dignity"... ok, just proved my point! lol I son't seem to have one specific favourite! ;-)
ReplyDeleteWow, this kdrama is more than amazing! The way it deals with the lead's confusion is brilliant. I felt his pain. I am a girl and I like boys, but after having seen the kissing schene where he tells her he doesn't care about her gender, I reconsidered the whole notion of love and acceptance. I want to believe that I love my boyfriend not because he is a guy, but for the person he is inside and if he would have been a girl I would love him the same. IThis drama is great on so many Levels. I loved the mature type of relationship that the second leads had and I loved how they tackled real issues like sex and well...being horny haha. Refreshing and every episode was like a Christmas gifrt for me, finished the series in 3 days, I wish I would have slowed down so I would enjoy it for a longer period of time. Thank you for the review! Great blog!
ReplyDeleteCoffee Prince and Full House are classics. Must watch for every KDrama fans. :))
ReplyDeleteYour Coffee Prince review makes me want to give it another try! I actually stopped watching after about the third episode. I love Gong Yoo and I love the idea of the story but I just couldn't get past some of the gross stuff. For a drama that seems to be aimed at girls there are a lot of things like people picking their noses and talking to each other in the bathroom or about the bathroom, and what was up with the big ant on that one guy's face (in episode 3 I think)?! And that eating contest in the beginning, Yuck!! Those kinds of things really turned me off and distracted me from the story. Does it get better?
ReplyDeleteI'm watching Coffee Prince for the 3 or 4th time (its on Netflix now!) and wanted to see if other people enjoyed it as much as me. This review makes me happy :).
ReplyDeletei just finish this perfect drama, is one of my favorite, the kiss scene OMG! i love tat scene. i have to go to re -watching my favorite parts which is the full episodies.
ReplyDeleteSuper cute drama!
ReplyDelete