커피 한잔 할까요? S1

A lovely, touching drama to heal your heart.

I'm struggling to think of how to review this, because I feel like whatever I say won't do it justice. I started watching because of 옹성우, but quickly realised I had stumbled upon a true gem. To put it simply, I found everything about this drama wonderful, and I'm already looking forward to watching it again.

After drinking a seemingly magical cup of coffee, 옹 is determined to become a barista. The man who runs the neighbourhood coffee shop where 옹 had this life-changing experience is perplexed by the enthusiastic 옹 who keeps showing up at his workplace every day. Eventually he relents and takes 옹 on as a part-timer, and we get to witness him struggle to make various types of coffee and interact with an array of interesting customers.

The show meanders comfortably between a lovely mellow, dreamy atmosphere and a gently comedic slice of life vibe. The coffee shop 사장님 is kind-hearted and laid-back, always with a warm smile on his face, and acts more like a doting father than a boss. 옹 wanders around like a confused puppy; his expressions alone made me laugh. The combination of the two, along with a wonderful supporting cast, makes for the perfect 힐링 show.

Language-wise, there's not much that's particularly challenging: it's mostly everyday topics using common vocabulary. The terms relating to coffee-making should already be familiar, as those that aren’t Italian (which English coffee culture has also adopted) are borrowed from English. That being said, there were parts I didn't quite follow; I was so immersed in the show's healing effects that anything that wasn't easily understood just washed right over me.

If you're looking for a warm, relaxing show to help you unwind after a hard day, give this a try.