▲ The Gabe / CEO Youngmin Ryu

Coffee industry in South Korea has grown explosively in recent years and experts are predicting the sales would reach 8.6 trillion won ($7.2 billion) around 2023 from current 7 trillion won. From big brands such as Starbucks and A Twosome Place to individual coffee shops equipped with unique interior, ambience and menus, we can see several of them while walking just one or two streets. 

[Youngmin Ryu]

Youngmin Ryu is a master barista. He traveled Europe in searching of various kinds of coffee and their culture. Back in Korea, he continued his study of coffee and one thing he paid an extra attention was the fact that high quality coffee beans used at luxury hotels were directly imported from overseas. Though expensive, he ventured the luxury taste from here and there and came to a conclusion that no matter how luxury the taste he felt it came to be the same taste eventually but only expensive. Thus he decided to bring up his own ideas to create something new and established The Gabe Workshop that is making coffee drippers, makers, spoons, etc. 

“A copper cup looks different and creates a unique vintage feel. It keeps the taste and smell for a long time and keeps the freshness until you take the last sip. A copper cup and maker can be a good set of your companion if you are a camper as they are strong and heated up quickly” says Ryu. 

Alongside, The Gabe Workshop, he is preparing to launch his own coffee brand The Gabe this December on the mouth of Shinjin Market in Jongno 5 ga, Seoul. At the cafe, he is selling not only coffee but also a variety of coffee equipment he made at The Gabe Workshop.

“The roaster we made comes in 1.5kg, 3kg and 5kg and it runs the whole roasting process automatically when you put into the recipe into the machine. This way, you can get even taste of the coffee that can only be tasted at The Gabe. I’ve already demonstrated the roaster in a number of exhibitions and fairs for the last 6 months and I observed positive respond from visitors home and abroad alike.”

[Social Contribution]

Ryu went to Dandong, China in 2004 on a business trip and met children suffering from heart disease. Feeling sympathy, he brought 7 Chinese children to South Korea to have medical treatments and a Mongolian child to have a kidney transplant. He also supported living and medicine costs to some children in need in Mongolia. Apart from this philanthropy, he is teaching the disabled coffee making skills so that they can be able to earn their living by themselves. <PowerKorea>

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