Calling all dairy-free milk drinkers and cafe connoisseurs. Somehow I’ve lived in Changwon for just over a year and half without ever knowing about the magic that is Granville Coffee.
Located just a few steps away from Lotte Department Store and in the same building as Kyobo Bookstore, one might say this cafe is hidden in plain sight. Or am I just making an excuse for not knowing about this place despite having walked by it a hundred times since living here?
Now listen, if there’s one thing Korea knows how to do, it’s cafe culture. They’ve perfected it. There’s truly a cafe suited for every personality, every style, and every occasion. So why am I so excited about this cafe, when there are literally dozens, if not hundreds to choose from within a kilometer’s radius?
Three words: Dairy. Free. Milk.
More specifically, oat milk. And almond milk. And soy milk, if that’s your thing!
I know what you’re thinking: “What’s so special about that? Lots of places carry dairy-free milk alternatives now.” True, in bigger cities like Seoul and Busan. But not in Changwon. At Starbucks, you can substitute soy milk for regular milk, but almond milk and oat milk are much harder to come by. And as far as I know, they don’t sell oat milk at any grocery stores in the city. And yes, I’m fully aware that these are first-world problems.
Back in the U.S. I was all about that milk-alternative life (miss you so much, Califia Farms vanilla almond creamer). However, when I came to Changwon, I also came to terms that dairy-free milk options were going to be few and far between. That is, until now — and I’m really excited about it.
My friend and I both got the cream cafe mocha with oat milk. Substituting regular milk for a milk alternative is only 500 won (less than 50 cents in USD). The latte was decadent and extra creamy because of the oat milk. Perfect if you’re having a “treat yourself” moment.
Okay, that’s enough milk talk for today. Let’s talk about some of the other things that I loved about Granville.
One of the things that stood out to me was the coziness and warmth of the interior. Although the space is small, it’s not claustrophobic, and I’d go as far to say it adds a special, intimate vibe that actually feels quite homey. There’s only a few tables inside, but they made good use of the space by adding stadium-like seating on the far side of the wall. We sat there, and because we were up higher and further away from the door, we didn’t feel crowded or stuffy at all. There’s also outside seating available when weather permits.
And because we couldn’t resist, we also ordered a piece of pistachio cake and a pesto-tomato grilled cheese sandwich to munch on. I know, I know — I just rambled on for seven paragraphs talking about how excited I was for dairy-free milk alternatives, and then I go and order a grilled cheese. It’s called balance! Anyways, the cake had a very subtle taste and wasn’t too sweet, so it complimented our sweet drinks well. It was a bit denser than I would usually prefer, but still very enjoyable.
The grilled cheese was everything I want in a grilled cheese — simple, classic, but a little bit elevated with the pesto. I love pesto on anything, and the tomatoes balanced out the sharpness of the cheese really well.
Overall, this cafe excelled in taste, atmosphere, and customer service (the employees were so nice) and I’m looking forward to going back again. Next time, I’ll be sure to go a bit earlier in the day, as it seems like they sell out of their baked goods fairly soon. I also saw that they have seasonal menus that includes pumpkin spice in the fall (something I also haven’t seen in Changwon), so there’s plenty of reasons to go back in the future. If you live in Changwon and are looking for a cafe with dairy-free milk alternatives, or if you just want to find a nice place to spend an afternoon, be sure to check out Granville Coffee.
Granville Coffee – 경남 창원시 성산구 중앙대로 104, closed on Thursdays
Craving This Now 