Anushree Taparia, Hyderabad, Telangana

Post Guardian: The Lonely and Great God, also known as Goblin, I was awestruck by the lead actor Gong Yoo, so I decided to watch his other works. This is how I chanced upon Coffee Prince, also known as The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince, that aired way back in 2007. Based on a novel of the same by Lee Sun-mi, the drama stars Gong Yoo and Yoon Eun-hye in the lead.

Coffee Prince narrates the story of Choi Han-kyul, a carefree but rebellious young chaebol, whose family runs a prospering coffee business and Go Eun-chan, a hard-working girl, who is often mistaken for a boy because she dresses up like one. What happens when Han-kyul is asked to run an old coffee shop to prove his worth? He is joined in his adventure by Eun-chan, Choi Han-sung, played by Lee Sun-kyun, Han Yoo-joo, played by Chae Jung-an, and the staff at the coffee shop, who add layers of romance, jealousy, confusion, and comedy and brew it well to provide a rich aroma to this coffee.

To be honest, I watched this drama because of Gong Yoo, and he did not disappoint me at all. But at the same time, other characters also made their presence felt. I was moved by the character of Eun-chan, who faces the difficulties that life throws at her with such strength and dedication.

As the bread earner in her family, Eun-chan spends most of her time doing odd jobs and even fakes her identity to secure her job at the coffee shop. But her cheerfulness, innocence, and friendly nature wins everyone’s heart in an instant. Yoon Eun-hye, who portrays the role, lived the character and made it her own. She is convincing as an industrious girl often mistaken for a boy, who has dedicated her life to her work. She does not beat around the bush and is a delight to watch.

On the other hand, we have Gong Yoo. He is an exceptional actor, and after watching him portray a mature character in Goblin, it was a pleasure to watch him as a rebellious, independent entrepreneur who wants to prove his worth to his family. He puts his heart and soul in the character of Han-kyul. One can notice his evolution from a carefree, rich brat to a mature, responsible man as the story progresses. He also adds vulnerability to the character and does not shy away from showing his weaknesses. He works on his emotions with different people around him beautifully.

This drama has the right blend of a simple storyline, soulful OSTs, and remarkable performances that makes it a classic K-drama. Not high on drama, the key to its success lies in its simplicity. It gives off a warm and friendly vibe. The first thought that comes to my mind when I think of Coffee Prince is people sitting in a cozy café, enjoying their favorite coffee with freshly baked cakes, and being engulfed in that old school feeling of simplicity.

Do not expect any extravagance, fantasy, or nerve-wracking episode endings in this drama. There is only the magic of real emotions. Coffee Prince is as refreshing as a cup of hot coffee on any given day. You simply need to enjoy every sip slowly.

What are your thoughts on the classic drama? Share your thoughts in the comments sections. If you are yet to watch it, you can catch it on Netflix.