Coffee Prince

커피프린스 1호점 ‧ Drama ‧ 2007
Completed
Turquoisesparkle
4 people found this review helpful
Oct 1, 2012
17 of 17 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 7.0
Yoon Eun Hye, is a lovely actress. I have followed her around since my first drama 'Goong Princess Hours' and found it rather a shock to see her dressed in boyish attire and short hair! What's more shocking is the amount she eats for this role! *elegant image has now been erased* This drama has a wonderful mix of humour with a bit of seriousness thrown in and the relationship between the main characters is pure gold. The 'princes' are cute, I mean who doesn't like Kim Jae Wook selling waffles? This is a heart warming tale that you are sure to love.
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Completed
care
4 people found this review helpful
Apr 5, 2012
17 of 17 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 9.0
This drama has the best acting i have ever seen in a kdrama so far. And its a good example how outstanding acting can elevate a series into new heights.

Amongst all the "girl pretends to be a boy" dramas this is the most believeable one and the actress does an outstanding job. The story itself is very hilarious and fascinating till episode 12. At this point with other dramas i would get bored but this drama has such strong chemistry between the actors that it kept me watching even the back and forth romantic battle between the main leads which felt quite refreshing for some reason.

Yoon Eun Hye does a terrific job, give it a shot.

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Completed
cyssan
4 people found this review helpful
Aug 19, 2012
17 of 17 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 9.0
I watched this series five years ago. but there are still scenes that I can remember off the top of my head. why? because the acting was memorable.

it's got Comedy. Romance. Drama. In that order.

what i like about it is how the main character is trying soo hard not to fall in love. I mean, most stories would show how the girl falls in love with the boy or vice versa. But it's usually without them putting up a fight against their own feelings.

then characters are believable. so if you're gonna watch a series. I think this series wont let you down.
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Completed
dramaqueen4life
4 people found this review helpful
Aug 22, 2012
17 of 17 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 10
Rewatch Value 9.0
This drama is like what a breathe of fresh air is to a suffocating man..this is the kind of drama that reminds me why kdramas really win so many hearts

This drama has an amazing cast from Gong Yoo to Eun hye.All are at their best acting in this drama.Eun Hye who is so feminine,its hard to imagine her as a boy but she pulls off the role amazingly making us realize that she's a good actress who knows how to act.
coming to gong yoo.that guy has a screen presence where its impossible not to notice how he acts to the way he looks in aviators..:D
He really pulls us in on his daddy issues and his confused love with the lead and the 2nd lead.
The plot may seem very mediocre initially but as one proceeds further into the drama we can see the plot is not the main question but basically the growth of the characters.Throughout the drama the characters grow which makes them seem more human with human follies and vices.

the chemistry between the lead is taut with tension where we dont knw if the next moment they are gonna shout at each other or staring at each other with longing.Gong Yoo and Eun Hye really know how to get those tears falling because in this drama there is a lot of angst involved because of the gender bender and other situations.

the music score simply is superb.one could rewatch the show just for the songs.the songs are picked very selectively telling us about the moods the characters are in and since most of them are in english it makes it more amazing because instead of goin online and checking the english lyrics for korean songs we just understnd what the songs are saying

i give it an 8 for the story because everybody has atleast sampled one drama where there is a girl disguising as a guy.The love story of the second leads is equally engrossing and has its highs and lows.There is noone who is as vicious as Se Na(the villain from Rooftop prince) so this drama is a bit light on the nerves where one doesnt feel like killing the ex.

the only thing i found flawed was the extension of the drama by 1 episode which really hurt it beacause the ending was not satisfying to me.the drama does feel a bit dragged in few episodes but if one has the patience im sure they'r not gona regret continuing it.

so go and watch this amazing piece of drama if you havent seen it yet..

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Completed
noob
2 people found this review helpful
Aug 6, 2019
17 of 17 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 6.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 6.0
Rewatch Value 8.0
I've watched similar type of dramas before where the main girl character disguises herself as a guy. And I got to say, this acting was probably the most believable so far. I mean let's admit it, in real life probably one could tell that she is a girl, but for the fun of it we just have to go along with the play. It is sort of bothering though when it's way too obvious, but here it wasn't really. It's very admirable that it was the best girl pretending to be a guy acting I've seen in a drama. She was tough, strong, hard-working, and never got into comedic, overacted situations like entering the men's room while other guys were using it and freaking out or stuff like that. So I really liked both how the character was written and the acting.

Another very strong point is how this show even though it's kinda cheesy, it's NOT AT ALL cheesy as other shows, and NOT overacted. I'm not against "cheese" of course, (or I wouldn't watch these shows) but I gotta say it was very nice to watch something like this and not getting sidetracked by how awkward a scene is with all the cutesy effects and so on. Of course it has your average misunderstandings from time to time, but not too much.

The most precious thing about it in my opinion is how the romantic scenes are acted out. It's so well made! It's not parodic, it's not super cheesy, no sound effects or silly camerawork, tasteless music and so on... It's so PURE. I can't be sure but I'd guess some of the scenes are actually the results of accidents and improvisations, and how the actors go with the flow is just amazing to watch. There are so many little details they do, which are so personal, playful, and amazingly cute, and those are being acted out with such genuine, lovable feelings.

If you are like me who loves to watch sweet couple moments with a little bit of drama going on, I really recommend it!

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Completed
isuzusan
2 people found this review helpful
Sep 23, 2015
17 of 17 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 10
Whenever I asked someone which drama they recommended for me to watch, Coffee Prince was always somewhere in that list. And I can finally understand why. It's a lighthearted drama about gender confusion, issues on homosexuality and status, and deception. It's just so enjoyable to watch, and you can get extremely intense and involved while watching this, you could even throw tantrums and fits about fictional problems. That doesn't sound like a good thing, but that only shows how well done the drama is.

Although the story is the most lacking thing in the entire drama, it's still brilliant. The gender confusion was definitely the best part and how people eventually found out that Go Eun Chan was never a guy. It is slightly cliche that the female lead's love interest found out last, but I guess it wasn't as cliche back in 2007 as it is now. One thing about the story of Coffee Prince that I wasn't pleased with as the amount of attention that was drawn to Choi Han Seong and Han Yoo Joo. I honestly felt that they didn't need as much screen time (and didn't need to be named as the main protagonists) as Eun Chan and Choi Han Kyul. Their story was just made up of arguments and lovey-dovey stuff. I'm sure they could have still fit in a marriage and miscarriage if they were supporting characters instead. Also, with the miscarriage, I think a lot of people were confused as to what happened with that, so that could have been explained better. But despite all of that, Eun Chan and Han Kyul's relationship throughout the entire series was amazing and I absolutely loved watching it.

Now, the acting in this was superb. I couldn't have asked for a better casting job. I'll start with Han Kyul's actor (as he was my favourite character), Gong Yoo. I just want to say that he is super, amazingly hot, and people could just watch Coffee Prince for his looks. And whenever he smiles, it's the cutest thing. Anyway, Yoo's acting skills are the best and he was completely in character the entire time. Next is Eun Chan's actress: Yoon Eun Hye. Half of the time I was watching this, I would completely forget her character is a girl because she's that convincing. Give or take that her character is annoying when persistent, but still extremely lovable. Last is Lee Sun Gyun as Choi Han Seong, and Chae Jung Ahn as Han Yoo Joo. I won't say much about them because I didn't pay much attention to their time in Coffee Prince, but they were extremely good actors. The only acting choice I didn't like was Yoon Young Ah as Eun Chan's sister: Eun Sae. Not only was her character so annoying, her acting was inconsistent and she didn't show more than five facial expressions.

I can't say I enjoyed the soundtrack all that much during the series, it was never my sort of thing. But it does suit well with the theme and atmosphere of the series. My favourite song would most definitely be Polly by The Melody (I think the song is called Polly anyway). Not much else I can say about the music, but it makes sure to keep in tone with the scenes.

Oh my god, yes, I would definitely rewatch. I need to see those scenes with Han Kyul and Eun Chan again. Those are just the best scenes to watch when I need cheering up.

Overall, besides the issues previously mentioned, Coffee Prince is definitely worth anyone's time, especially those who love romcoms and extremely hot actors and actresses.

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Completed
sai
2 people found this review helpful
Jul 26, 2023
17 of 17 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 9.0

binged it in 2 days

I was a bit hesitant about watching it since it is an older drama and the oldest kdrama I've watched is Boys Over Flowers which I found to be quite average but Coffee Prince truly did exceed my expectations. I binged it in 2 days because I was that obsessed with it, and I barely binge, but I genuinely could not get enough.

I'll start on what I disliked before I go on my huge rant about how much I love this. The second couple wasn't very appealing. Their loveline was just so messy, getting mad at each other for basically cheating but then doing it themselves and all that. I didn't particularly care about their problems and ended up watching their scenes at 2x at one point. When I rewatch this (and I definitely will), I'm gonna straight up skip their scenes entirely because they felt like such a drag. Another subplot I didn't like was the FL's mother's loveline. The mother isn't very likeable so again I didn't care about her romance with that one uncle. It just felt like a filler.

Now onto what I liked, which is the main couple. Their chemistry was absolutely everything, I could watch a whole other season of them just existing and bickering together no plot needed. It's crazy how well they fitted onscreen, the casting director did an amazing job. I was especially impressed by Yoon Eunhye who plays Go Eunchan. She was so natural playing a tomboy, it did not seem forced at all. The character herself didn't feel like she was forcing her personality to act more like a boy, she was just being herself and everyone else saw it in a male light. Even though it isn't completely believable for us as viewers, I can see how the characters saw Eunchan as a boy, from her appearance and behavior. Gong Yoo's Hankyul, although annoying at times, wasn't the typical arrogant emotionless rich snob that a lot of male leads end up being and I'm so glad for that.

I really enjoyed their love story develop too. Eunchan had to hide her identity/gender because she needed the money and at one point it did become too scary to reveal the truth. A lot of people are like "she could have told him sooner and saved all that trouble" but she got close to Hankyul fast and didn't want to risk losing him, so she kept lying. In times like this it does feel easier to lie, especially something so big that could make them hate you forever. Also I personally LOVED the angst. It was just so good, them getting feelings and trying to avoid each other, making the other person confused.. too good. I understand this isn't for everyone but yeah the angsty scenes happen a decent amount and each time I was yelling at my screen because I loved it that much. The high tension and passionate confessions? Amazing. Couldn't get enough of it. I think we deserved one more episode of them just being a happy cute couple though.

The 'princes'/coworkers were really fun too. I didn't like how easily they let slip the truth about Eunchan's gender to each other considering it was her secret, but other than that they were my second favorite part about this drama. They all have their own individual personalities but when they're together it's a very entertaining mix. They all care about each other. Lee Eon's (rip) character, Minyeop, was my personal favorite. He's so dumb but so sweet you can't help but like him. I loved how he kept looking out for Eunchan and tried to protect her as best as he could.

Overall, this was an amazing drama. I can't stop thinking about it, especially the main couple. Can't wait to rewatch this in a year or two.

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Completed
bearuth9
2 people found this review helpful
Dec 3, 2021
17 of 17 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 8.5
This review may contain spoilers

An Unexpectedly, Beautifully Raw Portrayal of Attraction

Let's get one thig out of the way - this drama has haunted me since the day I finished it. And I mean that in the best way.

For days after finishing Coffee Prince I could scarcely close my eyes without picturing Gong Yoo's pained face as he lies next to Yoon Eun Hye on the beach. This drama took me by surprise with the sheer amount of pained yearning present in the main romance - and the unexpected 'love is love' message. Almost unheard of in any show, in any language, from 2007, but from South Korea? God, I still can't get it out of my mind.

Gong Yoo is the star of this drama. There's no denying it. His struggle with his emotions for Go Eun Chan is real and raw and sometimes painful to watch. It's perhaps one of my favourite performances in a drama, ever. This storyline can get heavy at times, but it stays rooted in that tenderness of true, terrifyingly deep love. The angst of the show comes from these themes of falling in love despite yourself, of forgiving the ones you love, of hiding the truth and forgiving yourself for it.

While the chemistry between GY and YEH is electric, the entire cast seems to mesh well together. Every scene with the coffee shop crew feels fun and comfortable, like you're watching a real group of friends hanging out. The secondary performances are memorable, and the style of the show at large is simply heart-warming and comforting.

But, god, Gong Yoo. Watch it just for him and his painful painful yearning, I beg you. You won't regret it.

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Completed
Nyah
2 people found this review helpful
Nov 21, 2019
17 of 17 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
I lost count how may time I re-watched this drama even many years past but it still fresh like I watch it for the first time! Just love the story, the acting of every cast especially YEH, she portray this role really well and naturally. I dislike three love story but I understand the plot and it smooth, sad and fun along with their relationship. I love the part that Han Kyul overcomes his hesitation and accept that he loves a guy. But I don't like character of female second lead that Han Kyul head over heal to her. She's just pretty and cheat on his brother, if it was real life he should hate her instead lol.
The drama made a special place in my heart, I like when many character has a problem which is solved within the story, family, friend, the Prince team and secret love. I loved them all.
P. S. The eye killer waffle boy Kim Jaw Wook, he already hot here so it's a bonus to re-watch it again & again lol.

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Completed
shhsecretaddick92
2 people found this review helpful
Mar 30, 2016
17 of 17 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
Coffee Prince. Oh, coffee prince.

Smooth. Honest. Sexy. Humble. Coffee Prince reallyyyy stole my heart. With the great music, actors, & romance lines that always held a sense of realism no matter how crossed the wires got -- it was just an absolute joy to watch. But surprisingly enough, even with all that, that wasn't what hooked me. It's truly the basic plot of the story, one that is so unique & original, that it keeps pulling me back. Eun-Chan is a girl, pretending to be a guy, who falls in love with a guy, who thinks she's a guy. And it was so well done! Eun-Chan and Han-Gyul were hot..er..I mean, really good together, & there were so many relationship beats that had me squeeing because of how spot on they felt to real life. They reacted to their circumstances the way I could imagine reacting, so as the audience I was totally with them through all the ups & downs. Oh, and hey, who could forget about the other boys of the show! They really made the coffee shop feel like a family & definitely rounded out the tone, & my overall love for show. The episode I knew this show was the one? When they went to the apple farm. I don't know why but for some reason I remember just totally relaxing into that episode. It was fun, yet soothingly quiet. I found myself feeling very peaceful, allowing myself to let the show take me wherever it wanted to take me. It was so nonchalant in a beautiful way and just took me away to Eun-Chan and Han-Gyul's world. Absolutely wonderful show.

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Completed
kdrama-fanatic-1984
2 people found this review helpful
Dec 6, 2021
17 of 17 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 5.0
This review may contain spoilers

It was okay

I'm really not into older dramas. They really grate on me. I started watching Full House and had to stop. Decided to watch this one because it's so highly rated. I like Gong Yoo. I loved him in Goblin, but haven't watched him in anything else. Tried to watch Big and didn't feel it either. I even tried watching Princess Hours and had no luck.

This drama kept me mostly all the way through. However, was this even a romance? Yes, there were some cute moments here and there but the 'romance' felt more like a friendship and I am not sure how these two fell in love in the first place. Like what? I'm still waiting for it. I am not sure why the FL was mad most of the time and she annoyed me to no end. She was such a self, confused character. I would have preferred if she was actually a boy or a lesbian...would have made for a better story...like someone who is actually struggling.

Not much else to say except for the fact that it was long.

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Completed
jay
2 people found this review helpful
Sep 1, 2020
17 of 17 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 9.0

Tomboy chaos at its finest

'Coffee Prince'- a legend in its own right. It truly works, in my opinion, by putting a spin on the flower-boy concept, making it fresh. I think it's a mixture of believable acting, funny characters and slight angst that makes this drama so good in my eyes. It's by no means perfect, but by today’s standards, and if you are a fan of tomboy characters and 2000s kdrama romcoms, it's a classic and I highly recommend it.

I loved Eun Chan’s boyish charm, their morals, their loyalty and that they had personality and weren’t just the love interest. I also liked how they actually passed as a guy. Han Gyul came from a place of heartbreak and self-importance but bettered himself by the end. He learnt to except himself and loved Eun Chan no matter who they were. I appreciated how hard working he became and how much he generally loved the café.

I immensely enjoyed the chemistry and family bonds between the characters, I really got the sense that these were real people. The actors did a great job!! I think this was helped by the down to earth script, and the use of many grounded sets and shots that added to the atmosphere, it really sold the drama's tone and humour, which made the watch that bit more immersive. Some of the characters were outright messy, they could be interesting, good people but selfish at times, driven by their need for company, love or money, but it worked because that's real life, no-one’s perfect. Everyone has their battles when it comes to needing connection and resources - this drama did a great job at highlighting that. Not everyone has the luxury of being like the Choi family; Cheabols with money to throw at their problems. In real life, sometimes you’re pulled into difficult situations.

This is a 2000s drama however, meaning it does come with some of the annoying tropes of the era, like dramatic miscommunication, love triangles and the ~classic~ rich guy doesn’t know how to be nice, but the nostalgia and realistic acting diluted it’s substantial-ness for me. It switches from comedy to raw and impactful believably. I really like its message of love who you are, your job and who you want to become - which I would argue are very important ideals to have in your life and makes for a great take away/shower thought.

The songs were stuck in my head for weeks. This has certain re-watch value for me, I always smile when I see its icon on Netflix. I sincerely enjoyed the journey this show took me on and I can't wait to watch it again soon ^^

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  • Score: 8.3 (scored by 63,232 users)
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