<strong>The Caffeinated Night?: </strong>South Korean barista Lee Gang-bin, co-owner of Seoul's Café C.THROUGH, has gained a huge following on Instagram thanks to his creative "cream art" coffees.
The Caffeinated Night?: South Korean barista Lee Gang-bin, co-owner of Seoul's Café C.THROUGH, has gained a huge following on Instagram thanks to his creative "cream art" coffees.
Taehoon Lee/CNN
<strong>Time sensitive: </strong>Because cream art coffees can take up to an hour to whip up, C.THROUGH only makes three a day, by reservation only.
Time sensitive: Because cream art coffees can take up to an hour to whip up, C.THROUGH only makes three a day, by reservation only.
Lee Gang-bin
<strong>Master at work:</strong> Lee uses edible icing colors to create his cream art, saying it's important the drinks can actually be consumed. "I only make cream art on cold coffee," he says. "If I make it on hot coffee, the taste changes as it cools off."
Master at work: Lee uses edible icing colors to create his cream art, saying it's important the drinks can actually be consumed. "I only make cream art on cold coffee," he says. "If I make it on hot coffee, the taste changes as it cools off."
Taehoon Lee/CNN
<strong>Requests accepted: </strong>"We take reservations for people who want personal drawings," says Lee. Naturally, CNN took him up on the offer.
Requests accepted: "We take reservations for people who want personal drawings," says Lee. Naturally, CNN took him up on the offer.
Taehoon Lee/CNN
<strong>Almost too beautiful to drink: </strong>"People around me were critical of me becoming just a 'coffee guy,'" says Lee. "But I stuck to my decision, just like many Koreans."
Almost too beautiful to drink: "People around me were critical of me becoming just a 'coffee guy,'" says Lee. "But I stuck to my decision, just like many Koreans."
Couresty Lee Gang-bin
<strong>More than K-pop:</strong> "South Korea has become very famous in recent years due to K-pop," says Lee. "Yet few people know about Korea's coffee culture. Some may think coffee is just coffee. But for me it is a bridge that can always connect one person to another."
More than K-pop: "South Korea has become very famous in recent years due to K-pop," says Lee. "Yet few people know about Korea's coffee culture. Some may think coffee is just coffee. But for me it is a bridge that can always connect one person to another."
Taehoon Lee/CNN
<strong>Bambi: </strong>In addition to his renditions of famed artworks, Lee often creates cartoon characters for his customers.
Bambi: In addition to his renditions of famed artworks, Lee often creates cartoon characters for his customers.
Courtesy Lee Gang-bin
<strong>My Little Pony: </strong>These days the cafe is so busy Lee says he sleeps only a couple of hours a night. On the weekends, people lineup outside to get in.
My Little Pony: These days the cafe is so busy Lee says he sleeps only a couple of hours a night. On the weekends, people lineup outside to get in.
Courtesy of Lee Gang-bin
<strong>Teddy Bear cream art:</strong> Didn't manage to score a reservation for one of C.THROUGH's intricate "cream art" coffees, some of which can take up to an hour to create? The shop can whip up this teddy bear in 40 seconds.
Teddy Bear cream art: Didn't manage to score a reservation for one of C.THROUGH's intricate "cream art" coffees, some of which can take up to an hour to create? The shop can whip up this teddy bear in 40 seconds.
Taehoon Lee/CNN
<strong>Friends and partners: </strong>Lee stands with his business partner, Kim Byungho, who also creates cream art coffees at the cafe. "We dreamed together," says Lee. "I started to learn coffee when I was 18 years old. When I was 20, I came to Seoul to attend college. There, I met him and now we have been friends for seven years."
Friends and partners: Lee stands with his business partner, Kim Byungho, who also creates cream art coffees at the cafe. "We dreamed together," says Lee. "I started to learn coffee when I was 18 years old. When I was 20, I came to Seoul to attend college. There, I met him and now we have been friends for seven years."
Taehoon Lee/CNN