Learn Hardcore Korean: gonghang kapeeseo keopireul masyeosseoyo.

Korean is a “pro-drop” language. When the subject (like I, you, or we) is clear from context, it’s often omitted. Here the speaker “I” is understood without being stated.

What does the particle -에서 after 카페 mean?

-에서 marks the location where an action takes place. So 카페에서 literally means “at the café.”

What’s the difference between 에 and 에서?

에 indicates a static location or a direction (e.g., “to” or “in”).
에서 indicates where an action occurs (“at” when you do something).
Example: 도서관에 있어요 = “I am at the library” (state), vs. 도서관에서 공부해요 = “I study at the library” (action).

Why is 공항 카페 written without a particle between 공항 and 카페?

That’s a compound noun meaning “airport café.” In Korean, one noun can directly modify another like an adjective: 공항 카페 = “a café at the airport.”

What role does -를 have in 커피를?

-를 is the object marker. It tells you that 커피 (“coffee”) is the direct object of the verb 마시다 (“to drink”).

What does 마셨어요 mean and how is it formed?

마셨- is the past stem of 마시다, and -어요 is the polite ending. Together 마셨어요 means “(I) drank” in polite past tense.

Why is the verb placed at the end of the sentence?

Korean follows a Subject–Object–Verb (SOV) order. Verbs (and adjectives) typically come at the very end.

Can you say 공항에서 커피를 마셨어요 instead? Does it change the meaning?

Yes, you can.

공항에서 커피를 마셨어요 = “I drank coffee at the airport” (anywhere in the airport).
공항 카페에서 커피를 마셨어요 = “I drank coffee at the airport café” (specifically in the café).