Where Do You Go For Your Cup Of Jo In Japan?
By billywest • Apr 13th, 2008 • Category: Living, The Latest
Do you consider a good cup (or four) of coffee to be a just another daily necessity? Maybe, to you, it’s one of the finer things in life. For me, a day without the stuff is not one worth facing. I’m a bonafide addict (caffeine withdrawl headaches… the whole 9 yards) and not a bit ashamed of the fact. Moreover, having lived in the Pacific Northwest in the US for 8 years before coming to Japan, I’ve become a bit of a coffee snob so I figured, before coming here, that I’d have to learn to live without really good coffee. Indeed, I find myself frequenting Starbucks shops here more than I’d like to. That’s because, in my opinion, really good coffee shops aren’t abundant in Japan. However, they can be found, especially in the Tokyo/Yokohama area. But, everbody has different ideas of what makes an excellent coffee shop; For some, the atomosphere is more important than the quality of the coffee, and for others, it’s all about the taste. For me both are equally important. Where do I go? Well, I won’t name the shops, but I will say that two of my favorites are in Jiyugaoka, both a little away from the station (about 4 mins on foot).
Most of the time it’s Doutor or Starbucks when I’m too busy to make my way
to one of my favorite little java havens. If I’m going to sit and sip while I chat with a friend or do some reading, I choose Starbucks because they’re smoke-free. If I’m grabbing a cup to go, it’s Doutor just because I like their coffee better. However, many people these days are choosing McDonald’s for their cup of jo. According to a recent poll, McDonald’s Premium Roast coffee was selected as the favorite over the Doutor, Starbucks, and Mister Donut brews by about 1,300 20 and 30-somethings. I guess for a 100 yen, it’s not a bad cup of coffee, but come on… MickeyD’s? Well, it just goes to show that plenty of people here don’t demand too much in the way of quality when it comes to coffee.
Coffee at home If you’re like me, you enjoy brewing coffee at home and relaxing in the comfort of your own living room while sipping away. You can definitely find decent coffee beans if you live in a major metropolitan area. In the Tokyo area, I buy mine at Kaldi Coffee. On top of good-quality whole beans you can find a variety of foods from around the world there.
Also, coffee makers for home use in Japan are getting better every year. Last year, I purchased a nice model with a built-in coffee mill (bean grinder) made by Sanyo.
Anyway, if you’re a coffee connoisseur, and are worried about starting a life in Japan sans your favorite coffee shop, don’t fear. You should be able to find a favorite local place. And, if that place happens to be mine as well, I may just let you treat me to a cup.
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billywest is a resident of South Tokyo and lives on the Toyoko line.
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A Good Cup Of Coffee? Where To?…
A recent poll named McDonald’s coffee the preferred coffee of 20 and 30-somethings in Japan. Heresy, I say. Where do you go in Japan?…
Komeda Coffee. They’ve got free nuts!
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I quite like starbucks and excelsier (sp?) coffee….I don`t like doutour very much….I am not sure why! But I love brewing coffee in my house too and usually get it from Kaldi or starbucks!
My favourite coffee shop though is a place in Azabudai that serves brunch…..Yummy! Best coffee in Japan I think!
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I don’t drink coffee so I can’t comment but don’t get me started on Pepsi vs. Coke and why it’s so hard to find Pepsi, regular non-diet Pepsi, in Japan!
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Mr Donuts, if only because you get free refills! Starbucks is just coffee-flavoured milkshakes, and the one time I had McD’s it was burnt and burnt my tongue!
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Yeah, Pepsi was always my cola back home, Shane. Not plentiful here in Japan, though.
Mister Donuts is good in that they walk around refilling people’s cups. I actually love Denny’s coffee, for the taste and the free refills; it’s just good old-fashioned diner-style coffee. It’s the same here as it is back home. But, other than the coffee, not much reason to go to Denny’s, especially in Japan.
By the way, no votes for MickeyD’s, yet (Monday afternoon at 12:20, Tokyo time).
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I buy all my coffee from Hawaii Hawaiian Isles/ Lion
I use3d to try to sober up at Denny’s alot and I think the coffee was good? I don’t actually remember:(
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I don’t really drink coffee but I do like Starbucks.. and Mister Donuts when I’m in Japan…. because they have doughnuts you know…
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For me it’s Starbucks
The only place where I can get a reasonable espresso in a true Smoke Free enviroment, it can’t be beaten!
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I just wanted to point you to this page of mine :
http://simaldeff.wordpress.com/make-coffee-using-a-moka/
What you can get a Starbucks, McD’s or Mr.Donuts isn’t called coffee in Italy. It’s called dirty-feet-bath!
BTW Coffee made with moka or true espresso machines have less caffeine (something to do with the speed water goes when going trough the coffee powder), it’s blacker because it’s tastier caffeine don’t have colour.
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Blenz on Aoyamadori! I’m true to my Canuck roots, and when I get homesick and can’t affort the time or the ticket home, I go there.
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I love coffee, and also share the caffiene headaches when the java is starting to get a little thin in the veins. Back in Canada (Vancouver, of all places), I had quickly discovered over time where to go and where to avoid. Some Blenz locations were pretty good for both atmosphere and taste, while some Starbucks could have the same distinction. When it comes right down to it, the people behind the counter are just as important to me as the taste of my latte.
However, it’s a completely different story in Japan. Like you, I thought that I would have to completely give up the coffee. I actually did for a little while, going three weeks without a cup of mud! Considering how I had been going through five Venti Vanilla Latte’s and about 1.5 liters of work-brewed stuff in Vancouver, this was a bit deal.
Unfortunately, once I started working full time in Nagoya, I started to feel the need for a little pick-me-up every few hours. I had grown accustomed to the odd taste and smell of the vending machine coffee, but it wasn’t something I wanted to continue paying 120 Yen for. Starbucks is alright, and the ladies there already know what I want to order before I even make it to the counter (perhaps a sign that I’m there too often, perhaps not). But when it comes right down to it, I’m a sucker for the Mount Rainer iced latte’s sold at the konbini’s. It’s smooth, cheap and available wherever I might find myself in Aichi, Mie or Gifu prefectures.
That said, I can’t wait to visit my home country in 2010 so that I can get re-aquainted with Canadian milk in my coffee. The Japanese cows are alright (now), but nothing compares to the hormone and steroid heavy stuff they sell at home
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A bit out of the way for most folks here, but if you’re in Kitakyushu try Cafe Centre. It’s on the left side of the road over the bridge on the road going to Tobata, and beside River Walk. The ladies in there do the best coffee I’ve had in Japan by far, plus there are great cakes. The only drawback is that you can smoke in there (which may not be a drawback for you!).
And while I think of it there’s a coffee bar in Harajuku in Tokyo which is at the front of an opticians. I’ve only been there the once so giving directions is a bit hard, but imagine you’re walking down Ginza from all the designer boutiques, back towards Harajuku station. Instead of taking the sideroads that lead you through the wee shops and young punky Tokyoites, walk straight on at the crossroad. You’ll spot this opticians on the left side of the road, just past Zara. They really do great coffee and you can people-watch.
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Have to check it out, Emsk
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Starbucks please. At the Bell Mall in Utsunomiya.
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