Robert Asami’s Japan Coffee Guide
Last updated: 5/3/2025
This guide is only useful for light roast coffee enthusiasts, primarily in filter/pourover brews.
I index low on cafe vibes/mood, and don’t care for milk/mixed drinks or snacks, interpret opinions accordingly.
Pay close attention to what days of the week a shop is open. For example, a shop with small staff may take its days off on Mon/Tues.
The best way to check for ad-hoc scheduling is via Instagram stories.
Compared to the U.S., cafes tend to open and close later.
The general style is roasting and brewing for sweetness. You’ll find few shops brewing for acidity. You may notice lower temps being used on light roasts as well.
If you want a reason to chat with a someone at a shop, consider bringing beans to share from your country.
This is a rolling document, it will update periodically.
Tokyo
Mameya Kakeru
Kinda in the middle of nowhere, closest major attraction is Tokyo Skytree
Peak coffee experience
Rotating menu of worldwide roasters
E.g. Leaves, Rose, Coffee Collective, Homeground, Code Black, Common Grounds, La Cabra, Momos
The Kakeru location is omakases by reservation. Max 4 per party
The menu rotates frequently with several tiers of course selection available. Some involve creative, single-bite dishes
The Omotesando location is walk-in only
This location fits 4ppl… maximum. The service is hands-on, thorough, and unrushed. Each pair served easily takes 10-15min. Estimate that a 10person line can mean an hour wait
Leaves
Near Tokyo Skytree, Asakusa - Sensoji
Open Fri-Mon
Long waits in line
Personally, I’d prefer their roast approach on the premium options over the entry level selections
Highly experimental with gear
As of 12/2023: Option-O P100, Weber Workshops EG-1Ultra, Double Titus Nautilus, Kafatek Flat Max, Ditting 807, FM 98
Stronghold S7X, Probat UG-15, Giesen W6A
Ships to USA, but pricey. Available in California at Kumquat and Rikka Fika
Seats around 10 total
Another location in Taito, open all days except Monday Closed as of 4/2024. Don’t go to Leaves Apartment.
Glitch
Jimbocho, next to Akihabara
New Ginza location, exceptionally busy
Crazily processed beans, a top 3 roaster to visit for interesting beans
Moody, edgy vibe
Long waits, especially Ginza location
You can ask to have your bean purchases transferred from glass jar to plastic bag to minimize luggage
Does not ship international
Roasted on a Probat
Seats around 10 total
For just the Glitch beans/brews, consider going to Covert or Nadoya no Katte instead
Acid
2024: New location in Yoyogi-Uehara
This location is closed. Don't go here.
A ridiculous selection of fun, high end lots
Ken (the owner, pictured above) is a character and enjoys chatting in English. Tell him I sent you!
Seats about 8 total
Roasted on an Aillio Bullet
Definitive Panama Coffee Studio
New location in Kichijoji. This appears to now be their primary location. Track their open days via Instagram stories.
In a back alley next to Koenji station. This original location seems to be open less often.
Only top-end, crazy premium Panama beans, e.g. 2700JPY+ cups
Fits up to 5 people in the whole place
Open until 10pm
Roasted 100g at a time on a Roest
Aki (pictured above) responds well in English
Tell them I sent you!
Ignis
A bit out of the way, closest to Ueno Zoo and Tokyo University
Wild processed beans, similar to Glitch
Espresso shots pulled on a Nomad (!!!)
Coffee jelly is fun (but might run out)
Roasted on an Aillio Bullet
Primarily expensive, premium lots
Fits about 5 people total
A bit distant from train stations in a cozy neighborhood shopping plaza
Covert
Roasts are fulfilled by Glitch.
Slightly hidden hole in the wall in a random corner of the station underground.
If you meet Kyosuke (pictured above), say hi from me!
Relatively high seating (~20)
Apollon’s Gold
Kitanomaru, a little distant from usual tourist destinatinos
4/2025: New location in Akasaka
“Sey of Japan”, perhaps the lightest roast in the country
Leans towards clean, washed offerings
Wide range of price points. Quite affordable on the low end
Ships 1kg+ free worldwide
Subscription ships free worldwide, can message to add on extra
Seats about 6
Berth
Minato-ku, somewhat close to Tokyo Tower
Ok offerings
Second location near Tokyo Sky Tree, consider it on a coffee crawl in that area
Seats around 5
Coffee Swamp
In a neighborhood in Shijuku away from the busy streets, easy to miss
Stereotypical 1-man shop, service is relaxed
Convenient to the Shinjuku area
Check Instagram frequently due to sporadic scheduling. They close for an hour midday
Busy, entire place seats about 6 total
Cokuun
Location in Omotesando is secret, given to you after signup.
High end drinks, high end experience
Frequently rotating menu
Omakase menu only, by reservation, seating 4 in a session for the entire space
Lonich,
Coffee omakase, by reservation
Spoiler: the , in “Lonich,” stands for “Leave Our Name In Coffee History” and the “,'“ means the journey is not over
Might as well make a coffee crawl by Leaves, Berth, and Coffee Wrights Kuramae while you’re in the area
Seats 2 per reservation, total of 4 in the place
Coffee County
Kitazawa area, consider bundling with a trip to Acid Coffee and Meiji Jingu shrine
Only clean washed offerings
Emphasis on Honduras and Peru due to the owner’s history in that regionRoasts lean towards sweetness on a Probat, recently adding a Stronghold
I preferred the brews at the Kyushu locations (Fukuoka, Kurume)
Seats around 12 total
Verve
Shinjuku station ground level
I don’t drink Verve in America, but I was caught off-guard at how different this location is
Bewilderingly, they have access to higher end lots than back at home, e.g. Elida Estate
Roasted domestically in Japan, evidently on a Probat
Convenient location, hop by Covert too while you’re in the area
Other Tokyo locations, not visited/vetted
Woodberry - multiple locations
Not my cup of tea:
Ogawa, Bongen, All Seasons, Lucent, Mowe, Geshary, Little Darling, Finetime
Osaka
LiLo
In a fairly central part of Osaka
Another, tinier location down the street
Fun selection offerings, both light and dark roast
Cute packaging design
Roasts on a Loring
Ships worldwide, though pricey
Glitch
Much less busy than Tokyo locations
You can ask to have your bean purchases transferred from glass jar to plastic bag to minimize luggage
Other Tokyo locations, not visited/vetted
Kyoto
List of prospective shops to visit, not vetted:
Fukuoka/Kyushu region
Coffee County (Takasago location)
Takasago neighborhood of Fukuoka city
HQ/roastery is about an hour’s drive south in Kurume
Only clean washed offerings
Emphasis on Honduras and Peru due to the owner’s history in that region
Roasts lean towards sweetness on a Probat, recently adding a Stronghold
Tell Taishi or Wataru I said hi!
Filter Supply
3min walk down the street from Coffee County
Fits 4-5ppl tops
Pay attention to the open days/hours
Tell them I said hi!
Rotation of 2 value options, 2 higher end options
Roasts on-site with a Fuji Royal 2kg
Manly
One train station or 15min walk away from Coffee County
Hole in the wall, a hidden inner garden in a building complex
Seating is scarce, overflow seating in an empty building next door
Solid range of light roast offerings, clean and funky
Brews with Aeropress, roasts with Loring
Other
Takamura
Out on Awajishima, a connecting island
I suggest getting a meal at Pasta Fresca Dan-men down the street
Pretty out of the way, you wouldn’t be here by accident
Startlingly high selection of CoE lots
They have funky offerings on rotation
The facility is also a winery
Roasted on a big Loring