I love coffee and love specialty coffee. This is a trimmed-down collection of some of my favorite coffee shops I frequented while staying in Tokyo for a couple months last fall.
Also, apologies for the description formatting - Reddit doesn't allow paragraphs in tables.
Note for Casual Coffee Drinkers
I write this mostly for people who love coffee and want to explore some of the specialty coffee scene in Tokyo.
Some of these places are out of the way and/or quite expensive. If you have no interest or only a passing interest in coffee, I'd say most of the things on this list aren't really places to drop into.
But coffee I would recommend for the casual drinkers out there - either from this list or just other stuff I've had:
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Cafe Reissue - very fun
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Higuma Coffee and Doughnuts - good doughnuts and a good location
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Fuglen - two good locations, good vibes
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Sarutahiko - generally okay, decent chain that you'll find all throughout Tokyo
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Streamer Coffee Company - they have multiple locations around the Shibuya/Harajuku area. Not exactly my preferred style, but they have great latte art and are very Starbucks-y
Vocabulary
Some vocabulary for coffee shops if you're somehow posed with a menu that doesn't have English.
Coffee Type Japanese Romanization Coffee コーヒー ko-hi- Espresso エスプレッソ esupuresso Flat White フラットホワイト furatto howaito Cappuccino カプチーノ kapuchiino Latte ラテ rate Hand Drip Coffee (what they call pourover coffee) ハンドドリップコーヒー Hando dorippu ko-hi-Ginza Area
Glitch Coffee
Location https://goo.gl/maps/Rxq88xg2CbbepCzc8 Highlights Everything! Espresso, flat white, latte, pour overs Food Baked goods Cost Whatever the coffee beans cost - 1000 - 4000 yen per drink. Subsequent orders will receive a 200 yen discount. Language English menu, some staff may speak English Description I have not been to this one, but have been to the one in Jimbocho/Kanda.Cafe de L’Ambre
Location https://goo.gl/maps/z6ScPefkofnbSHwK9 Highlights Queen Amber (amazing coffee mixed drink), variety of roasted coffee, some of which are from beans aged 5+ years. Food None Cost 500 - 2000 Yen Language English menu, a couple on staff speak English. Description This coffee shop was founded in 1948 and is an old-school kissaten. Staff are very nice, space is a little cramped, but they make some great coffee using Hario Nel cloth drippers. For their drip coffee, they will give you options of making it ‘light’, ‘medium’, or ‘strong.’ This is how concentrated the resulting coffee will be - if you like espresso, even ‘strong’ isn’t particularly strong, to give you an idea. I really like to drink their coffee with a little alcohol - they have a selection of liquor on the menu like brandy. And the Queen Amber - highly recommended if you like a cold, sweet coffee drink.Shibuya ＊ Harajuku ＊ Omotesando ＊ Yoyogi ＊ Shimokitazawa
Chatei Hatou
Location https://goo.gl/maps/ME8BwxdhsXf46kR5A Highlights Coffee made from charcoal-roasted beans, cake. Food CHIFFON CAKE! Cost 600 - 2000 Yen - CASH ONLY Language English menu, staff do not speak English Description Famously, this is the kissaten that inspired the founding of Blue Bottle. It can get quite busy, and the staff may be what I’d call a little curt. The coffee is very robust - I can drink it black with no sugar or milk, but there are various options for milk-based drinks on the menu. My wife says the cappuccino is amazing, it’s concentrated pourer coffee that is then topped with a really thick whipped milk topping (this is hard to describe, you’ll just have to order it for yourself). Pair coffee with chiffon cake, this is a must!Fuglen Shibuya
Location https://goo.gl/maps/ZgpuD8FQ9Lr3fzyP6 Highlights Nordic-roasted coffee beans, mocha, flat white, Food Baked goods Cost 600 - 2000 Yen Language English menu, some staff may speak English DescriptionObscura
Location https://goo.gl/maps/7BPQMfCmWLZus34W9 Highlights Good coffee and nicely priced roasted beans Food None Cost 350 - 650 yen for coffee Language English menu, unknown staff English ability Description Decent coffee, I like their coffee beans.Cafe Reissue
See the two latte artists:
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Runa: https://www.instagram.com/RunaPocket/
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George: https://twitter.com/george_10g
Onibus Coffee
Location https://goo.gl/maps/5dijXPf5rnBKvTTa9 Highlights Very good coffee in a rather cozy, two-floor space. Has some outdoor seating. Food Baked goods (did not eat any) Cost 500 - 800 yen for coffee / Beans range from 700-1000 yen for 100 grams up to 5000-8000 yen for 1 kg Language English menu, staff may speak English Description Really nice coffee a block off a main drag in Nakameguro. Gear is the typical EK43, Linea PB, Mythos. Atmosphere is chill, with music playing, mixed with the sounds of the Toyoko Line running about 15 feet away from you. Can get pretty busy - it’s a place for locals and college students to hang out, and is famous enough to draw international coffee enthusiasts. The espresso was well made, very citrusy and medium brightness. Chocolate and syrupy in the middle and mouthfeel. Americano was diluted to roughly 9 oz of liquid, more than my personal preference but this lowered the brightness and brought out more orange peel notes, something like a hint of floral taste, and a bittersweet chocolate. The finish was mildly acidic, lightly buttery (like the finish of a cup of cocoa). It still had a pretty rounded mouthfeel.Koffee Mameya - Coffee Bean Shop
Location https://goo.gl/maps/PHQjBA3naorW2cbz6 Highlights Coffee bean shop that sells a variety of beans from roasters throughout the Japan or the world Food None Cost Pourover coffee can be made for depending on what the coffee is. I usually pay about 1000 yen for the coffee. Coffee beans can cost 3000 - 5000 yen for 150 grams. Language Staff speak excellent English, the bean menu is in English Description Imagine having your coffee bean buying experience becoming very personal and conversation. That’s what this shop is like. Don’t come here expecting to sit down or drink coffee (you will stand).Higuma Doughnuts x Coffee Wrights
Location https://goo.gl/maps/Mt8wMcLA4FnyLRG79 Highlights Great doughnuts and good coffee down the street from Koffee Mameya. Food D O U G H N U T S Cost 450 - 600 yen for coffee 300 - 400 yen for doughnuts Language English menu, staff may speak English Description What I needed on an 85 degree day. They serve coffee roasted by Coffee Wrights. Coffee was mildly sweet, satisfyingly bitter. I’d say notes of very bitter dark chocolate, paired well with the donuts. I loved the doughnuts - had a cinnamon sugar - they’re soft and airy, unlike the very cake-y doughnuts I’m normally used to.Little Nap Coffee Stand
Location https://goo.gl/maps/xEDDoF3nztVxtnL88 Highlights Excellent coffee next to the train tracks. Food Has baked goods, ice cream, and hot dogs. Cost 430 - 700 yen Language English menu, staff may speak English? Description This is located about 1 km from their roasters: https://goo.gl/maps/478StaXbCqU6M3TS7. Out of the way but if you’re venturing to the Yoyogi Hachimangu or trekking around Yoyogi Park, this is on the western edge. Gear is a Synesso MVP Hydra paired with Mazzer grinder. Very chill and cozy space next to the Odakyu Line train tracks. Had an Americano, very chocolatey and herbaceous base coffee.Coffee Wrights
Location https://goo.gl/maps/rohoDwES5RGZomgS7 Highlights Dark chocolate-y espresso, spacious coffee shop. Food Has a food menu, I got cheesecake Cost 400-500 yen for espresso (single/double) 600 yen for milk drinks / If you’re sitting in the cafe, each member of your party must order something Language English menu with pictures, staff do not speak English Description Uses a Synesso Hydra single group. Espresso was developed, very much on the dark chocolate spectrum. Atmosphere is relaxed and quiet, played jazz music while I was there.Bear Pond
Location https://goo.gl/maps/VfFaN8Zt1rjY5BbF7 Highlights Excellent espresso shots Food None Cost 500-800 yen - I think cash only. Language English menu, some staff members (like the owner) speak English Description Machine is a La Marzocco FB80. This place has somewhat of a reputation of being maybe a little curt, because it’s pretty no-nonsense. I felt the staff member was nice enough. The shop is a little small and there are a few outside seats. I’ve had multiple espresso shots and macchiatos here. If you like your coffee fast and traditional, this is a very good option. Very chocolatey, the base espresso is robust and developed, more medium-dark to bring out deep chocolate notes. Very long finish with a bitter chocolate aftertaste. The macchiato cut this darkness down and made it more palatable to me, and the latte art was very nice, especially given that it’s done in a demitasse. If the owner is at the shop, you must try the special menu, which has an item on it called The Angel Stain. It’s 800 yen and basically a super ristretto, like you’ll only end up getting a splash of espresso in a cup. The other staff will not make the special drinks.Ogawa Coffee Laboratory
Location https://goo.gl/maps/MZTN1Xea5q5bekYf8 Highlights Variety of coffee preparation in an almost cavern-like space Food Baked goods Cost 600 - 2500 yen for coffee. Higher end is for pour overs made from expensive beans (e.g. 100% Jamaica Blue Mountain or Gesha). Language English menu, some staff may speak English Description This is a very stark place a few blocks away from Bear Pond. I had to visit them since it’s a “newer” style Ogawa Coffee similar to what we have in Boston. Unlike the Ogawa Coffees in Kyoto or Boston this place doesn’t do food aside from a small selection of baked goods (looks to be scones). Drinks are espresso, pour over, Aeropress, and you pick from a selection of coffee beans. Service is friendly, the staff do know some English, and all the coffee selections are in English and Japanese with a corresponding “flavor wheel” identifying what each coffee would be. I asked the barista for what he’d recommend for something that’s acidic and sweet and I got the El Salvador Los Alpes. Pour over is made with ceramic Kalita 155s. Coffee was nice, just a tinge of acidity in the finish, with front sweetness and juiciness, lots of red fruit notes (the card indicated red grape and cherries).The Mosque
Location https://goo.gl/maps/fkjG8PoAUmJyZBpv6 Highlights Great Turkish coffee and lokum in cozy space Food Lokum (Turkish Delight) Cost Forgot the cost, but I think it’s something like 500-600 yen for coffee, and 100 yen per lokum. Language English menu, owner may know some English Description Small place with chill vibes. This place does Turkish Coffee, stumbled upon it like three coffee shops in in Shimokitazawa. You get your choices of style (I got a Cardamom) and I got some lokum to go with it. Sugar levels of 0-3 (I got a 1). Owner is super friendly, coffee had a good balance of spice and just a tinge of sweetness at sugar level 1. Paired very nicely with the lokum, aftertaste of sweets and cardamom. Very good coffee, it changed my mind about Turkish coffee.East Side
Glitch Coffee Jimbocho
Location https://goo.gl/maps/V2X4VJUnNj7qjeCv5 Highlights Everything! Espresso, flat white, latte, pour overs Food Baked goods Cost Whatever the coffee beans cost, so 1000 - 5000 yen per drink / Subsequent orders will receive a 200 yen discount. Language English menu, some staff may speak English Description This is my second favorite Glitch (after the Osaka location), but it is my favorite coffee shop in Japan. It’s my wife’s favorite coffee shop in the world. Even with the Ginza location, I’d still recommend this place because it’s the OG. Was basically my second home when I was living short-term in Tokyo.Fuglen Asakusa
Location https://goo.gl/maps/NRrRoXrPf8SYSjgj6 Highlights Nordic coffee, spacious coffee shop Food Baked goods Cost 500 - 800 yen Language English menu, staff may speak English Description This is the much more spacious version of Fuglen compared to their Shibuya outpost. I’ve been to this one many times and they always make good coffee. Staff are super friendly.Unlimited Coffee Bar
Location https://goo.gl/maps/h5cqgf1NEWBcbzKe9 Highlights Excellent coffee and cheesecake in the shadow of Tokyo Skytree. Food Has a lunch food menu, and some sweets Cost 500 - 800 yen for coffee / 600 - 1500 yen for food / ??? Yen for alcohol / 2000-6000 yen for coffee beans (100-500 grams) Language English menu with pictures, staff may speak English Description This is a big name in the specialty coffee scene - they’re a perennial contender for the roasting championship of Japan. I went here multiple times, had multiple espresso and pour overs. Had an Ethiopia Chelektu which was like an acidic face punch, lots of citrus and lemon peel up front, with trailing notes of brown sugar, sweet clean finish, medium aftertaste. Also had an Ethiopia Aricha as a pour over with extremely powerful blueberry notes, made in a v60; as it cooled it gave way to more earthy notes like dark chocolate and what was herbaceous notes (couldn’t put my taste on it). Place also serves food (which I didn’t have), desserts (I like the Tokyo cheesecake), and is also a bar with beer on tap, as well as liquor. Equipment was Linea PB and Mythos.Koffee Mameya - KAKERU CAFE
Location https://goo.gl/maps/cDikbczFRSqQrf4E6 Highlights Cheesecake, coffee made with beans from your roaster of choice, coffee cocktails Food Has a dessert menu Cost 500 - 3000 yen Language English menu, staff speak excellent English Description This place turns the Mameya concept into a full coffee shop and bar, with a central space surrounded by a counter that sits about 30. The coffee selection is the same list as the one at Koffee Mameya, so if you want the coffee shop experience and to also buy the beans, you can forgo waiting in a potentially massive line at Mameya Omotesando. They will make you espresso, pour over (Kalita Wave 155), milk drinks, and they have cold brew. They also make coffee cocktails. I opened with a double espresso from Coffee Collective, a Halo Washed Ethiopia. Very high acidity and juicy mouthfeel, lots of tart berry notes. I followed it up with a Black Cat cocktail which was made with “Raspberry Candy” cold brew (from Ona Coffee), imo shochu (Yamaneko), verjus, honey, and tonic. Had a nice front taste of chocolate from the coffee, and a lot of grape taste. I finished with a pour over of Momos La Montana Geisha, natural Peruvian. The coffee had a lot of amber honey notes, a lot of sweetness but also that earthy sweetness, quite different from a lot of Gesha that tends to be very floral.THROUGHOUT TOKYO
These excellent coffee shops are a little more out of the way.
