Tokyoites have a way of life that is governed by the hustle and bustle of the hectic metropolis. Keeping up with the pace of the city requires a kind of superhuman disposition, and coffee gives you just that. Getting your daily caffeine fix is something many people cannot function without and of course, different people go about it through different means. The usual suspects are Starbucks, Tully’s, or even Mister Donut if you’re feeling especially thrifty. Although coffee has a reputation for being bitter, coarse, acidic and hard to swallow without the addition of milk and sugar, it doesn’t have to be that way. There are definitely times when it pays going the extra mile for coffee that has greater depth of flavor. Here are 5 places to get the best coffee in Tokyo.
1. R.O Star
Just because the process of getting the coffee to you is met with great attention to detail doesn’t mean you’ll have to pay exorbitant prices for it. RO Star is known for its 108 yen (US$1) coffee and for the price you’re paying, the coffee has a rich and distinct flavor profile. The iced coffee starts out with a tinge of bitterness, then the coffee coats your palate with notes of caramel and cocoa, and flows down and hits you with a slight buzz almost immediately.
The hot coffee (pictured) is more muted flavor-wise and has quite a bit more body to it, with the initial bitterness being much less pronounced, and flowing more smoothly off your tongue.
Because of its affordable price and the quality of the coffee you get, RO Star has a faithful customer base and people come here to spend a good amount of time either working or studying, and the place is almost always full. Not to mention it has been featured on Buzzfeed #WorthIt, which has certainly helped in drawing in more people (myself included!).
2. Blue Bottle
Born in Oakland, California, Blue Bottle Coffee is a chain that prides itself in the exceptional quality of its coffee beans. The light roasting preserves the distinct notes that characterize a particular origin, so where the coffee comes from plays a huge part in the overall flavor. I personally recommend the single origin drip coffee, to truly be able to appreciate the subtle notes of each unique source.
For a greater emphasis on the craftsmanship of the barista, there are a variety of espresso-based drinks, allowing you freedom to craft a drink that best suits your palate. This is especially great if you already know a nice frothy macchiato is your jam and you can’t be convinced to try anything else.
Any Blue Bottle in Tokyo is always crowded though, and finding somewhere quiet to enjoy that cup of hand-dripped coffee is a monumental task with a chain of this reputation and in a city this big full of coffee connoisseurs.
3. Café Kitsuné
Kitsune (meaning fox in Japanese) is a French fashion and music label that knows how to do coffee as well, reinforcing the myth of the fox in Japanese mythology of having many faces and forms. The cafe is situated in fashionable Omotesando and attracts those in search of good coffee and pleasing aesthetics alike.
The cafe specializes in its espresso drinks; the shot of espresso in itself is a force to be reckoned with. The shot’s creamy mouthfeel, mild bitterness and complexity serves especially well as the base to all the cappuccinos and lattes that they also serve.
4. 4/4 Seasons Coffee
Pronounced “All Seasons Coffee”, this small shop in Shinjuku is somewhat out of the way of the beaten path, but is definitely no stranger to crowds. The reason it’s called “All Seasons” is because of how it has seasonal specialties, all with their own distinct notes associated with various seasonal vibes.
My personal favorite is the autumnal-tasting notes of citrus and allspice, characteristic of Guatemalan coffee beans. The coffee has bright notes that serve as the perfect pick-me-up when the days are cold and dreary.
5. PEAK
Rounding off the list and tucked away in the back streets of Ikebukuro, on the third floor of a building that already has another cafe occupying the street-level spot, is PEAK. Seating barely eleven people, the cafe feels like a secluded pocket in busy Ikebukuro, and gives off that pleasant feeling of exclusivity of when you stumble upon a hidden gem such as this one.
This last one is for the coffee purists where, much like a wine tasting bar, offers only coffee from different sources, with some background given on little cards (if you can read Japanese). The focus is definitely on the differences in the sources of the beans, which makes for a pure experience without any fluff like milk or cream. Be prepared, however, to spend a bit more than usual on this cup of coffee. Prices range from 650 yen (approx US$5.75) to 850 yen (approx US$7.50) depending on where the beans are sourced, with the rarity and complexity being key factors in pricing
TL;DR
Japan has a coffee culture influenced by many other cultures and although their own history of coffee doesn’t date back that far, Tokyo has definitely made coffee its own. Wherever you look there are places that serve coffee and these caffeination stations have become a staple of Tokyo’s landscape. The sheer amount of cafes in Tokyo will require further documentation, so stay tuned for a part 2!