The Coffee Shop, Daikanyama

By Lauren Shannon |
August 5, 2013 |
Food & Drink

On a small Daikanyama side street near the bridge crossing the Yamanote line and just up from Meiji-dori you will find a hidden caffeine haven called The Coffee Shop. This tiny take out spot features all single origin coffees brewed one cup at a time, with your choice of three methods: the classic French press, the modern and amazing AeroPress, and hand drip.

Coffee places like this are all the rage in California and New York, and now a few passionate folks are remaking the coffee experience here in Japan. The Coffee Shop is all sleek-but-charming design, with some great tech features including a camera/iPad set up so you can take a shot of yourself while enjoying a fresh brewed coffee and share that photo to The Coffee Shop’s Facebook and webpage instantly. It’s a terrific example of DIY PR for the social media world we live in.

At the recommendation of the shop director and his barista staff I tried an aero-pressed Ethiopian coffee—I am a milk-in-my-coffee gal but in this case no milk or cream was needed. This coffee was surprisingly smooth and had such lovely flavor that it needed to be enjoyed just as is. There were a dozen or more other single origin coffees on hand to choose from, and I will certainly be heading back to try them all.

The knowledgeable staff can recommend the best brew for hot or iced coffees and are happy to discuss the flavors and brewing techniques featured in the shop. If you can’t speak Japanese they can point you to some English explanations of what they do, and the menus are all in English, making ordering easy. The beans also make a great present for coffee-lovers, and The Coffee Shop stocks some great gift boxes. You can also pick up your own specialty AeroPress, French press or gorgeous coffee mug to enjoy the experience again at home or give the coffee buzz to a friend. The designs are all cool and cute at the same time, and what’s even more convenient is that you can also shop online for beans and handy brewing tools, having your selection delivered right to your front door.