coffee in tokyo
1. Starbucks Reserve Roastery
Located in Daikanyama, the Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo, opened in 2019, is the largest of the six Starbucks Reserve Roasteries worldwide. The others are in Seattle, Shanghai, Milan, New York City, and Chicago. This four-story roastery offers a distinctive menu featuring unique drinks like oleato, nitro cold brew coffee, whiskey barrel-aged coffee, craft caramel cashew nuts latte, espresso doppio, and shakerato. Each floor has a specific theme: the first floor houses the main coffee bar and roasters, the second floor is dedicated to tea, the third floor offers alcoholic drinks, and the fourth floor serves as a lounge. The Tokyo Roastery also uses various extraction methods that aren’t typically found in standard Starbucks locations (eg. siphon, nitro cold brew, modbar pour-over).
A must-try is their whiskey barrel-aged coffee, where coffee beans aged in bourbon whiskey barrels are cold brewed. It was nothing like we’ve tasted before – the rich aroma of the cold brew mixed with whiskey notes was really unique. To avoid long queues, it’s best to visit on a weekday before 9 AM. Both credit cards and cash are accepted.
Address: 2 Chome-19-23 Aobadai, Meguro City, Tokyo 153-0042.
2. Bongen Coffee
Bongen Coffee is tucked away in an alleyway of Ginza, yet it remains a popular spot. We tried their signature Bongen Caffe Latte, made with their original blend, and it was amazing- velvety, nutty and creamy. If you prefer a stronger taste, try the Bongen Caffe Latte Rich, which uses twice the amount of coffee beans. Unfortunately, we found their hojicha + espresso latte to be a bit too sweet, overshadowing the flavors of the hojicha and coffee. They also have snacks on their menu such as monaka wafers with red bean and dango with kinako (soybean powder), which also looked delicious.
There are only four seats inside, and it can get quite crowded, so seating is not guaranteed. We enjoyed our coffees outside instead. For a more serene experience and to avoid long waits, visit on a weekday, and arrive about 15 minutes before opening. Both credit cards and cash are accepted.
Address: 2 Chome-16-3 Ginza, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0061.
3. Glitch Coffee Roasters
Established in Tokyo in 2015, Glitch Coffee is perhaps the most refined café we’ve encountered. Our experience was mindblowing, to say the least. We went to their Ginza location, but they also have other locations in Jimbocho/Kanda (Tokyo), Osaka and Nagoya. Unlike typical grab-and-go spots, it’s a place designed for savoring your coffee at a leisurely pace. Specializing in drip coffee, Glitch also offers milk-based options for those who prefer a creamier taste.
The experience here is highly personalized- the baristas ask several questions to understand your taste and flavor preferences before making recommendations. You can smell and choose from an impressive selection of beans, including the rare and sought-after Geisha beans. Prices range from ¥800 to ¥4,000 per cup (yes, up to the equivalent of $40 CAD!), depending on your selection. We tried the Colombia Risaralda Milan Nitro Wash drip coffee, and it was truly impressive how the flavor notes evoked the taste of cantaloupe and melon.
We could see that the baristas are dedicated and masters of their craft, often tasting, adjusting, and sometimes even starting over to ensure perfection. For the best experience, try to get seats at the side counter to watch the meticulous coffee preparation. Both credit cards and cash are accepted.
Address: 〒101-0054 Tokyo, Chiyoda City, Kanda Nishikicho, 3 Chome−16 香村ビル １階
