As someone who has lived in Melbourne, Australia for the past 3 years and juggled life there as a full-time student/part-time barista, I always appreciate having a good cup of coffee to kick start my day. Thankfully, a friend on holiday in Tokyo sent me a picture of this quaint little place nestled in the quieter, remote parts of bustling Omotesando. Naturally, I decided to give this place a go!
As I dragged my weary feet around in hopes of finding my caffeine salvation, I finally chanced upon said location. Greeted by a background of decorative plants on the outside and coffee drinkers relaxing on the inside having a conversation while sipping away, I heaved a sigh of relief, silently thanking my Google Maps app for not failing on me.
Omotesando Koffee turned out to be a modest coffee joint that sits inside a traditional 60-year-old Japanese house. For such an old house to be adorned with such a clean, minimalistic wood-designed aesthetic was a really refreshing contrast. The sitting space could only accommodate around 5 people at most, so most patrons end up doing only takeaways.
As the barista directed me to the menu, I struggled with the choices initially. There were the Hot Koffees (the usual cafe latte, cappuccino, flat white), Iced Koffees (iced versions of Hot Koffee, and also a cheeky Iced Baileys Cappuccino for that alcohol perk) and Koffee Kashi, a baked custard snack. As a fellow barista, I was taught to taste coffee by starting with an espresso shot. I eventually narrowed it down to that, an iced cappuccino and the Koffee Kashi.
Within the first sip of the espresso I was truly thankful for making the long haul to Omotesando Koffee. It had a nutty, full-bodied flavor without any signs of under or over extraction, which would result in a sour or bitter taste respectively. The iced cappuccino was invigorating, just right for cooling myself down from all that walking. What I did not expect, however, was how amazing the baked custard was. Those little cubes of perfection were brown and crispy on the outside, and soft and fluffy on the inside. Truly a delicious accompaniment to the beverages!
I was thoroughly satisfied from that experience, and I'd imagine anyone going there to be as well. The zen vibes of the place provided some serenity from the hustle and bustle of Omotesando, and the prices are reasonable as well, ranging from ¥250 for an espresso shot to ¥560 for an iced cappuccino. I left the place contented, energized for the rest of my exploration around the area.
