A nice coffee shop in Kobe

Although a modern style coffee shop crowded with people is a great place to go, I personally prefer the chic cafes in Kobe.

It’s hard to express in words, but its modern look makes it stylish and attractive that it gives me the strong urge to go in. I actually have this urge when I walk past such shops.

Such as these.
The above picture is the famous BLUE BOTTLE COFFEE
https://bluebottlecoffee.jp/

Sarutahiko Coffee
http://sarutahiko.co/

Little Nap COFFEE STAND
http://www.littlenap.jp/

FUGLEN
http://www.fuglen.com/japanese/

Please refer to NAVER
http://matome.naver.jp/odai/2137632054513342501

Really chic, aren’t they?
Manliness comes to mind when I think of coffee, so on top of being modern-looking, I think such cafes need to have handsome men sitting at the tables.

This third wave coffee is the third wave of coffee culture. The distinctive feature of such coffee is the way in which it is prepared-- each cup delicately hand brewed. Yes, the method used in the good old Japanese kissaten, the Japanese-style coffee shops.

The founder of BLUE BOTTLE COFFEE, James Freeman, was actually inspired by the Japanese kissaten and is fascinated with the way they delicately prepare coffee.（Please refer to http://macaro-ni.jp/1320)

Below is James Freeman’s favorite kissaten in Tokyo.

Chatei Hatou
http://miyashita-park.jp/blog/kaiin-homepage/futaba-biru/hatou/hatou-1.html

Café de Lambre
http://www.h6.dion.ne.jp/~lambre/

It’s far from what we would call fashionable nowadays. My guess is, what James is fascinated with is the good old culture created by the Japanese kissaten that has been using the method of single-cup brewing.

Yes, this good old kissaten culture.
You can find such chic kissaten in Kobe and you can experience this culture.

Anyone from Kobe would surely know Nishimura Coffee.

Check out this hip interior!

This shop, founded in 1948 (Showa 23) immediately after the war, is undoubtedly a real kissaten. It’s a kissaten where you can sense delicateness.

And, Motomachi Kissa
Also lovely.
http://tabelog.com/hyogo/A2801/A280102/28024154/

Café Haru
The owner of the café prepares coffee with her delicate touch.
http://tabelog.com/hyogo/A2801/A280102/28006421/

In the city of Kobe where jazz culture has taken root, there are even cafes called jazz kissa.

An underground kissaten where music is played at full volume.
jam jam
http://www.jamjam-jazz-kobe.com/

This is along the road leading to the harbor of Sakae-machi.
M&M
http://tabelog.com/hyogo/A2801/A280102/28008967/

They are all hip coffee shops in Kobe, and I am more attracted to such shops than the trendy third wave coffee.
Well, actually it was my old boyfriend who took me to all the coffee shops except Nishimura Coffee (LOL)

Handsome men who frequent trendy coffee shops are attractive, but I am more attracted to men who like chic kissaten that respectfully took on the good old Japanese coffee culture.

In the eyes of a woman, I sense something manly in coffee.
Maybe women are unconsciously judging men by the kind of coffee they drink or the kind of shop they choose.


So this wraps up my writings on shops in Tokyo and Kobe, comparing third wave coffee and the good old Japanese kissaten culture and writings of just my personal thoughts.


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About Suzuko
Born and raised in Kobe. Roots in Amami Oshima. Currently lives in Tokyo, around 30 years old.