April 16, 2005
by Wakiko YAMADA; Kie YOKOCHI; Naomi WATANABE
Why not take a break with a cup of coffee before you leave for your next destination? If you want to get a real taste of Kyoto in a drink, try some original coffee during your stay. Featured here are two coffee shops original to Kyoto and brimming with hospitality. We call this “Kyoto styled coffee”.
Kyoto Ogawa Coffee
Ogawa coffee features a luscious smell and fine bitter taste. The company is proud of their selected coffee, and you can enjoy fine Ogawa coffee at any of the 43 branches of their coffee shops around Japan. They also sell their original roasted beans at the counter, as well as a variety of delicious cakes made for each season. Ogawa coffee has original home made cakes, cups, a full of service style, and a special atmosphere in each of its cafés. These elements all work together to provide a truly enjoyable coffee drinking experience.
History and Unique Features
Set up in Nishikyogoku, Ukyo-ku, Western Kyoto, in 1976, when its main office was moved nearby, Ogawa Coffee manages the whole process itself, from the importing, selecting and buying of beans, to product development and sales. Directly in from the entrance, you can find coffee beans sold in the corner, telling you that you have arrived in an authentic establishment. They have a number of seats on the first floor which are separated into smoking terrace seats on the right, and non-smoking seats on the left. On the second floor, there are 36 more seats, where customers can also enjoy live music performance at dinner time. One of their specialties is a particularly interesting line in drinking receptacles, as they serve coffee in kiyomizu-yaki cups (one of the fine style of ceramics product in Kyoto). These cost about 25,200 yen each.
Contribution to society
A “Coffee lecture” has been offered twice a week at Kyoto Ogawa Coffee for some time now, with a professional coffee adviser showing you how to make excellent coffee using the paper dripped method. After the lecture, participants can carry out in practice what they have learned, and professional advice will surely expand your point of view towards coffee. At the end of the lesson, you will be able to taste your own original coffee along with selected cakes. You are sure to be satisfied with this combination of coffee lecture and practical experience, with the bonus of enjoyable tea time.
One lecture is about one and a half hours in duration.
Date & Times
Every second Thursday (10:30-12:00)
Every fourth Thursday (14:00-15:30)
Tel……………………………… 075-313-7333
Participation Fee……..700yen (includes materials, cakes, and a small present)
Reservation Hours…..9:00-17:00 weekdays (Except Saturday, Sunday and office holidays)
Menu
Regular coffee………………..420 yen
House blend coffee………..420 yen
Message from Owner
When you come to Kyoto, please visit us and try some our original coffee. We will be pleased to serve you with real hospitality and hope you will feel Kyoto style through our specialized coffee in a kiyomizu-yaki cup.
Basic Information
Business hours:
Monday to Thursday 7:00am~9:00pm
Friday 7:00am~10:00pm
Saturday, Sunday and Holiday 8:00am~10:00pm
Address: 75 Hokujokyou-cho, Nishikyogoku, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto
Access: About 10 minutes walk from Nishikyogoku station (Hankyu line)
Tel: 075-313-7334
Email: [email protected]
HP: http//www.oc-ogawa.co.jp/
Murakami Coffee
Old style Kyoto house, wooden shop sign, comfortable space, hand made Japanese coffee cups, and freshly roasted coffee beans…you can see and feel all of them at Murakami coffee. But the only thing that customers can buy is coffee beans. That is particularly important to the owners, Mr. & Mrs. Murakami, because they want their customers to enjoy coffee of a really good quality.
History and unique features
This place has been run by Mr. & Mrs. Murakami since 1999. They used to have their own coffee shop before, but then decided to open a coffee beans shop because they also wanted people to make and enjoy excellent coffee at home, too. It is clear they absolutely love coffee, and it was their dream to open this original coffee shop. This dream came true several years ago with the help of a number of people, such as a relative (an interior coordinator), an acquaintance (wood craftsman), and a good friend (the owner of a cake shop in Kyoto)
Original iced coffee is one of the most popular goods in this shop, and is made from selected coffee beans, brewed strongly using water of good quality found in Kyoto. Also, glass bottles are used for the containers, so as not to leave the kind of odor that is sometimes found when cardboard or plastic is the material used. Even though it costs much more than using the other types of container, the improved taste is considered worth it. No preservatives or other artificial additives are involved in producing this iced coffee; therefore, it is produced little by little to keep it fresh. According to the owner, some patrons love this iced coffee so much they buy it time and time again.
In addition, there are coffee beans, chocolate, and some pound cake and cookies available at the shop. These sweets are made by the confectioner who is Mr. Murakami’s friend.
Moreover, inside the shop, you can find many kinds of Japanese style pottery items displayed alongside the coffee beans, such as coffee cups, mugs, and plates. They are all handmade individually by a craftsman, so every piece is different from others, even though they have the same patterns and colors.
About the beans
After the coffee beans are imported, only the freshest beans of the highest quality are selected and roasted in an original way at the factory. The only sell roasted coffee by the gram here, and soon after an order is taken, it is packed in a special bag made of aluminum to keep the coffee fresh and in tip top condition. They can also roast coffee beans to your specification; coarse or fine.
A sampling service is offered, so you can try some coffee at the shop if you like, before purchasing.
-Mild Blend ………260 yen per 100g
-European Blend ………280 yen per 100g
-Mocha Blend ………310 yen per 100g
-Original Blend ………370 yen per 100g
Basic information
Address: 19 Hitosujime Hagashi-iru kojoonmae-kudaru, Minami-ku, Kyoto
Tel/Fax: 075-681-9698
HP: http://www3.ocn.ne.jp/~mc-cafe/
Email: mc-café@juno.ocn.ne.jp
Business Hours: Monday to Saturday 10:00am – 7:00pm
Closed Sundays & Holidays