When I go to Kyoto by car, I often use a cafe in Kitayama that is easy to park at. It is located on the first floor of an apartment building along Kitayama Street. It's a bit hidden, so it's hard to spot from the car, especially with the impressive Capital Toyo-tei and Marlbranche on either side. I parked my car in the coin parking next to Brian's. The interior of the cafe is small. There is a row of bean cases for takeout lined up along the wall. There is one table for four people and a few seats at the counter. Due to COVID-19 measures, not all seating is used. They have a good variety of straight and blended coffees at reasonable prices. I tried the Guatemala El Injerto Uno Reserva for 440 yen, which had a deep richness and a hint of sweetness spreading in the mouth. It was carefully extracted with a hand drip method. It comes with a Lotus biscuit. I had previously gone to the cafe next door, but by chance or not, this place was much more calming amidst the hustle and bustle.

May 22, 2004. The second day of the Golden Week trip to Kyoto. Today we decided to go to the Kurama area. We visited Kurama-dera Temple, Oku no In, and then to Kifune Shrine. There were many stone steps and stairs, so it was quite tiring. On the way back, we got off at Iwakura Station on the Hieizan Electric Railway, walked to the International Conference Center, and took the subway. For lunch, we finally went to the Western-style restaurant Toyo-tei in Kitayama. We arrived around 1 pm and got reservation number 108. The current calling number was in the 40s. Waiting in front of the store was tough, so we decided to wait at the nearby cafe instead. Next to it was a popular patisserie. The seating inside was sparse due to infection prevention measures, and there were only a few seats available. There were also two circular tables on the terrace. We barely managed to get a seat inside. We ordered the premium iced coffee for 540 yen, grated apple juice and Wenzhou mandarin juice for 440 yen each, and three buckwheat cheese cakes for 350 yen each. The order was served in 15 minutes. I had the premium iced coffee. They grind the beans and drip each cup of coffee after the order is placed, which is quite authentic. When I tasted it, the bitterness lingered subtly. I couldn't really feel the Blue Mountain's pepery or premium quality with my unrefined palate. Maybe hot coffee would have been better even on a hot day. It came with a lotus biscuit. I rated the premium iced coffee 3.3 stars, with a score of 1.02 for 550 yen/540 yen. It could have scored higher if it matched my taste, considering the ingredients and process. The Basque cheese cake is described as "A fluffy and creamy burnt cheese cake born in the Basque region of Spain. The richness of blended cream cheese and the bitterness of burnt flavor create a delicious match." (from the store) When I tasted it, despite the creamy texture, the yogurt-like refreshing acidity combined with the burnt and fragrant flavors made it addictive. It perfectly matched my taste. I rated it 4.8 stars, with a score of 1.37 for 480 yen/350 yen. Great value! I would love to come back someday to try a specialty coffee in hot form. Thank you for the meal!

On a Sunday in November, after walking around the Kitayama area, I headed to the Kyoto Concert Hall for the regular performance of the Kyoto Symphony Orchestra. After the two-hour performance, I took a break at a café as usual. Normally, I would take a coffee break at Enchanteur, but on this day, I decided to take a break at this coffee shop that I had found during my city walk. Inside the shop, they sell roasted coffee beans and green beans, catering to customers with a discerning taste. The seating consists of two counter seats and a table for three, making it a small shop. I tried the popular "Kitayama Blend" for 430 yen. When I ordered, the staff ground the roasted beans and brewed the coffee, which is different from the machine-made coffee commonly found in large coffee stands. The Kitayama Blend that was brought to me had a light bitterness and a clear, refreshing taste. The aroma wasn't very strong, but the coffee was very easy to drink. The price was reasonable, making it easy to use casually. However, since the shop is small, if customers or people from the neighboring shops come in and start talking, the voices echo in the shop, disrupting the calm atmosphere for enjoying coffee. If you want to spend a quiet time, this place may not be suitable, but the coffee is delicious. Thank you for the meal.

On Friday at 14:20, I went to "Kyowazu Coffee" in Kitayama, Kyoto. 5 out of 9 seats were taken. I ordered the "Special Blend (410 yen)." They grind the beans after you order, and extract it one cup at a time using a paper drip. It arrived after 5 minutes. One sip. Delicious. You can clearly tell it's freshly ground by the aroma. It has a nice balance of acidity and bitterness, making it easy to drink and a taste that I like. I wish there was a shop like this nearby. I will definitely come here to drink coffee every weekend. Of course, they also sell coffee beans. Thank you for the meal.

I used to frequent a coffee shop in Kitayama during high school. Recently, I always stop by Mr. Akiyama's Japanese restaurant nearby after meals. The special coffee of the day was La Esmeralda from Panama. The moment I took a sip, a fruity aroma and flavor spread through my mouth. Honestly, this is the first time I've had such a fruity coffee. I usually prefer coffee with a strong acidity like Kilimanjaro, but I really liked this coffee. I told the guy around my age who is always there, and he gave me some coffee beans for home use. I've actually been quite picky about coffee since a long time ago, and if it's not delicious, I end up leaving more than half of it and leaving the shop. I also love restaurants, but I want to explore cafes with delicious coffee from now on.

I stopped by after lunch. I enjoyed a delicious coffee in a shop filled with the pleasant aroma of coffee. I was unsure what to order, but decided on the popular Kitayama blend, which came with a small piece of chocolate. I savored the coffee and chocolate together. Despite the small size of the shop, it had a strangely calming atmosphere that made me feel cozy. Thank you for the meal.

Kopi Luwak, as expected, Kyowazu-san has rare items. The price is more than double that of regular coffee, but I ordered it as a souvenir. The complex flavor, not a single one, is something that even a coffee lover like me cannot describe in one word. Whether it's good coffee or bad coffee is determined the moment you drink it, and this coffee has been creating a meticulous taste from the moment it touches your tongue. I don't like making mistakes when brewing my own coffee, so high-quality coffee is best enjoyed at a cafe.

During a break in the rainy season, it was a hot day. After strolling through the botanical garden, I decided to take some time to relax. Two years ago, I had a bottled iced coffee, but this time I couldn't find it, so I opted for the Blue Mountain iced coffee on the menu. The dark roasted iced coffee had a distinctive flavor and was delicious. It made me think that the coffee at this cafe was something special. It cost around 540 yen.

Around 5:00 PM, I stopped by on my way back from the botanical garden. I visited a place where they roast and sell coffee beans, and they also have a small seating area for customers. I usually prefer hot coffee, but on that day, I was feeling thirsty and really wanted to have something refreshing, so I opted for an iced coffee. It cost 400 yen. Since the seating area inside was small, I enjoyed my coffee at one of the outdoor tables. They served it in a plastic cup that was suitable for takeout, and the coffee was incredibly aromatic and delicious. I was completely satisfied! I forgot to take a photo.

The iced coffee is delicious.

Kyoto has many coffee specialty shops and stores that only sell beans, so choosing coffee starts with the aroma and inspiration when you enter the shop. It's fun to choose beans that seem to suit you, buy them little by little, and try them out. It's convenient to be able to purchase casually while chatting with shop staff like at Kyowazu Coffee. This time, I ordered a hand drip high roast and a cafe au lait for takeout, and the coffee tasted just as the staff had described. It was delicious and satisfying.

I visited the cafe during the day to have Blue Mountain coffee. I sat at the counter by the window. Surprisingly, there was only one female customer. I ordered Blue Mountain No.1 for 648 yen. It arrived faster than expected, in about 5 minutes. It was very light with a hint of acidity. I was satisfied. As a service, I received a cookie chocolate and a milk chocolate. They were very sweet and overpowered the taste of the coffee. Unfortunately, the owner or someone who seemed like the owner started talking with a female who seemed like a regular customer. They were speaking quite loudly, which made it difficult to read my book. This is a common occurrence in this cafe. The coffee was excellent.

I was planning to adjust my schedule by visiting a botanical garden up north. However, I found out that the botanical garden closes at 4:00 PM. Feeling disappointed, I decided to go to a café instead. I remembered a café that Myレビ has been to before, which has a metallic and sophisticated atmosphere. There were 6 seats at the counter and one round table with 4 seats. I sat alone at the round table and ordered a Blue Mountain Tempie Berry coffee for 604 yen. It was mild and refreshing, with a clean taste and a slight acidity. I was satisfied with the flavor. I definitely want to visit this café again. How about the price for this coffee?

This summer, I was thinking about where to go for a trip, but in the end, I settled on the familiar destinations of Kyoto and Nara. As usual, I got off the bullet train, dropped off my luggage at the hotel, and headed to my destination. This time, I took the subway to Kitayama Station. I was aiming for a certain restaurant nearby, but it didn't open until 11:30, so I had about 30 minutes to spare. So, I took a break here. The restaurant didn't have many seats, and there were two female staff members. These two were in charge of both making the drip coffee and providing service. They had a variety of coffee beans available, which caught my interest, but it was too hot outside, so I opted for an iced coffee. I ordered the Premium Iced Coffee for 540 yen, which wasn't on the outdoor menu. This type had a sweetness to it, unlike the usual bitter iced coffee. It had a rich roasted aroma with sweetness and a full-bodied density. The acidity and bitterness were not very pronounced, and it left a refreshing feeling afterwards. Mixed nuts were also included, but I didn't eat them there and took them home. Thank you for the meal.

After having lunch in Hanoi, I wandered around on Kita-zaka Street to find a cafe to soothe my burning mouth. I came across Marublanche, but I decided to go to Kyowa Coffee because all I needed was a cup of coffee. I managed to secure a table in the open terrace where there was no direct sunlight and then moved inside the small and cramped shop. If it wasn't for the open terrace, I probably wouldn't have entered the not-so-stylish shop. I ordered and waited on the open terrace. The iced coffee arrived with a small bag of almonds. The coffee was delicious as expected. The burning sensation in my mouth disappeared, so I took the bag of almonds to go and headed home on the subway.

Located in a corner of an area where restaurants in Kitayama are concentrated, this small shop is housed in a tiny tenant space. The shop has glass windows, and even from the outside, the abundance of displayed beans catches the eye. There are over 20 types of single-origin beans and nearly 10 blends available. You can purchase green beans for roasting, so you can see beans before and after roasting on display. If you make a reservation, you can even purchase beans right after roasting. Moka Matari - Bunny Matal: It has a medium roast flavor with a strong iron aroma and acidity. Mandheling - Natural Inan Na Basa: Also around a medium roast. This Mandheling has very little bitterness, which is quite rare. If you expect the usual Mandheling flavor, you might be surprised. It's a bit disappointing that there are no outstanding features to mention, but the shop has an open atmosphere, a good selection of products, and thorough explanations of each single-origin bean, making it an easy-to-use place. While I was enjoying my two cups, one couple and a young man were also using the shop. If you ask the two young female staff members questions, they will surely provide detailed explanations.

After visiting the Furuta Oribe Museum, I felt like having a delicious coffee and stumbled upon a specialty store. Wow, they have so many types of beans!! There were almost 20 different kinds. I was excited as I walked into the café area. At that time, I was into Guatemalan straight coffee, so I chose the El Inherto Uno Reserva. It's in Spanish?? If it has Uno in it, it must be Guatemala's number one, probably. I could really taste the sweetness of the beans, deep and delicious! Since it's a matter of personal preference, I'm not sure if everyone would like it, but it was spot on for me. I also bought the same beans to take home. A cup of coffee was around 430 yen. The beans were about 730 yen for 100 grams. I don't know the typical cost ratio for coffee specialty stores, but I think they keep the café prices low. Even when I grind and brew it at home, it's still delicious, even better than the specialty stores I usually go to (even though it's double the price). As for the café use, it's not the type to relax with comfy chairs and tables. But for coffee lovers, this place offers a wide variety of delicious coffee at a reasonable price. I probably won't go all the way to Kitayama, so maybe I'll try their online shop (which they apparently have). But when I searched for this post, I found out they have a store in the basement of Daimaru Umeda, so I'll visit there next time.