6 Best Coffee Roasters in Tokyo to Go to for Your Caffeine Fix

Over the last decade, Tokyo’s coffee culture has undergone a revolution. Today, it is one of the greatest coffee cities in the world, with the best coffee roasters in Tokyo. Sure, you could get coffee from one of the Japanese vending machines and get on with your day. But why do that when you can seek out a specialty coffee shop? A visit to one of the best coffee roasters in Tokyo is truly an experience of its own, and one that we highly recommend. 

Since a person can only have so many cups of coffee in a day, we’ve rounded up 6 of the best coffee roasters in Tokyo for you!

1. The Roastery by Nozy Coffee

When you need a break from exploring the streets of Shibuya, turn to The Roastery by Nozy Coffee. This coffee shop stands out as it serves single origin beans only, which are roasted on site and changed up regularly.

The coffee shop features a coffee station in the center with surrounding high top bar stools, giving this place its unique vibe. Once you enter you will also see a blackboard with two types of beans available for the day.

The menu is simple with just three espresso-based drinks – espresso, americano and latte. The focus here is on brewing good coffee and building good relationships with their customers, and the shop has been simplified to reflect that.

Address: 5 Chome-17-13 Jingumae, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0001, Japan
Opening hours: 10am – 9pm daily

2. Onibus Coffee Nakameguro

A number of specialty coffee shops now line the canal stretching through the neighbourhood of Nakameguro. Onibus Coffee is located somewhere more secluded, next to Nakameguro Station in an old, traditional Japanese house.

This location is one of four branches owned by Atsushi Sakao, who is well known in Japan for his passion for craftsmanship and quality coffee. Inspired by Australia’s coffee scene, Atsushi’s mission is to make coffee accessible and a bonding experience for everyone.

The interior is quaint, no-frills and straightforward. Which matches the menu: one espresso blend made of a natural Brazil, fully washed Guatemala and natural Ethiopia, as well as single origins from Kenya and Rwanda, all roasted on site. 

Address: 2 Chome-14-1 Kamimeguro, Meguro City, Tokyo 153-0051, Japan
Opening hours: 9am – 6pm daily

3. Allpress Tokyo Roastery & Cafe

Nestled in the quiet neighbourhood of Kiyosumi Shirakawa is Allpress Tokyo Roastery & Cafe, which calls an old timber warehouse home. 

A tasteful, modern space, the cafe invites customers to watch the roasting machine in action through floor-to-ceiling windows. You’ll also find that its café, roastery, and training facilities are all under one roof as an open invitation for guests to learn the art of coffee-making. 

Make sure to try the signature Allpress Espresso Blend. It is made up of four different origins: Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala and Sumatra, creating a sweet, balanced yet complex brew.

Address: 3 Chome-7-2 Hirano, Koto City, Tokyo 135-0023, Japan
Opening hours: 9am – 5pm (Tue – Fri), 11am – 6pm (Sat, Sun, PH)

4. Blue Bottle Coffee

The neighbourhood of Kiyosumi Shirakawa has become somewhat of a coffee destination. Apart from Allpress, Blue Bottle Coffee is another big player here. It has its roots in Oakland, California and now has 14 outlets in Tokyo – a testament to their popularity. 

The cafe is a large, airy space that feels kinda like a science lab. The baristas are all decked in lab coat aprons in washed denim, and collectively greet you “konnichiwa” when you enter and “arigatou” when you leave.

We suggest sitting at the high bench counter where your barista will brew your coffee right in front of you. Sure, it might take awhile, but it adds to the experience. The great flavour of the coffee totally makes up for the waiting too!

Address:1 Chome-4-8 Hirano, Koto City, Tokyo 135-0023, Japan
Opening hours: 8am – 7pm daily

5. Arise Coffee Roasters

Arise joins Allpress and Blue Bottle to form a “coffee triangle” in the Kiyosumi Shirakawa neighbourhood (a day of cafe-hopping, anyone?) Among the three, it was Arise that was here first.

If you want to have a truly local experience, then Arise is where you wanna be. You’ll find owner Taiju Hayashi behind the bar, serving up top-notch brews and more than happy to talk about it. Having been in the industry for over a decade, his shop is decorated with skateboard decks and eccentric travel souvenirs that he’s collected over the years.

As for the coffee, there are about ten single-origin varieties to choose from. Try the crowd favourite that comes from Dominican Republic! A light and fruity roast, this coffee exudes light notes of strawberry and is a mild one to sip on.

Address: 1 Chome-13-8 Hirano, Koto City, Tokyo 135-0023, Japan
Opening hours: 10am – 6pm (Tues – Sun)

6. Toriba Coffee Ginza

You might not expect to find a local coffee roaster in the expensive neighbourhood of Ginza, but Toriba Coffee is that exactly.

They offer signature blends using a variety of beans, including one single-origin Hawaiian Kona coffee that comes from their own plantation. The roasts are varied, with options such as light, medium, dark and even acidic. 

At the ground-floor tasting bar, the daily coffee features two of the six house blends. The roasting process happens on the second floor and the beans gets transported down via a dumbwaiter. Feel free to ask the staff to take you upstairs for a look!

Address: 7 Chome-8-13 Ginza, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0061, Japan
Opening hours: 11am – 9pm (Mon – Fri), 11am – 7pm (Sat, Sun and PH)