From Eiichi Kunitomo, known for his famous OMOTESANDO KOFFEE (which closed down in 2015, due to building being demolished), has two popular coffee shops in Tokyo.
KOFFEE MAMEYA is considered the reincarnation of OMOTESANDO KOFFEE, while TORANOMON KOFFEE (which opened back in 2014) located in the luxurious Toranomon Hills Mori Tower in the busy Toranomon business district is the other.
And because Eiichi Kunitomo is well-revered as a barista (watching him make drip coffee is like an art form), he has goals of wanting to bring his brand of coffee overseas.
And he opened an OMOTESANDO KOFFEE in Hong Kong and he would also like to expand overseas to the United States as well.
Where KOFFEE MAMEYA caters to hardcore coffee lovers who drink coffee straight up with nothing added and is primarily a coffee stand which you choose the best type of varieties of coffee offered.
TORANOMON KOFFEE is for those who desire a latte or cappuccino and prefers their coffee with the sugar or syrup and want to eat something along with it (the location offers breakfast and lunch menus). In fact, it was created with the local business people in mind.
With its minimalist presentation inspired by a chashitsu (tea room), the visual aesthetics was to allow guests to step up and speak directly with the barista, who will then ask if the one would like milk, sugar or cake. Afterward, you can observe how your coffee is made and made by baristas who strive to honor the traditions of the tea ceremony.
Featuring two La Marzocco machines, one counter which offers espresso-based drinks and the other which provides brewed coffee.
The location is open at 7:00 a.m. through 7:00 p.m.
“The Godfather of Japanese Coffee” – Eiichii Kunitomo (國友栄一氏)
Before becoming the renown “Godfather of Japanese Coffee”, Eichii Kunitomo was living in Osaka and interested in Espresso. Served by a German barista, he loved the coffee so much that he began working for that shop.
Kunitomo trained in the Naples region of Italy. And he started his career with coffee back in Osaka in 2001 and by 2003, he opened an Italian bar.
And when overseas barista began asking Kunitomo “What is Japanese style of coffee making?”, he went on to create his own style which was showcased in the popular OMOTESANDO KOFFEE.
To showcase coffee without the necessity of sugar, utilizing beans to reach the flavor that best suits the drinker.
He sports a white coat when he is working and he wants customers to see his approach to making coffee and approaching it in a way as people view tea ceremonies in Japan, and offering this style of making of coffee which I felt was artistic and impressive.
I will go into Kunitomo’s KOFFEE MAMEYA in an upcoming post but for those reading this blog, if you love your latte and cappuccino’s, definitely visit TORANOMON KOFFEE.
In fact, while you are at TORANOMON KOFFEE, order the popular “Baked Custard” which originated from OMOTESANDO KOFFEE.
But if you are a true coffee lover and are willing to go full force in tasting coffee without the sugar and other additions, then you definitely want to head to Kunitomo’s KOFFEE MAMEYA.
But as for TORANOMON KOFFEE, I absolutely love the visual aesthetics. The customer service was magnificent and this area, because it’s in Toranomon Hills Mori Tower, there is a lot of ample seating.
