When I went on my coffee tour in Japan, one of the locations that I was recommended on visiting is Nishimura Coffee in Kobe.
Because I was visiting the Sannomiya location, I decided to embark to Nishimura Coffee in Kobe for good coffee. But also to experience coffee from a coffee shop with a long established history.
It’s also one of the more traditional coffee shops that you will find in Japan with a different type of customer clientele that you would typically see at most coffee shops. And because it retains that traditional style, I like that!
Nishimura Coffee was created in 1948 and it has the reputation of being the first coffee house in Japan to serve black coffee, cappuccino and coffee jelly. And now there are Nishimura Coffee located throughout Kobe.
Nishimura Coffee als prides itself of using Miyamizu Water, water pumped from a well that gives their black coffee a moderate but not so strong taste.
Their coffee shops are known for their custom-made coffee cups made at Arita’s kiln.
The coffee shop sells home-roasted coffee beans but also sells cakes, baked goods and more. And most important, the location continues the spirit of its original founding and that is to welcome everyone as if they are important.
While most of the beans are about Y1200-Y1300, their Blue Mountain NO. 1 Caribbean coffee beans is their most luxurious offering at Y7,000 for 200 grams and Y10,500 for 300 grams.
While at Nishimura Coffee, I went for Nishimura’s original blend.
While I wanted to try the Blue Mountain NO. 1, because it was my first time at the location, I wanted to try their original blend featuring six type of carefully selected beans to bring out maximum flavor. This coffee is more of a balance between bitter and sour.
In Japan, you have coffee shops that are similar to America, in the fact, that you have young people, coffee enthusiasts or hipsters that frequent, do their work or hang out with their friends and have a good time.
The Nishimura Coffee Sannomiya Kobe location is unlike that.
In fact, I didn’t want to take a lot of photos because the location looked as if it was a location where the more refined, business-types (those wearing suits or dress attire) tend to frequent. It’s one of the reasons why I didn’t take many photos, is because, it’s not one of those locations that you can frequently walk around because it’s so pack.
Many people are having business meetings or people eating, that I felt the best place to take photos was near the cashier area or outside.
But their most traditional and the classiest Nishimura Coffee shop is located in Kitanozaka. Looking at the interior, you may think that you are at a classy establishment in England. In fact, the Kitanozaka location was once a member-style location when it opened in 1974 and a place where the more upperclass and even celebrities would visit. This coffee shop was opened to the public in 1995 after the Kobe earthquake. So, classy that this location has a French restaurant.
But the location I visited is still quite elegant and nostalgic. So popular is this coffee shop that it has two floors.
If you want to see the original, you will want to visit the Nishimura Coffee Shop in Nakayama as the building is created in a northern German style and was been rebuilt after being destroyed after the Kobe earthquake.
This shop has 3 floors and was re-opened in May 2006.
One thing that I found very interesting are the strict rules to enforce their dedication to quality and freshness. For one, their coffee must be made with Miyamizu water, cakes must be made at 5:00 a.m. and no left overs are allowed.
Also, the location only hires people who have trained experience working at coffee shops. From the making of the coffee to the way sandwiches are cut.
But overall, I had a wonderful time visiting Nishimura Coffee. Customer service was magnificent and it was interesting to see a different type of clientele than what you would typically see in Tokyo (or other coffee locations in America).
I’ll definitely visit this place again!
