Kyoto Caffeination

Finding great coffee spots when I travel is always high on my priority list… Hence Kytoto caffeination – I am sharing some of the coffee spots I visited in Kyoto, Japan.

I live in Vancouver, where the is no shortage of fantastic coffee spots. Many of them locally owned and operated that embrace the third wave coffee movement. There is emphasis on the quality and origin of beans, as well as the craft of roasting and brewing.

When I travel, I always highlight all the coffee spots I want to visit at my destination on my Google maps. I even use a coffee icon so it is easier for me to find what I am looking for when I look at the map. That’s how I ended up in ~10 coffee shops in 2.5 days in Lisbon several years ago (the coffee buzz was intense).

Of course, I was well prepared for my trip to Japan (November 2023). We only spend 1.5 days in Tokyo, so I did not get to experience the coffee culture there, but I did spend ~10 days in Kyoto, which is full of great coffee.

Japan Coffee Vibe

There are a lot of things people will share with you about Japan that you will only fully understand once you have experienced them for yourself. One of the most interesting things I noticed is that even when there is chaos around you, like the Shibuya crosswalk for example, there is still a sense of calmness, which is hard to explain.

Nobody eats of drinks on the go, which is not really unique to Japan, but it is a lot more noticeable than anywhere else I have been to. Because of that, when it comes to coffee shops, a lot of them have a really cozy and quiet vibe, even if they are just a little hole in the wall tucked at the far end of a parking lot.

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We were in the Fuji area for a few days without a lot of time for coffee shop hopping, but we did stop by a sun filled, quiet coffee shop conveniently located at a prime photo spot.

FabCafe Fuji

We were surprised to see many people gathering across the street, wondering why there was a traffic control officer, even though there were lights at the intersection… Then we looked to the side.

There it was. Fuji mountain, in all its glory. We were there twice and the first time I didn’t grab my camera from the car. Such a rookie mistake. The second time, I was a day older and wiser, so I had a camera in hand and luckily, that spot was not as busy. It felt very touristy, but you know what? I was there as a tourist and I’ll do the touristy things if I want to!

They have another location in Kyoto, but sadly I didn’t get a chance to visit it during my stay.

I didn’t take photos inside the coffee shop as the staff made it clear they did not want photos taken. The coffee itself was good though! In lieu of coffee photos, here are photos of the view from across the street.

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Kyoto Caffeination

I am really glad I decided to stay solo in Kyoto for another week after the photography trip ended.

The city is walkable, public transit is a breeze, it is clean, safe and there is so much history and tradition in this temple filled city. I’ll share more Japan photos, as well as the Kyoto food scene (with a celiac friendly spin), but for now, lets go back to coffee.

I love small, interesting coffee spots, so I thoroughly enjoyed the coffee culture in Kyoto and came home with a lot of locally roasted beans (and tea too, of course, mostly Matcha). Here are some of the coffee highlights (with a couple of tea places for good measure).

The map below highlights more spots than the ones detailed below – I included 18 coffee spots in the map. Click on the ‘show map details’ for a list of places and you can even send the map to your phone for easier access if needed!

In no particular order, lets get into it!

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Kurasu

The first spot I want to share in our Kytoto caffeination tour has two locations in Kyoto. Each of them had a different vibe, but both featuring awesome coffee. The first Kurasu location I visited was tucked away in close proximity to Kyoto station. It is tiny but welcoming, serving great balanced coffee. You can tell the baristas care about each shot they pull and enjoy their own coffee, pulling shots for themselves between making coffee for others. I took my coffee to go in this location – It is really small. Overall, this was one of my favorite spots in Kyoto, which is why I visited several times to begin with!

The second location is much larger and has a bit more brewing products for sale with lots of bean choices. They do not have an espresso machine, so brewing methods include an Aeropress or pour over. They do have a milk brother if you want a latte, and while it is good, it will not be the same as an espresso based latte because of the differences in brewing method and beans used.

Both locations had a little celiac friendly tasty cake (it came wrapped), which was a lovely surprise. I did not take photos in the first location, but here are a few snaps from the second, larger location!

% Arabica

I visited the one on the outskirts of crazy busy Gion, but there are several locations in Kyoto. It is a Japanese company and they have locations world wide.

The location I visited is in a busy area filled with tourists. It’s small with limited seating, so you need to be prepared to wait and service that leans more towards efficient rather than warm and fuzzy. That said, I really enjoyed the clean, white and photogenic aesthetics as well as the people watching opportunity, given the location.

The coffee was good, but not the best I had in Kyoto. I felt a bit rushed because it was busy (it was also first thing in the morning, so it’s to be expected).

KAEru Coffee

I almost missed it when I walked by, but the coffee beans with the little frogs outside caught my attention. A very small roster and coffee shop with quirky charm and really lovely owners / employees. I slowly sipped on a great latte with my little friends on the counter, reading a book.

The food menu seemed odd, but there were no celiac friendly options on it, so I can’t comment on it.

Walden Woods

Go visit for the interesting and unique interior and large, quiet sitting area upstairs. Don’t expect to be blown away by the drinks though. To be fair, I didn’t have a coffee – I had a Matcha latte and it was not great.

I decided to still include this spot because I think the interior is worth your time, especially if you want to chill with a drink.

Blue Bottle

I have to admit that I was surprised to see an American company so big in Japan. Given the Blue Bottle background and quality, I am okay with it (you would never catch me in a Starbucks). We visited one location in Tokyo (in the train station by our hotel), which was great. This particular location in Kyoto is in close proximity to several popular temples, so naturally there were a lot of tourists around. Keep in mind that when I say tourists I do not mean only foreign tourists, but also Japanese tourists.

There is a lot of seating and the coffee is what you would expect from Blue Bottle – A great quality, balanced cup.

7T+

Obviously, this is a tea shop. I like tea sometimes, but I’m not much of a tea drinker and definitely prefer coffee… This tiny shop caught my eye when I walked by, so I decided to go in for a Matcha latte. It was one of the best I had in Kyoto, and I liked the vibe and the photos I took, so I decided to include it here.

Stumptown

See comment above about Blue Bottle… That said, the quality was great and in line with what you would expect from Stumptown, so it’s all good. It is strategically located inside the beautifully designed Ace hotel, which has well curated shops, restaurants and a welcoming vibe.

I visited twice and had a cortado and matcha latte, both really good. You can sit inside the coffee shop (there is a counter that wraps around the perimeter with bar stools), or tables and couches, doubling as the hotel lobby, where lots of people work and socialize.

Weekenders

This one is basically a hole in the wall at back of a small parking lot. There is a little bench and no other seating, which could be an issue for some. I visited on a quiet afternoon and find it an interesting spot with solid, but not stellar coffee. I think the employees didn’t speak much English, so the service was just okay. To be honest, I didn’t really mind one way or another.

Overall, I liked it. Will I make a point of coming back when I visit Kyoto again? Maybe not, but I will visit if I happened to be near by. Do I think you should visit if you are in the area? Yes.

BnA Alter Museum Cafe/Lounge

This spot was close to my hotel, so I stopped by because I was curious. Similar to my comments about Walden Woods, you should go for the aesthetics and vibe. Lots of seating, very unique and modern design, art… Overall a good place to read or do a bit of work. The coffee was good, but not great.

Vermillion Cafe

There are two locations – A cafe and a coffee bar not too far away from one another. Both are located close to the very popular Fushimi Inari, so it gets very busy. I visited the cafe, which has both indoor and outdoor seating (the latter has idyllic views of the river).

There is a limited (but fantastic) menu and really great coffee… A word of warning – If you want to eat, get there early. I had a flat white and roasted squash with hummus, veggies, poached egg and thick bacon (all celiac friendly). I enjoyed everything, from the coffee and food to the vibe. Highly recommended.

Goodman Roaster

By far, the friendliest coffee shop in Kyoto and one of my favorites! The staff was lively and lovely, I got some beans to bring home with me and had a great espresso tonic. The location is well designed, big and bright with both indoor and outdoor seating and you should absolutely visit. Cash only, just so you are prepared.

KeFu Stand

This is a tiny stand, strategically tucked away off one of the busiest streets in Gion. It feels like a little secret sanctuary in the middle of all the chaos.

Not a lot of seating but surprisingly, it was not busy both times I was there, despite how insanely crowded the streets of Gion get. Good coffee, good matcha, highly recommended if you are in the area, and you will be in the area for sure, as you should explore Gion at least once, despite all the crowds.

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There you have it – Kytoto caffeination! There are lots of coffee options in Kyoto… I hope the photos showcased the vibe of these places. Do not forget to check out the map for 18 spots you can choose from if you are visiting Kyoto as a coffee lover.

Comments? Questions? Share below or feel free to get in touch.