Japanese coffee brands
Coffee stores are aplenty in Japan and the drink has claimed a spot in the everyday lives of the Japanese. Besides large coffee chains such as Starbucks and Douter, smaller names have also made their mark internationally, with Japanese coffee brands such as Kurasu and % Arabica opening stores outside of Japan.
Even though we can’t physically be in Japan to try their coffee first-hand, we’ve sussed out 9 Japanese coffee brands that ship internationally so you that can enjoy them in the comfort of your own home.
1. Kurasu
Image credit: @kurasu.kyoto
Kurasu Kyoto is a familiar name when it comes to Japanese coffee brands. The brand was started by a husband-and-wife duo and they initially focused on coffee ware.
It was not until August 2016 that they opened their first physical store in Kyoto. They now have physical stores in Singapore and Bangkok, in addition to the one in Kyoto. Their coffee beans are available on their website, which ships internationally.
Image credit: @kurasu.kyoto
Kurasu’s coffee beans are roasted weekly at their roastery cafe located a 5-minute walk from Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto. They have a selection of single-origin and house blend coffee in various sizes, in the form of coffee beans, ground coffee, and drip coffee bags.
Image credit: @alvintheardy
Image credit: Kurasu Kyoto
The beans are available in 100g, 250g, 500g, and 1kg packages and they cost between ¥870- ¥6,000 (~USD8.29-USD57.17).
If you’re trying Kurasu for the first time, check out the taster sets which include 3 100g bags of coffee beans curated from the selection they have on hand. The house blend taster set costs ¥2,400 (~USD22.87) while the single-origin taster set costs ¥2,900 (~USD27.63).
Image adapted from: Kurasu Kyoto and Kurasu Kyoto
Kurasu also sells drip coffee bags, which is a good option for those who prefer the convenience of instant coffee but don’t want to compromise on quality. The bags are easy to use and bring on-the-go. They cost between ¥210-¥250 (~USD2.00-USD2.38) per bag, or between ¥1,000- ¥1,200 (~USD9.53-USD11.43) for a set of 5.
2. WIFE&HUSBAND
Image credit: @wifeandhusband_kyoichi
Image credit: @kawagoecoffee
WIFE&HUSBAND was set up by Kyoichi and Ikumi Yoshida, a husband-and-wife team. In 2015, they set up shop in a tiny and cosy store that had been vacant for a long time. The store is now filled with the couple’s collection of antiques and memorabilia accumulated from their travels over the years.
They also run a picnic basket service which includes coffee, sweets, and other picnic essentials. Rental costs ¥1,100 (~USD10.48) for 1.5 hours.
Image credit: WIFE&HUSBAND
Image credit: WIFE&HUSBAND
They currently have 2 blends of their own – the 1st is named “DAUGHTER” while the 2nd is named “SON”. Besides their own blends, they also sell beans from 5 other countries, including Brazil and Ethiopia, on their online store. All their beans – be it their own blends or beans from other countries – are available in a 200g paper pouch or box for ¥1,458 (~USD14.03).
Image adapted from: @wifeandhusband_kyoichi
Their gift set comes in boxes of 2s or 3s and makes a good gift especially for coffee lovers. The set of 2 is sold at ¥3,564 (~USD33.96) and includes WIFE&HUSBAND’s own blends – “DAUGHTER” and “SON”. The set of 3 retails for ¥5,184 (~USD49.39) and includes the “DAUGHTER” and “SON” blends, along with an additional box of beans from Indonesia.
3. Onibus Coffee
Image credit: @onibuscoffee
Onibus Coffee is another popular brand of speciality coffee in Japan. Because of their popularity, they had to expand and open another roasting location in Nakameguro in addition to their 1st roastery in Okusawa.
Their stores are small and cosy, without much space to sit around and chill. It’s more of a functional coffee bar where you get your coffee fix and go on your way.
Image credit: @onibuscoffee
Their online store ships internationally and retails coffee in 100g, 200g, 500g, and 1kg portions. Besides their house blend – the Onibus Blend – they also sell a variety of beans from different countries such as Ethiopia, Colombia, and Rwanda. Prices start from ¥700 (~USD6.67) for a 100g packet.
3 Coffee Tasting Set (left); Coffee Beans Gift Box (right)
Image adapted from: Onibus Coffee and Onibus Coffee
They also offer a coffee tasting set for beginners. The set consists of 3 50g packets of beans specially chosen by the barista and costs ¥1,200 (~USD11.43). They also offer a coffee bean gift box, which comes in a pretty wrapper and includes the Onibus Blend and Ethiopia beans. The gift box retails for ¥1,740 (~USD16.58).
4. Maruyama Coffee
Image credit: @____ay._
Having been around for almost 30 years, Maruyama Coffee is an experienced player in the Japanese coffee market. According to their website, the president of Maruyama Coffee, Kentaro Maruyama, travels around the world and sources the coffee beans personally from coffee farms and farmers.
Image credit: @33hm189
Maruyama Coffee has an extensive line-up of beans from all over the world. Getting your hands on a packet of beans from Maruyama Coffee is a little tricky, however. Only roasted whole beans for personal consumption can be shipped internationally. They also lack an online store – you have to message them with your order through their website.
That said, the hassle is well worth it.
Prices for a 100g portion start from ¥648 (~USD6.17).
5. Iron Coffee
Image credit: @naomigration
Iron Coffee is a shoebox store near the Gotokuji Temple, which is known for its maneki neko (lucky beckoning cat). The store sports industrial-style decor with oxidised metal plates as its storefront. The interior is fitted with exposed hanging light bulbs of different shapes and sizes for an unfinished look.
They opened in April 2016 and only recently set up their online store.
Image credit: @youshu7726
The selection of coffee beans on their online store isn’t extensive but covers the basics. They have beans from Peru, Ethiopia, Colombia, and El Salvador in 200g packets. These 200g packets cost ¥1,800 (~USD17.15) each.
Image credit: @iron_coffee
They also have a cold brew pack with 6 bags of cold brew coffee. You can enjoy Iron Coffee in the comfort of your own home just by adding water to the bag and allowing it to steep overnight. The pack costs ¥1,500 (~USD14.29).
6. Passage Coffee
Image credit: @passagecoffee
A relatively underrated coffee store in Tokyo, Passage Coffee is located in Mita, an area without many speciality coffee shops. The cafe owner, Shuichi Sasaki, used to work at Starbucks and Douter Coffee. He decided to open Passage Coffee after falling in love with coffee brewing.
Image credit: @naachibichan
Passage Coffee only recently expanded their online store to provide international shipping. They offer a wide variety of coffee beans from countries such as Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Ecuador. These are available in 100g, 250g, and 500g packets. The 100g packets cost between ¥850- ¥1,600 (~USD8.10-USD15.24).
Their very own Passage Blend – made with beans from Brazil, Ethiopia, and Kenya – is available in the form of coffee beans or a cold brew pack. A 100g packet of coffee beans – whole or grounded – retail for ¥850 (~USD8.10), which is the same price as a cold brew pack.
Image credit: @passagecoffee
Image credit: @daiki_hatekeyama_coffee
Besides coffee beans, you can also purchase coffee accessories and goods, such as cups and coffee filters, from their online store.
7. Leaves Coffee Roasters
Image credit: @tokyo_cafe_hopping
Leaves Coffee Roasters is a roastery-cum-cafe that opened in early 2019. The cafe only opens 3 days a week, from Saturdays to Mondays, while they concentrate on roasting coffee beans from Tuesdays to Fridays. With more than half their time spent on roasting, we can tell they take their roasting very seriously.
Image credit: @leaves_coffee_roasters
The online store offers a wide selection of coffee beans, which can be mind-boggling for beginners. We recommend starting with the set of 5 sample bags specially curated by the roaster. This set of 5 packets of 50g coffee beans costs ¥3,800 (~USD36.21).
Image credit: @ch_beyo
They also carry beans from countries such as Colombia and Brazil. These are only sold in 100g packets and they cost between ¥1,300- ¥3,200 (~USD12.39-USD30.49). Prices at Leaves Coffee Roasters are considerably higher than other brands as most of their beans use unique methods of production or are rarer varieties.
Image credit: @leaves_coffee_roasters
The coffee beans at Leaves Coffee Roasters are lightly roasted to bring out the original flavours and aroma of the beans. They don’t offer medium roasted or dark roasted beans, unlike other coffee brands.
8. Philocoffea
Tetsu Kasuya (left); Masami Kaji (right)
Image credit: @philocoffea
After becoming the world champion of the 1st World Brewer’s Cup in Asia, Tetsu Kasuya set up Philocoffea with Masami Kaji. The latter is also the founder of the Funabashi Coffee Town development plan meant to promote coffee as one of Funabashi city’s specialities.
Since then, Kasuya has been coaching baristas all over the world. He is also the roaster of Philocoffea’s coffee beans. Together, Kasuya and Kaji operate a roastery-cum-cafe called Philocoffea Roastery&Laboratory and a coffee stand called Rudder Coffee.
Image credit: @rudder_coffee
Philocoffea has a variety of light to dark roasts and they are available in 100g, 200g, 500g, and 1kg packets. Their classic blends cost ¥800 (~USD7.62) for 100g while the single-origin beans can cost up to ¥1,350 (~USD12.86) for 100g.
Image credit: @philocoffea
Drip coffee bags in sets of 5 (left); Drip coffee bag in sets of 3 (right)
Image adapted from: @philocoffea and @philocoffea
They also have drip coffee bags. You can purchase these drip coffee bags individually or in sets of 3s and 5s. The prices range from ¥167- ¥852 (~USD1.59-USD8.12).
9. Takamura Coffee Roasters
Image credit: @takamurawinehouse
Takamura Coffee Roasters started as a liquor store in 1992, before shifting their focus to wine and coffee in 2013. The head roaster, Yuya Iwasaki, roasts the beans daily in their warehousesque store located in Osaka.
Image credit: @takamura_coffee_roasters
They have an extensive range of coffee beans on their online store, including ones from countries such as Burundi, Panama, and Indonesia. A 100g packet of beans starts from ¥800 (~USD7.62). For beginners, they recommend the Brazil Tasting Set, which includes 3 100g packets of different Brazilian beans. This set costs ¥4,680 (~USD44.59).
A number of their beans have been awarded the Cup of Excellence, which is presented to the most high-quality beans of each country. These beans cost significantly more, ranging from ¥1,776- ¥4,681 (~USD16.92-USD44.60) for 100g.
Image credit: @takamura_coffee_roasters
If you’re getting the beans or drip bags as a present, they can pack it in a gift box for an additional ¥330 (~USD3.14). The boxes come in 2 sizes – the smaller one fits 2 packets of 100g beans or 8-10 drip bags, while the larger one fits 2 packets of 200g beans or 12-14 drip bags.
Japanese coffee brands that ship internationally
While we eagerly wait to return to Japan and taste all the coffee the country has to offer, we can fend off our cravings temporarily by ordering from these Japanese coffee brands that ship internationally. Most of these brands offer a flat rate for international shipping, so gather your coffee-loving friends and make the most of your order.
Check out more Japanese coffee-related articles here:
- Coffee jelly recipes
- Speciality coffee shops in Tokyo
- Cafes in Tokyo with unique menus
- Ralph Lauren cafe and flagship store in Nagoya
- Child-friendly cafes and restaurants in Tokyo
Cover image adapted from (clockwise from left): @leaves_coffee_roasters, @iron_coffee and @wifeandhusband_kyoichi