The shop only sells coffee beans now and no longer serve coffee, do not expect you can enjoy a cup of coffee, we have been standing outside to smell the roast and it's joyful and nice, we wanted to order some beans and called outside the door, a gentleman came out with a menu in Japanese, explaong what are they and the origin of the beans, he knows some English and very helpful to us. We can't wait to try the beans when back home

+1

The most amazing place for coffee lovers who can speak Japanese. Unforgettable luxury coffee experience. Despite a lot of negative reviews, this coffee shop deserves its 4 stars! This place is very special, the coffee is made with passion and you will be served a real piece of art. But I’m sorry to tell you that if you can’t speak Japanese, it may be hard for you to get in. Not because the owner is unfriendly towards foreigners (quite the contrary actually, he’s a very sweet person) but only because he can’t speak English and wants to be sure that people will completely understand the rules and deeply enjoy the experience he wants to give to his customers. You’re not going to only drink a very good coffee, the experience will be deeper. This isn’t your typical kissaten. No food here, no chit-chat with the owners or the customers. You can’t talk (do not even try to ask questions to the coffee master), you can’t read, you can’t touch your smartphone, you can’t take pictures inside and you can’t stay more than 30 minutes. You can’t see how your coffee is made (don’t even try to leave your chair to sneak a peek!), just close your eyes, smell and listen. The magic is happening. Soak in the atmosphere and enjoy every single drop of the delicious coffee made with a real savoir-faire. You’re going to be out of the real world for 30 minutes and have the most luxurious coffee experience. It’s a little bit expensive (from around 1000 yen to 6000 yen) but honestly I don’t mind paying extra money for drinking such an amazing coffee! This place is highly recommended for coffee enthusiasts and connoisseurs who can speak Japanese. You will never forget the taste of a coffee you had at Kitayama. Bonus: you can buy coffee beans to bring a part of this special experience at home.

Excellent coffee. It is possibly the best cup of coffee I've ever had. It's definitely in the top 3. However you are not very likely to make it past the front door if you aren't very fluent in spoken and written Japanese. I can see why it's intimidating to most foreign visitors as all the signs are in Japanese, and they want to make sure you understand and abide by the rules posted on the door outside before they will let you in to enjoy the coffee. Others have already posted the rules in their reviews, so I won't repeat them here. They are very particular about the coffee and manner of service here, and frankly this place would be perfect bait for Instagram, except they explicitly forbid photos. The menu has moderately detailed descriptions to give you an idea of the flavor profile, and each includes the age of the beans. The cheapest cup of coffee on the menu is ¥1000 and I believe it goes up to the ¥1800 neighborhood. They meticulously prepare each cup, so expect to wait several minutes in silent repose after you order. Each table/seat has a sign describing the proper way to enjoy the coffee. If you are really into coffee and don't mind the prices, I think you'd be hard pressed to find a better cup in Japan.

So, I've tried to get an actual, hand-poured coffee here for over a year now, trying on three or four occasions. I'm not sure the actual situation ( I should have asked...) but it seems to me that they're only serving roasted beans for now (which is to say that you can't get a cup of coffee made for you). With that in mind, the "scary rules" posted outside that you may have seen in the pictures don't really apply anymore. You go in, pick your beans, and they package them up. For those of you who are "third wave coffee" fans, you'll likely be disappointed. This is all roasted on the darker side. Not burnt, not bad, just not part of the "trend." If, however, you're a fan of (or even a passing enjoyer of) Japanese-style dark roasts you'll likely be pleased. The coffee is sweet and mellow--and that's just what I could pull off with pre-ground beans, a hotel kettle, and a V60 perched on top of a tiny paper cup. With real tools and skill you could likely extract even more deliciousness. For the "true coffee fan" it's worth seeking out, even if just for the experience and vibe and the pleasant and reasonably priced coffee.

I saw the sign on the door saying "no phones, no talking, don't stay for more than 30 mins, we don't serve food or anything other than coffee" etc., and was very intrigued. After reading the 1-star reviews on here about people no being allowed in, I was even more captivated by this mysterious little shop. So I went, and had a lovely experience! When I stepped in, there was first this panicked response of "did you read the sign, do you understand that we don't serve food etc." and once I reassured them that I'd read and understood, they were perfectly nice. Here's the thing: they seem to be very, very particular about how people consume coffee. Aside from the sign outside, there are still more instructions inside telling you how to quietly and respectfully enjoy the coffee in all of its complexity. The instructions inside say, approximately: 1) your first sip of coffee should be taken black, 2) after you've drunk half of the cup, you are welcome to add sugar if you like 3) when adding cream, don't stir, just quietly let it float to the top of the cup. In general, this is a place you go to treat your coffee with a sense of reverence, enjoying it in silent reflection. I strongly recommend going here, if your Japanese is good enough to be able to read the instructions and reassure the owner that you have understood them. It's wonderfully atmospheric, I can't think of anywhere else you would get this kind of experience. Prices range from 980 to over 2000 yen, for either a single cup or a 100g bag of coffee beans.