In Tokyo, coffee has never been just an everyday drink, but an extension of life culture.
Walking into a cafe, ordering a cup of coffee and flipping through a few pages of a book is a very common daily routine in the city.
But there is a place that can transform coffee into an "experience" - MAMEYA Coffee is such a place.
" MAMEYA " means "bean house" in Japanese. Founder Kunitomo Eiichi is a key figure in Japan's third wave of specialty coffee. During his time at Omotesando Koffee, his minimalist "cube-shaped" space and dedicated pour-over ritual sparked a new trend in Tokyo's coffee culture.
He believes that coffee isn't just about enjoying the taste; to truly appreciate its depth, one must understand its origin , roasting, and brewing methods. Thus, MAMEYA was born. This coffee brand combines education, experience, and aesthetics, with each cup telling a story from bean to cup.
KOFFEE MAMEYA -Kakeru- in Kiyosumi Shirakawa is the brand's most iconic location. Continuing the MAMEYA spirit, it takes the experience a step further—by fully booking, and presenting a "coffee ceremony" to ensure every guest is fully immersed in the flavor journey.
Upon entering MAMEYA in Kiyosumi Shirakawa , the first thing you notice is a space renovated from an old warehouse. Kiyosumi Shirakawa was once a timber distribution center, and many warehouses have now been converted into art galleries and cafes. MAMEYA , located in this area, retains its industrial charm while incorporating subtle design elements.
The bar is U -shaped, with seating arranged around the center. Baristas, dressed in white uniforms, work like researchers in a laboratory. To me , it's more than just a bar, it's a stage—every brewing step is magnified into a performance. Light streams in from the large windows, illuminating the equipment and tabletops, making the entire process seem both scientific and a bit sacred.
The essence of MAMEYA is not just the coffee itself, but the combination of coffee and food.
In the experience class here, each cup of coffee is paired with a small savory or sweet snack. These snacks may seem simple, but they are carefully designed to become a bridge for taste.
A sip of light-roasted coffee with sweet and sour fruit aroma will be juxtaposed with a light dessert, making the brightness of the fruit acid more distinct; while a cup of dark-roasted, rich coffee will echo the salty dessert, transforming the bitterness into a mellow satisfaction.
What impressed me most was the sense of "interweaving": coffee doesn't exist in isolation, but rather takes on a new dimension through dialogue with food. This design reminds people that coffee is not static; its flavor changes with each combination, creating a richer experience.
In the cool space, watching the barista's focused expression and listening to the sound of equipment colliding, my sense of taste and smell are reawakened.
The heat outside makes this "moment of concentration" all the more precious. When I take my first sip of coffee and savor its rich aroma, the feeling of "redemption" is indescribable .
MAMEYA Coffee is more than just a cafe. It's more like a school, a stage, a ritual. Here, coffee isn't just a drink to be consumed quickly, but a culture worth stopping to truly understand.
For me, MAMEYA in Kiyosumi Shirakawa brings not just a simple taste enjoyment, but a complete story: from the space of the old warehouse to the interpretation of the barista; from the combination of savory and desserts to the tranquility of the summer afternoon.
Everything is intertwined to form an unforgettable part of the journey.
The meaning of travel is not just about how many places you visit, but about finding those moments along the way that make you truly stop.
I had such a moment at MAMEYA in Kiyosumi Shirakawa .
Here, coffee goes beyond being a drink and becomes an attitude towards life.
With a sense of ritual and stories, we invite every traveler to slow down and experience their own tranquility.
Therefore, MAMEYA became another reason for me to go to Tokyo;
If you were to talk about must-visit places in Tokyo, this place would definitely be on the list.
