Tokyo 東京 Espresso エスプレッソ

Bear Pond Espresso >>MAP 2-36-12 Kitazawa TEL: 03-5454-2486 東京都世田谷区北沢2-36-12 I'm done. The search for transcendent espresso in Tokyo is over. I might just retire this blog. Really. Opened in April 2009 by Katsu Tanaka, Bear Pond simply blows away all Tokyo competition when it comes to espresso. Period. There's quite a back story here. After 18 years in NYC as a certified barista and trainer with Counter Culture and Gimme! Coffee, Tanaka moved back to Tokyo to open his own shop with the help of his wife, Chisa. He walked the neighborhoods and found an old candy shop in Shimokitazawa whose owner wanted out (though she remains his landlady). Why "Bear Pond"? It's a lake in upstate New York for which the Tanakas have a fondness. More importantly, the characteristics of bears (the animal) suit what Tanaka is trying to do in giving Tokyo a taste of true espresso. In other words, his ristretto-type shot (I'm judging my shots were well under an...

Café Use >>MAP Kitazawa 3-31-3 Setagaya-ku TEL: 03-3466-5058 東京都世田谷区北沢 3-31-3 A husband-and-wife operation, this Shimo-kitazawa café has fascinating nooks and crannies—even a private room that seats three. The coffee is of the drip variety, ground to order, and served in 1940s-era Jadeite Green Fire King Oven Ware cups (in keeping with other antiques in the shop). It’s consistently excellent. The wife bakes the café’s desserts (the cheesecake is particularly good). Dimly-lit Coleman lanterns sit above the counter (see picture). The husband painstakingly removed the guts from each lantern and wired them with electric bulbs. A very special café.

mois café >>MAP Kitazawa 2-21-26 Setagaya, Tokyo TEL: 03-3421-1844 東京都世田谷区北沢 2-21-26 A quaint café in a two-story house. Difficult to find but worth the search.

Bar Alimentari Daniela >>MAP 5-16-23 Daizawa, Setagaya-ku TEL：03-3487-6086 世田谷区代沢 5-16-23 This is an unassuming Italian place serving paninis, pastas and espresso. Its sister restaurant, Il Nido , is now closed permanently but was across the street and rumored to have been spectacular. The single espresso (see picture) was too long for my taste and overextracted. The mortadella sandwich (also pictured) hit the spot.