Opened on July 5, it still has no reviews on Tabelog — not a single one. And yet, in my opinion, this is an important new addition to Kyoto’s coffee scene.

The café is located by the Sembon Demizu bus stop, tucked among residential houses, some of which appear to be awaiting demolition. Its bright orange sign is the only thing that immediately catches the eye.

The owner and barista is Hayashi Shinji. In 2018, he represented Japan at the World Latte Art Championship in Brazil, and in 2023 he won the Japan Matcha Latte Art Competition while working at Kyoto’s DRIP&DROP COFFEE SUPPLY.

He specializes in figurative latte art. No spoons, needles, or other tools for touching up the design — with a single movement of the pitcher, he creates pegasuses, rabbits, and other creatures from a coffee wonderland. Don’t hesitate to ask him to make one for you!

As the barista explained, he chose this location for three reasons. First, it was one of the few places where he could install a coffee roaster — apparently, neighbors can object to having a roasting machine operating right under their windows. Second, it allowed him to create a fully glass-fronted façade, which had long been one of his personal obsessions. And third, it is conveniently close to his home.

The roaster is already installed in the café: a black Easyster with a drum roaster, positioned behind the counter near the entrance.

The interior was designed by Yasuhiro Sawa from Kameoka. The space is small, but thoughtfully laid out. The original spiral staircase from the building’s previous incarnation has been transformed into a standing table. The wooden ceiling beams were left untouched, complete with the Japanese characters painted on them when the building was originally constructed.

On the shelf next to the roaster are competition trophies and framed certificates.

The menu features the house Sibling Blend, Kenyan Kianyangi AA, and Colombian Milan Geisha from a competition lot, as well as matcha lattes and seasonal drinks such as watermelon tonic. There are also doughnuts and chocolate scones served with cream made with specialty coffee.

The café also runs Open Lab, offering private and group classes in barista skills, latte art, and brewing — including courses for people planning to open their own coffee shop.