Tokyo's Neighborly Cafe

For the coffee enjoyer who appreciates high craft, beautifully designed spaces, and a peaceful neighborhood in Tokyo, Japan.

Dear coffee lovers,

I recently took one of the best trips of my life to Japan. I was there for 1 week exploring a small piece of Tokyo’s labyrinth of sensational coffee experiences. Yes, I know this is a criminally short amount of time, and to be honest, I could have spent at least a month in Tokyo hunting down tucked away cuisine, cafes, and bars. But still, I managed to encounter some exceptional cafes during my stay.

On a quiet street corner of Setagaya City, just outside the main hub of Tokyo, I found our debut shop in the “Cafe Trip” series: Coffee County. Coffee County originally opened their roastery in Kurume City in November 2013, while this particular cafe location opened a decade later in June 2023. The storefront's sign is a tree-trunk slice with “Coffee County” branded on it that hangs to the right of the entrance, setting the tone for the experience.

Let’s get a coffee

Coffee County offers a memorable, rich, and rustic cafe experience. It’s hard to miss this shop’s earth-tone exterior walls, narrow wooden doorway, and sweeping glass block window wall. As I approach the cafe, I see customers enjoying their coffees and each other’s company, sitting on a ledge with their backs to the shop’s window.

Ducking into the entry way, I instantly find myself in a serene and inviting space set for the ritual of enjoying a delicious cup of coffee. The Coffee County interior is a beautiful and thoughtfully designed cave-like space. The intricately laid red brick floor continues up the wall of the bar area as I approach the counter to order. The servers behind the bar kindly welcome me and I can’t help but notice the thoughtfully laid out space of this cafe.