Celebrating Five Years in Japan

Our Kiyosumi cafe—our first in Japan—turns five this year. We’re thrilled that many of our team members from our earliest days there are still working with Blue Bottle. This is what they had to say about the coffees they love and why they’ve stuck around.

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I love making all coffee drinks, but especially lattes. They make guests really happy. If I had to choose a favorite pairing, it would be a single-origin coffee from Ethiopia with fig pound cake.
— Mieko Tokita
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When I make hand drip coffee (pour overs), I cast magical spells of deliciousness on each one.
— Anna Sakai, Lead Barista
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At Blue Bottle, we don’t just offer a cup of coffee, but also space, design, food pairings, and the baristas’ hospitality. That adds up to a delicious experience.
— Eri Unno, Cafe Leader, Kyoto Rokkaku
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Since working for Blue Bottle, I have a deeper understanding and appreciation for coffee from seed to cup. My favorite drinks to make are those with espresso. It’s like creating live entertainment while guests watch.
— Hidefumi Fujii, Cafe Leader, Kiyosumi
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While more and more people know about specialty coffee, there are still many who don’t. I feel a responsibility to help people learn about it as well as our sustainability initiatives.
— Marie Sugihara, Trainer
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I’ve realized I’m more interested in people than coffee itself. It’s good hospitality that keeps people coming back, and a cafe’s heart is its people. What I love about Blue Bottle Coffee is that we value hospitality as much as coffee and everyone is always working towards improving. We are always looking to grow.
— Taku Sasaki , Cafe Leader, Shinjuku
Our CafesTom Purtill