According to the official website of Specialty Coffee Association, specialty coffee is defined as follows:
“Specialty coffee can consistently exist through the dedication of the people who have made it their life’s work to continually make quality their highest priority. This is not the work of only one person in the lifecycle of a coffee bean; specialty can only occur when all of those involved in the coffee value chain work in harmony and maintain a keen focus on standards and excellence from start to finish.”
(*Quoted from https://sca.coffee/ )
Today, I’d like to introduce some cafes in Akita where you can enjoy such specialty coffee during your sightseeing! As well as Akita attractions, please relax with these tasty coffee.
【Box Coffee】
Box Coffee is located in Bay Paradise area of Tsuchizaki port, Akita City, Akita. You can take away the specialty coffee there!
They have not only hot or iced coffee but other menu as café au lait, coffee-taste soft serve ice cream, coffee smoothie, green smoothie, cassis soda, homemade ginger soda, lemonade, and more.
The drink I ordered today is the iced café au lait (490 yen) with whipping cream and chocolate sauce (additional 100 yen). It is sugarless coffee using home roasting coffee beans. I felt like I could smell the real coffee! If you prefer black coffee, I think this would be your favorite!
Because there’re more attractive drinks, I’d love to try another one next time! Drinking take-out coffee around the port under the sun made me so refreshed!
~~~ Store Info. ~~~
1-10-45 Tsuchizaki minato nishi, Akita City, Akita, Japan
http://ameyacoffee.com/boxcoffee/index.html
Open (Monday to Friday) 11:00～18:00 / (Saturday, Sunday and national holidays) 10:00～17:00
*Open all year round (Subject to change)
【Parking】Free parking
【From JR Akita Station (West Exit)】About 20 minutes by car・taxi / About 30 minutes by bus
【Ameya Coffee】
Ameya Coffee serves specialty coffee using home roasting coffee beans. It’s sold by mobile catering going around the prefecture. (*Check the schedule from the official website!) Also, the main shop is located inside Oga Tourist Information Center.
In addition to this tourist center, products of Ameya Coffee are sold in various places around Akita. The photos are in the souvenir shops of Port Tower SELION in Tsuchizaki, Akita City, Akita.
Such goods as drip bag coffee and coffee beans are beautifully displayed and sold. Some of their packages have images of Akita’s local attractions, Namahage and Akita dogs. So unique! I think they are especially suitable for gifts.
They also have their own blended coffee packed in other nice bags. Check them out!
~~~ Store Info. ~~~
Ameya Coffee
Open 10:00～16:00
*Closed on January 1st
【Parking】Free parking
【From JR Akita Station to Oga Tourist Information Center】About 45 minutes by car・taxi / About 1 hour by train
*Address: 207-219 Ikko, Funakoshi, Oga City, Akita, Japan (Oga Tourist Information Center)
【From JR Akita Station to SELION】About 20 minutes by car・taxi / About 30 minutes by bus
*Address: 1-9-1 Tsuchizaki minato nishi, Akita City, Akita, Japan (1F Port Tower SELION)
【08 Coffee】
08 Coffee is on the backstreet of Akita Prefectural Library. Reading books go well with coffee, right?
Because taking photos was not allowed inside the store, I can only show you the appearance outside. But don’t worry! You can see more pictures on their official website!
Inside of the café is quiet with cozy music, so I could relax and enjoy the taste of specialty coffee. Today, I ordered a cup of decaf coffee (550 yen) using rare and high-grade specialty coffee beans. It smelled and tasted elegant! And also, I had a matcha (green tea) Gateau au chocolat cake (530 yen). The cake was soooooo rich! If you like matcha sweets, this is the must-eat! Anyway, they were a good match! I had a good tea time there.
Only on weekends and national holidays, they seem to serve the morning set meals. Besides, they hold coffee lessons with a small group of customers. (*Need an advanced reservation)
~~~ Store Info. ~~~
2F Sannei Building, 13-21 Shinmachi, Sanno, Akita City, Akita, Japan
Open 10:00～20:00／8:00～18:00 (Saturday, Sunday and national holidays)
*Closed on Wednesday
【Parking】Free parking (5 cars)
【From JR Akita Station (West Exit)】About 13 minutes by car・taxi / About 15 minutes by bus
【Dolls Coffee】
The specialty coffee shop, Dolls Coffee, is in Akita Citizen’s Market, Akita City, Akita. You can enjoy this specialty coffee while shopping in the market. Check this blog, too!
【Nagahama Coffee】
Based in Daisen City, Akita, the specialty coffee shop, Nagahama Coffee, provides not only the coffee but delicious food and sweets. Their lunch set is especially recommended! Check this blog, too!
~~~ Access to JR Akita Station ~~~
＊From Akita Expressway (Akita-chuo IC): About 30 minutes by car・taxi
＊From Akita Airport: About 40 minutes by car・taxi ／ About 40 minutes by limousine bus
Travel and accommodation to Akita, Japan
Written by Naomi in Ugo
*As of May, 2021.
