HOOP Coffee＆Share Roasters Osaka

I like the diversity of the unique coffee scene in Japan.

You know, about a decade and a half ago, small minimalist, passion powered specialty coffee joints (so-called Third Wave) were sprouting up across the world, Singapore and Malaysia included.

They were hotbeds of experimentation and discovery, and test beds for exuberant budding entrepreneurs.

That phase has passed and today not many of these little joints are left, for sure in Singapore and Malaysia which I am more familiar with.

But happily, not so it seems, in Japan.

It's heartwarming to see more small independent coffee joints still holding their own in today's corporation dominated scene.

Japanese indie coffee culture is more resilient perhaps because people here have greater respect for artisans and the independent spirit. We don't just see this in coffee but every aspect of Japanese cuisine from sushi to sake, and even wine.

HOOP is an one woman basement coffee roaster-cum-cafe (when we were there).

The bare, unadorned place made it appear quite spacious. Single old sofa and foldable fabric garden chairs strewn around the barrenness.

It's a strange kind of hip. Really cool.

Ah yes, I think it is called Zen. This is Japan. The tranquil space looked like a Zen (rock) garden to me.

So, there isn't the banter and chatter of Singapore / Malaysia kopitiam. Conversation is hushed, and telephone calls are considered anti-social, disturbing the peace.

Single origin Arabica.

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I can imagine the aroma of Arabica filling the space when the roaster is fired up, churning.

My full bodied latte smelled and tasted good. The beverage is central but only part of the entire experience.

My first cafe in Japan - today was only the start of our Japan culinary adventure. There's so much more to discover for ourselves.

There are many types of coffee places in Japan's fascinating coffee landscape, from uniquely Japanese kissaten (more on this hybrid tearoom-cum-coffeeshop icon later) to artisanal specialty coffee cafes like HOOP here to corporate brands both Japanese and international. (Japan is actually big on coffee, so big that Starbucks' first overseas foray was in Japan in 1996.)