Tokyo Specialty Coffee Tour 2026 | Was ¥18,000 For Coffee Worth It?

Today we’re hunting down some of Tokyo’s best specialty coffee: a tiny espresso bar near Kudanshita, a reservation‑only coffee omakase with cocktails, and a legendary roastery featuring rare geishas (including a ¥18,000 Panama cup!). We visit Apollon’s Gold Kitanomaru near Kudanshita Station, the omakase coffee course at KOFFEE MAMEYA Kakeru, and Leaves Coffee Roasters for a special One Half Coffee Malaysia pop‑up. Along the way we taste Ethiopian espresso, Honduran and Costa Rican geishas, coffee cocktails, mocktails and dessert pairings. If you love third‑wave coffee, geishas, and unique café experiences in Tokyo, this vlog is for you. Chapters / Timestamps 00:00 – Arriving at Apollon’s Gold espresso bar (near Kudanshita Station, exit tips) 00:44 – Ethiopia “lollipop” espresso tasting – super light & smooth 04:06 – Honduras geisha wash + Ethiopia Coco geisha tasting 06:03 – Colombia Risaralda pour over notes 06:56 – Highlight of the trip: arriving at KOFFEE MAMEYA Kakeru (coffee omakase) 08:06 – How the coffee course works: coins, courses, and choosing mocktail vs cocktail 11:16 – First coffee mocktail & gin and tonic coffee cocktail 14:24 – Costa Rica San Isidro geisha: washed vs honey process + burdock & yuzu pairing 20:24 – Espresso course: chocolatey notes, tamarind, berry pie flavors 22:37 – Pork stew with koji, miso‑maple and coffee pairing 25:15 – Espresso martini, non‑alcoholic “wine” and pear shortcake dessert 28:36 – Little latte/white and espresso shots (homegrown lollipop & Bali Kamala) 29:16 – Tasting Bali Kamala from Common Grounds and brewing recipe chat 31:42 – Heading across town for something special at Leaves 32:02 – Arriving at Leaves Coffee Roasters for the One Half pop‑up 33:34 – One Half’s philosophy: terroir, varietal, and processing explained 37:48 – Two Guatemala El Toño geishas: sunrise vs sunset side of the mountain 39:20 – Panama Esmeralda “Baby Geisha” – Japan’s most expensive cup? 40:15 – Final thoughts & massive queue outside the shop