The Best Coffee I’ve Had in Tokyo (and How It Turned My Day Around)

After a rough start to the day, I stumbled across Joe Talk Coffee in Ebisu.

Sunlight, hanging plants, sweet potato bread, and a perfect siphon-brewed coffee that completely 180'ed my mood and reminded me why it's important to slow down.

How fun is this picture :)

A Rough Start to the Week

My day had not exactly started strong.

The night before, I had planned a simple swim to unwind. Just wanted to throw the arms over for half an hour, you know? I arrive at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium in Sendagaya to discover it was closed for a couple of weeks... Perfect.

f u Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium

I jumped back on the train toward a different pool, but of course I managed to get on the wrong train. Either that or I missed my stop on the correct train and after a few stops the trainline itself changed into a different one.. Obviously I'm still confused by it all.

So far I had travelled 40 minutes to find the first pool out of action, and now I was lost having travelled another 30 minutes attempting to get to another pool. By that point my motivation had disappeared and I just wanted an early dinner and an early night so I could reset and go again tomorrow with a fresh head.

Katsu curry meal - not bad

But, even that didn't go as planned!!

Walking home I stumbled across a tonkatsu restaurant and, hoping to cheer myself up, I ordered something unique and potentially fun. I ended up with a massive, deep fried ball of natto.... Why do I do this to myself?????

yo wtf even is that?

I don't hate natto, but it's not exactly the kind of dish that lifts your spirits.

For those who don't know, natto is a traditional Japanese food made from fermented soybeans, and it is one of the most uniquely intense foods in Japanese cuisine. Sticky and smelly, basically.

I felt obligated to eat it all and honestly, it kinda dragged my mood down even further lol.

So when morning came, I wasn't in a terrible headspace, but I definitely wanted a better day than the one before.

I went to the gym, which was fine, and then to the physio, which put me in a better mood - I have an injured ankle from a trail race I competed in Nikko a fortnight ago. And on the walk from Ebisu Station to my appointment, I noticed a small coffee shop catching the morning sun. It had warm light, a few hanging plants, and something about all that just felt inviting.

How amazing does the ambiance feel right?

I told myself I would drop in on my way back.

That small decision ended up changing my whole day.

The Coffee That Turned Everything Around

After my appointment, I went back and asked for their recommended specialty coffee. I have been enjoying these non-conventional coffees more and more lately, especially with how serious Tokyo's coffee culture is. I ordered the Guatemala blend.

Nice card thing they give you when you order a siphon-brewed coffee

The barista told me it would take five to seven minutes, and before I sat down she asked if I wanted a cake. I said no at first, but then I actually looked at the display. The banana bread looked good, but the sweet potato bread looked even better. It looked light, simple, and not overly sweet, so I chose that.

First time seeing this siphon method in action!

I took my sweet potato cake and sat on a barstool in the sun, surrounded by the hanging plants outside the shop, and for the first time that day I felt genuinely at ease. The sweet potato bread was perfect. When she handed me my coffee, I decided not to rush off. Another great decision.

Very good, not too sweet

The coffee was incredible. It had a rich flavour but felt light and smooth on the palate, and it was cooled with just the right amount of ice.

I sat there for half an hour, soaking up warmth from the sun and really appreciating every sip. FYI it was around 8 degrees Celsius that morning so the sun felt like a little treat in itself :)

Honestly, it might be the best cup of coffee I have had in Tokyo.

A Quiet Reminder to Slow Down

So a sincere thank you to Joe Talk Coffee in Ebisu. Their warm service, their ethos, and that beautiful cup of coffee completely flipped my mentality and my day around.

"jotoku" <3

If you are ever in the area. Drop in. Slow down for a moment.

It is a good reminder that even when things feel like they're piling up, a simple cup of good coffee can bring you back to ground.

For me, sitting and enjoying that coffee in the sun, it gave me the few minutes I needed to process the losses from the evening before. And after processing, I was able to let them go and faced the day with a different mindset and had a great day :)