“Welcome!”
As you open the door, the husband-and-wife owners greet you with smiles, accompanied by pleasant jazz.
In Yata, Mabi, there is a coffee shop where you can enjoy soothing music and richly aromatic coffee.
The coffee shop is called “Coffee House Gojitoma.”
The master loves movies and music and carefully brews coffee, while his wife moves briskly about, serving customers with a smile.
We introduce the welcoming atmosphere and richly aromatic coffee of this jazz cafe in Mabi, which reopened after overcoming the July 2018 torrential rains!
The information presented here is as of the article’s publication in February 2020. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What is Coffee House Gojitoma?
Coffee House Gojitoma, a coffee shop long cherished in Mabi, opened in May 1980.
The master, with over 45 years of experience making coffee, brews delicious coffee every day, while the couple lovingly serve sandwiches, drinks, and more.
This coffee shop is appealing for its one-of-a-kind coffee and atmosphere, with a vacuum-tube amplifier and handmade speakers playing records, and shelves lined with piles of books.
However, the July 2018 torrential rains flooded the shop and residence up to 5 meters 30 centimeters on the second floor.
Immediately after the disaster, the Takamoto couple thought it would be difficult to reopen. But encouraged by regular customers asking, “When will you reopen?”, they renovated the shop and reopened on May 12, 2019.
A bright interior filled with sunlight
The interior is brighter than it was before the July 2018 torrential rains. The renovation preserved as much as possible of what could still be used, while carefully retaining the pre-disaster atmosphere.
Thanks to fans and acquaintances from across Japan who heard about the disaster and donated books and records, the bookshelves are now full.
The original maker of the sound system apparently rebuilt the speakers and other equipment.
Jazz that is gentle on the ears flows through the shop, making it a relaxing and comfortable place to unwind.
Savor special coffee brewed by a master with over 45 years of experience
▼ Here is the menu at Coffee House Gojitoma.
Prices are as of the February 2020 interview
| Menu item | Price (tax included) |
|---|---|
| Gojitoma Blend Coffee | ¥400 |
| Gojitoma 45th Blend | ¥500 |
| Iced Coffee | ¥400 |
| Hot/Iced Cafe au Lait | ¥500 |
| Showa-style Mixed Juice | ¥500 |
| Guatemala Medina | ¥500 |
| Costa Rica Honey | ¥500 |
| Blended Tea | ¥400 |
| Sandwich | ¥500 |
| Toast | ¥250 |
| Cake | ¥450 |
The writer recommends the “Gojitoma 45th Blend,” known for its rich flavor.
Before opening his own shop, Coffee House Gojitoma, the master worked at Tsukiji, a historic coffee shop founded in Kyoto in 1934.
He also used to visit as a customer Inoda Coffee Kyoto Sanjo Branch, which serves the coffee that “made a strong impression” on him.
For the master of Gojitoma, Akio Harada of Tsukiji is his coffee mentor, while Akio Inoda of Inoda Coffee is his coffee deity.
With these two in mind, he created an original blend that he can make only now.
The “Gojitoma 45th Blend” was created with the help of caferico (Cafe Rico), a roasting workshop in Minami Ward, Okayama City.
Coffee beans undergo chemical changes during roasting, developing distinctive bitterness, acidity, and aroma.
Depending on the degree of roasting, the result may be dark, medium, or light roast, and the flavor changes significantly even when using the same beans.
The “Gojitoma 45th Blend” is a dark-roast coffee.
I enjoyed it with a sandwich filled with fluffy, slightly sweet omelet.
The dark roast, known for its bitterness, has a good balance of acidity and sweetness, with an elegant aroma that makes for a comforting, relaxing cup.
The combination of fragrant toast and coffee is also recommended.
The sweet aroma of butter and the bitter aroma of coffee mingle, each bringing out the other’s best and whetting your appetite.
There are two kinds of toast: plain and walnut.
The butter has melted into the bread, and as you take a bite, its sweetness spreads across your tongue.
The medium-roast blend coffee has a good balance of acidity, bitterness, and sweetness, with a clean finish that makes it easy to drink.
A coffee break, slowly savored in a relaxed setting away from the hustle and bustle, will soothe the fatigue of everyday life.
Next, we spoke with the master of Coffee House Gojitoma, Haruhide Takamoto, about how he has kept the coffee shop going for so long and his thoughts now that he has reopened after the disaster.
Coffee House Gojitoma details
| Name | Coffee House Gojitoma |
|---|---|
| Address | 748-4 Yata, Mabi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-698ｰ6225 |
| Parking | Available 15 spaces |
| Hours | Saturday, Sunday, Monday 12 noon–6 p.m. |
| Closed | Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and public holidays Check the shop’s Facebook page for operating days. |
| Payment methods |
|
| Reservations | Accepted |
| Seating | Counter: 5 seats Tables: 20 seats |
| Smoking | Non-smoking (smoking permitted only in designated areas) |
| Restroom | Western-style toilet |
| Website | Gojitoma |
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